Writing Business

Writing Business Letters


Business letters are formal documents, a standard layout is important.
See the letter on pages 3 & 4, for a Standard Business Letter layout.



Tasks

1. Copy the standard business letter from page 3, with all the spacing and formatting as shown.
  Save this file as “Business Letter”.




2. Using the phrases outlined on the next page, produce the following word-processed letters:
    a. To remind a customer that their account is overdue.
    b. To complain about the late delivery of some goods.
    c. To remind a customer of a meeting.
    d. A covering letter (to go with a CV) responding to a job advertisement.

• As well as using the phrases outlined below, you will need to supply text to put the letter into context.
• It is up to you to supply a context for these letters.
• For example, the letter of complaint might be for some components that actually stopped your production line.   Use your imagination!

The following are some useful phrases that can be used in business letters:

Reference

(in reference to something that has happened before)
• Following our recent telephone conversation ……
• With reference to your letter dated dd/mm/yy ……
• With regard to your query about / request for ……
• Thank you for drawing attention to ……
• With reference to your recent advertisement in ……
• We were pleased to hear that ……
• I am sorry to hear that ……


Requests

(to ask for something to be done or to request further information)
• Could you please ……
• I would like you to ……
• If you would be so kind as to ……
• I would appreciate it if you would ……
• Please let me know if ……
• Please let me know how much ……
• Please let me know when ……


Reminding or drawing the reader’s attention to something

• We wish to draw your attention to the fact that ……
• You may not be aware that ……
• I am afraid I must draw your attention to ……
• We do not appear to have received ……...