Email writing
Levels of formality in email writing
Asking for help and advice
Formal emails are used when the writer is asking advice from someone outside their company, someone they don’t know very well, or someone they consider to be more senior to them. Informal emails asking for advice would most likely be sent to colleagues at a similar level in the company, or to people the writer knows relatively well.
The following table includes common phrases that can be used to ask for advice in formal and informal emails.
Giving help and advice
When responding to requests and advice, it’s generally safest to follow the style of the original email you received.
The following table includes common phrases that can be used to give advice and to close this type of email.
Mistakes and apologies
It’s more common to use formal language when apologizing for a mistake, even when you are emailing someone you know well. It’s a way of showing that you are truly sorry for what happened. Informal emails can also be written, but it’s advisable to limit these to situations where the mistake is very minor.
The following table includes common phrases that can be used to apologize. The formal phrases are more commonly used in emails, so focus on these in particular.