IELTS General Writing: informal letters

Later today I'll publish a video lesson about writing informal letters. Here's the question that you'll see me answer in the lesson.

Update: I'm really sorry that I still haven't published this video lesson. I should have time to finally finish it on Wednesday 7th December.

Comments

[Humer]

Hello Simon,

I'm wondering what happened to your archive before 2016? Did you remove them on purpose? We would be much more glad if you get them back. Thank you for such great efforts you have made during these years.

[Simon]

Humer,

The archives are still there. Just click on the archive title "Archives" and you will see the whole list of months/years before 2016.

[Enam]

Dear Simon,
I expect more topic vocabulary in your upcoming GT Video relating to following types of letter.

1. Giving or requesting information
2. Giving good or bad news
3. Giving instruction
4. Complaining
5. Advising & suggesting

[Simon]

Hi Enam,

Yes, I'm definitely going to do a lesson that focuses on phrases for those things, as well as a few others like thanking, explaining reasons and apologising.

That lesson will come soon. Before it, I'm making the lessons about informal and semi-formal letters.

[Artur]

Looking forward to the upcoming video lesson.

[Simon]

Thanks Artur. I've just published it.

[Charlie]

just wrote this letter, is it good to get band 7
Dear John,

Hope you and Nancy both are doing well, extremely sorry John; I can't come and see you in Glasgow City centre next week.

You know what, suddenly, my company announced that it has acquired an Indian international company to expand their software services business all over Asia, and now I’ve been asked to fly to India to lead the onsite transition team to provide the transition to an offshore team in India. This will be a great opportunity to learn and showcase my leadership skills to the company management, perhaps, which could also help for my next promotion that is under their review for a while now.

John, I’ll fly back from India a week before Christmas and over the same weekend I’m visiting my Aunt’s house in Edinburgh as she is hosting a Christmas party for our entire family and friends. I’d be really glad if you and Nancy could join us there and we all can hang out there with Paul and Sharin as they will also be joining there. Don’t worry about your accommodation, I’ve already spoken to my Aunt, and she promised me that she’ll take care of it.

Hope to see you soon there, until then, take care of yourself.

Regards,
Charlie

[Dan]

Hello Charlie,thought, a little bit change made your tone informal.

Hope you and Nancy both are doing well, I’m really sorry to let you know that I can’t come and see you in Glasgow next week.
My company, all of a sudden, announced that it has found an international company to develop their software services all over Asian, and I’ve been asked to fly to India to lead the developer team, and I think this will be a great opportunity to hone my skills and show my leadership potential to the company management. I think this helps me to get my promotion fast.
I’ll fly back from India a week before Christmas and at the weekend I’ll visit my Aunt in Edinburgh, as she is going to host a Christmas party for all of my family members and friends. I’d be really glad if you and Nancy could join us there and we hang out for a while. By the way, you can stay with us here in Aunt’s home, I’ve already talked to her, and she got happy to have you there.
Hope to see you soon,

Cheers,
Charlie

[Dan+s]

Dear John

I hope you and Nancy are both doing well. I’m really sorry to let you know that I can’t come to see you in Glasgow next week.

My company, all of a sudden, announced that it has found an international company to develop their software services all over Asia, and I’ve been asked to fly to India to lead the development team. I think this is a great opportunity to hone my skills and show my leadership potential to company management, which will help me get my promotion more quickly.

Although I will return to Scotland in the week before Christmas, I plan to visit my Aunt in Edinburgh over the weekend, as she is hosting a Christmas party for all of my family members and friends. I’d be really glad if you and Nancy could join us there and we could spend some time together. I spoke to my aunt about your possible visit, and she was very excited at the prospect of you coming, and offered that you are welcome to stay at her home if you wish.

Hope to see you soon.

Cheers,
Charlie

[ASLAN]

hi Simon. Could you give your opinion about my letter. thank you so much

Hi Dear Jamie'
I am really sorry to let you know that I have to cancel our meeting on this Friday due to my wife's surgery.

As you know that in our last meeting on last meeting that we decided to meet on 14th of December which is this Friday , however having cancer, my wife has been decided to be taken an operation this weekend to decrease the effects of the significant disease. I should stay with her and encourage apple of my eye about this important situation. Therefore, unfortunately I would like to ask you kindly to postpone our meeting to next week same day, same time and same place.

Please accept my apologies. Thank you for your understanding.

With love
Aslan
I am looking forward to see you next Friday.

[ASLAN]

(I've just mixed some n=minor problems)thank you again

Hi Dear Jamie,
I am really sorry to let you know that I have to cancel our meeting on this Friday due to my wife's surgery.

As you know that in our last meeting, we decided to meet on 14th of December which is this Friday , however having cancer, my wife has been decided to be taken an operation this weekend to decrease the effects of the significant disease. I should stay with her and encourage apple of my eye about this important situation. Therefore, unfortunately I would like to ask you kindly to postpone our meeting to next week same day, same time and same place.

Please accept my apologies. Thank you for your understanding.
I am looking forward to see you next Friday.

With love
Aslan

[Vinod]

Hi All,
Please check my letter.

Dear Smith,

How are things with you? I am just writing this letter to tell you that I will be unable to tour England next week as planned.

Yesterday, I was selected in my regional team to play a national cricket tournament. It was came as a very pleasant surprise as I had been working very hard to cement a place in the cricket team. The tournament will commence next month requires me to join the training camp prior to the start of tournament. Therefore, I have no choice but to stay back home.

It is a big breakthrough for my cricketing career. I do not want to miss this opportunity. Therefore, unfortunately my visit to England had to be cancelled. But, I hope you will empathize with me.

