E2L English - INFORMAL EMAIL

E2L English

Purpose

We use informal emails when:

using emails for personal communication
there is no set format or structure
sending emails to friends and family members
using simple and casual language
our sentences are short and simple

2. Style

Informal Style:

In informal letter or email you can use:

Phrasal Verb

Idioms

Phrases are often pronounced short such as: Whassup?

Most are simple or compound sentences with a low level of grammatical complexity.

Usually only the normal active sentence form is used.

The shortened form can be applied (cannot = can't, do not = don't, ...).

You can use question marks (?) and exclamation points (!)

Can be abbreviated Interact with the recipient (using the personal pronoun “YOU”)

3. Structure

Normally the structure of emails/ informal letters include 7 parts:

1 Greetings: we greet the other person (i.e. say "hi" or "hello").

2 Opening paragraph: we react to the other person's news and ask them how they are feeling and what else you feel is appropriate.

3 Main paragraph 1: in this paragraph we deal with the first important point, which we can identify in the instructions.

4 Main paragraph 2: if there is a different point to deal with, this paragraph will do so.

5 Closing paragraph: in this paragraph for wishing the other person well and asking them to reply to your letter.

6 Goodbye: we use a short expression to say goodbye.

7 Signature: we sign the letter with our name.

4. Tips

Not only are there pitfalls to avoid, but there are also factors to take into account whenever composing an informal email. Let's check them out:

a. Write a Subject Line

A subject line is required for all emails. Casual email is simpler because the content doesn't require much thought. That is to say, you are free to use any tone-of-voice in the subject line that strikes your fancy.

Here is the plan.
Here's the video you were looking for.
This article is worth reading.
Read through!

b. Open With Casual Greeting

When starting your informal email, a simple "hello" or "hey" is all that's needed to kick off a friendly email conversation. For a less formal form of greeting, we don't need to worry too much about the words we choose.

And to add enthusiasm and friendliness, we can also use more exclamation points and emoticons:

Hey [Name],
Hi [Name],
Hey there!
Hi!
Hey!

c. Point Out The Reason for Reaching Out

Every email, whether formal or informal, should point out the reason for the email:

"Here is the PDF you wanted."
"I just want to let you know that I will not make it today."
"I was wondering if you have time to meet me around 5PM?"

Likewise, if you need the percipient to take some action, make sure to make that as clear as possible:

Can I ask what you think about my ideas/suggestions?
Can you let me know when you would be available to meet next week?
Please review the following attachments before our next meeting.
Can you please review the agenda for the meeting and let me know if you have any suggestions?

However, when writing a reason for reaching out, keep your reader in mind from a practical standpoint. It’s beneficial for everyone that emails are as concise as possible.

d. Wrap Up With Closing Statement

Wrapping up your informal emails is similar to the opening line — use a friendly tone to sign-off:

See you later,
Take care,
See you soon,
Thanks,
Happy Friday,
Have a good weekend!

5. Examples

Click here to watch a video about how to write an informal email in English or click on the video below.

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