Tips to write confidently C1 Advanced formal letters and emails
Hey there, fellow language learners! So you wanna be a master of formal writing, huh? Well, you’ve come to the right place! Whether you’re writing an email to your boss, a letter to the queen, or just trying to impress your crush, nailing that formal tone can be a real challenge. But fear not, my friends, for I have some tips and tricks that will have you sounding like the most proper and polished writer in all the land! Let’s get started, shall we?
Advanced English learners can easily identify several issues with this introduction. It includes:
- The use of colloquial language (“Hey there”, “fellow”, “wanna”, “nailing”),
- The informal tone and style of writing, and
- The use of exclamation marks and rhetorical questions
The above are not typically used in formal writing, aren’t they?
Today, we will practise using the right language structures that fully cover what the formal register requires. The control of such language is a must in text types like essays, reports, proposals and formal letters or emails, all part of the C1 Advanced writing paper. Hence, the importance to dominate a range of formal vocabulary.
Although formal letters/emails is what we are going to focus on today, the activities I’ve prepared for you will also help you reach the right level of formality in the rest of the above text types.
Let’s therefore start work with writing a letter or an email addressed to someone who is in a position of authority. So, the specified target reader could be the editor of a newspaper or magazine, the director of a company, or the school or college principal.
Part ONE C1 Advanced formal letters and emails
Formal words and their informal equivalents
To warm up, let’s begin with an easy task.
Activity 1 Identify the informal equivalent for the fourteen common formal words below. Read the sentence provided as context to how the formal word is used.
Letters and emails written in an informal tone need connectors and linkers such as so, and, anyway, but, and many other everyday connecting devices. Which would their formal equivalents be?
Activity 2 Study six common formal connectors as well as their formal synonyms. Write them down and come up with their informal equivalent.
| Formal connectors | Synonymous formal connectors |
|---|---|
| Furthermore | Additionally, in addition, besides, moreover |
| Nonetheless | Nevertheless, however |
| Consequently | As a result |
| Hence | Therefore |
| In contrast | On the other hand, conversely, however |
| In conclusion | Finally, ultimately |
Note: Check out the informal equivalent to the above formal connectors at the end of the article.
Part TWO C1 Advanced formal letters and emails
Informal letter and its formal equivalent
Read the following C1 Advanced exam task:
An international magazine is running a series of articles on the importance of keeping in touch with people.
Readers are invited to write a letter to the magazine giving their opinions on how best to keep in touch with friends and family who live nearby and far away, and why it is important to do so.
Write a letter to the magazine.
Activity 1 Read the letter as a response to the exam task above. What seems to be wrong?
Hey there!
So, I saw that you guys are running an article on keeping in touch with people. I think it’s really important to stay in contact with family and friends, especially when they live far away.
For me, texting and video calls are the best way to do this. I try to keep in touch with my friends from college by setting up a video chat once a month. It’s always great to see their faces and catch up on what’s happening in their lives.
Anyway, just wanted to share my thoughts on this topic.
Thanks for considering it!
The register and tone aren’t appropriate for the target reader, are they? So, we need to make considerable changes.
Activity 2 Change the ten informal pieces from this letter into formal ones. Once you’ve got yours, click to unveil a possible answer.
Activity 3 You are ready to rewrite the informal letter above and turn it into a formal one.
An international magazine is running a series of articles on the importance of keeping in touch with people.
Readers are invited to write a letter to the magazine giving their opinions on how best to keep in touch with friends and family who live nearby and far away, and why it is important to do so.
Write a letter to the magazine.
Remember this C1 Advanced formal letters and emails checklist:
- Address the recipient correctly. Start with a formal greeting.
- Use formal vocabulary. Avoid using slang, contractions, or colloquial expressions in formal writing.
- Use appropriate linking words and phrases, such as “Furthermore,” “In addition,” and “Moreover” to connect ideas.
- Be concise, clear and to the point. Use direct language to convey your message.
- Close with a formal sign-off.
Part ONE Activity 2 Informal connectors
Part TWO Activity 3 Sample formal letter
By following today’s tips, you can improve your language control of formal structures and confidently write formal emails or letters in the Writing paper of the Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE) exam.
If you are looking for the five grammar structures used in formal text types, check this out: The Big HOW in C1 Formal Writings .
You have done a fair amount of work for today, haven’t you? You’ve started small, with isolated formal words, then you’ve moved on to longer written bits, like formal expressions, clauses and sentences, until you’ve finally written a whole formal letter. Good job!
It’s time you have a break!
Stay tuned for more words of advice and handy material!
