How to write an effective business letter in English. An effective business letter can help you communicate professionally and efficiently with clients, customers, and colleagues. It is an important tool for building relationships, making a good impression, and conveying important information. Writing a well-crafted business letter can be a daunting task, but by following a few simple guidelines, you can create a clear, concise, and professional letter that will achieve your desired outcome. In this guide, we will go over the key elements of a business letter, including format, tone, and content, and provide tips on how to write an effective business letter that will get results.
How to Write a Business Letter
What Is a Business Letter?
A business letter is a formal written communication between two parties, typically in a professional setting. It is used for a variety of purposes, including making inquiries, making requests, providing information, or making complaints. A business letter is typically typed and printed on letterhead and can be sent via mail or email. It follows a specific format, including a date, the sender’s and recipient’s addresses, a salutation, the body of the letter, and a closing. Business letters may also include attachments such as resumes, invoices, or other documents. They are used to convey important information in a professional and organized manner.
Who Need to Write Business Letters?
Letters are written from a person/group, known as the sender to a person/group, known in the business as the recipient.
Some examples of senders and recipients:
- business «» business
- business «» consumer
- job applicant «» company
- citizen «» government official
- employee «» employee
- staff member «» staff member
Why to Write Business Letters?
- To persuade
- To inform
- To request
- To express thanks
- To remind
- To recommend
- To apologize
- To congratulate
- To reject a proposal or offer
- To introduce a person or policy
- To invite or welcome
- To follow up
- To formalize decisions
Common Errors in Business Writing
Here are some common errors in business writing that you should notice:
1. Colloquialism
Use of informal phrases in business writing is a major error.
Ex:
- Mr.brown kicked the bucket on x day.
- Mr. Brown died on x day.
2. Dated
Writing Dated on is incorrect but is used commonly.
For example:
- Thank you for writing the letter dated on 17-March-2010.(Incorrect)
- Thank you for writing the letter dated 17-March-2010. (correct)
3. Over and More Than
The word over is used for describing a physical position.
For example, The bridge led over the pond.
- Wrong usage: Over 50 males participated in the race.
- Correction: More than 50 males participated in the race.
4. Wordy Expressions
Using wordy expressions when a small one can do, is another common mistake
For example:
- Due to the fact that she was attending the meeting…
- Or Since she was attending the meeting…
5. Possessive form and contractions
The possessive form of it is often mixed with its contraction.
- Its -> possessive form of it
- It’s -> contraction for it is
For example:
- When is our next meeting. Please confirm its date. ( Correct )
- When is our next meeting. Please confirm it’s date. ( Incorrect )
How to Write An Effective Business Letter | Image
SHEEBA K
Thursday 17th of September 2020
Thank you very much for giving us such an valuable information.I'm working as HRE so that i can learn all these things.
Elenoa Dautei
Wednesday 17th of June 2020
Loved it, very informative and helpful.
Htar Zin Zin
Sunday 27th of October 2019
I think I do shift my usage and informal words
Hogr
Sunday 22nd of September 2019
Keep it up 👍👍👍
Aung Pyae
Wednesday 20th of March 2019
I like that!!!