However, I can re-schedule my trip to England for the coming month of January. Please let me know your availability at that time so that I can book my air tickets.

I’m looking forward to meeting you soon.

Best wishes,
Johan

[Bing]

Dear Sara,

I hope everything goes well with you. I’m writing to tell you that I’m afraid I have to cancel our meeting on next Saturday. I feel really sorry about this.

The reason why I have to cancel our meeting is I will be on a 5-day business trip to London from next Friday. My boss gave me a very short time notice this morning since it is an urgent request from our client. Our project in London experiences some critical technical issues which need to be solved as soon as possible. The flight tickets and accommodations were booked immediately after the notice.

I will come back the town on 25th of this month. Will be available to meet on either Saturday or Sunday of that week? If you cannot make time then, please suggest a time you are able to meet. I miss you very much and hope to catch up soon.

Yours,

Bing

[sujit kumar biswas]

Dear Sharon

Hope you are happy and healthy. I am writing to inform you that I will not be able to meet with you next week.

My high officials from my head office will come to visit my office and they will monitor our field works. As I decided earlier to meet with you next week but sorry for this inconvenience.

My GM and AGM Sir were supposed to come another date but unfortunately they have changed their schedule.Furthermore, this is the pick time of our field visit as wheat seed crop are being in flowering stage.Therefore, I wouldn't be to go anywhere.

Let's plan for the next week when we have two days special holiday;16th december , our victory day.I think after celebrating our victory day we can easily meet. We have lots of thing to discuss and hopefully we meet at the bank of padma river, a nice place with lush green vegetation for passing some valuable time.

So, friend please don't mind. We must get together at 16 december.

Keep smile all time,
by
Akib

[J Doss]

Hi Doss,

How are you mate, hope you doing very well and enjoy your holidays. I have something to discuss about our upcoming plan to meet up.

I’m sorry to inform that i cannot make it for the next week meet up, and I’m very sad to cancel it. My apologies for the inconvenient this time. I feel very bad to cancel the exciting meet up. I cannot avoid it this time.

Unfortunately i have to prepare and sit for final exam which will be next week. The exam is postponed for a week due to extreme weather. I cannot wait to finish the final exam and relax after 2 years.

But i have an idea, I think i can join you the follow week after exam to Paris. And i believe that will be more fun and unforgettable.

Hope to hear from you soon as possible for me get the train ticket and pack my bag to Paris. See you real soon.

With Hugs,
Jonathan

[Vikky]

Hello Simon,

This is my first letter towards my ielts preperation and would really appreciate your feedback on this.

Dear Sam,

How are you? I hope you are enjoying this beautiful weather. We have arranged our meeting for next week but I am afraid I would not be able to make it. We need to cancel this meting and I am very sorry for changing the plan.

I was eagerly looking foward to meet you but then I realised that next week, I am on official tour to Australia to roll-out the software release just completed in my company. Earlier, when we made plans for our meeting that time my manager was not sure about who needs to travel and when.

Now travel plan has been finalised and I have discussed with my manager that I would be on leaves once I will complete this assignment. I am planning to buy your favorite Australian wine from there and would like to gift you. I propose that we shold plan to meet on 20th Februaryagt your hosue. We will celebrate our get togetherwith our other friends. I am sure you would also be keen to share stories of your Duabi trip.

I am looking forward to meet you soon.

Best Regards,
V.

[Gurpreet]

Dear Aman,
It was a moment of joy when we both agreed to meet on Saturday, 29th February 2017 at the Radisson Hotel at 12:00 pm, but I regret to inform you that, I Will unable to meet you on the aforesaid date.

As you know, I am persuing Chartered Accountancy course and my exams are drawing near, I , yesterday received a letter from my University confirming the date of presentation and viva, which is unfortunately, on the same date. So it will not be possible for me to see you there at that date.
Is it fine that we will meet on 2nd March or any later date?, which will suit you,on the same date and time and at same venue.As you know, I never cancel or postpone any meeting, but due to this sudden announcement for practicals, I have to.
I am sorry for any inconvenience caused to you and accept my sincere apologies. I will definitely see you on the date that now you will recomend. So tell me the date when you will be free. Give my best wishes to your younger brother,Aaron, for his examinations. See you soon.

Love,
Gurpreet.

[Noura]

Hello Jul,
Hope you are doing well, dear. I eagerly wait for our meeting. However, I suddenly supposed to change our plan.
As you know I have been applied for FELT course. Then, I have been told that i have been accepted.However waiting to you, it's pleasant surprise to me that I have the chance to be a professional teacher.
I'm sorry to entrupt your plan for a vacation. But ,once I will finish my academic course, I will recall you to arrange another meeting.
keep in touch
Noura,

[jaspreet]

Hi could you please asses my letter....

Hi Darren,
It's been a long time since we last met.Hope you are doing good.I know we a planned to meet next week but i won't be able to meet you.I am really apologetic as we can't have a reunion.
It happened to be a strange coincidence but me cousin brother is getting married on same day we decided to meet.I will be really busy at that time and will be on the other town for the entire week.
Last but not the least we can plan for a reunion after my brother's marriage as i will be in town.We can meet on day week after the next at our college coffee shop around 7 P.M. day will be wednesday.
Hope to see you soon ,until then take care of you self.

Regards,
Jaspreet

[Khaled Said]

Dear Mohamed,

I hope me email finds you in a good health. I am writing this letter regarding our meeting on next Friday night at my house where supposed to have dinner with each other. Unfortunately, I am so sorry for the inconvenience to cancel our meeting due to some circumstances I have encountered this week, so let me explain the situation to you.

Nowadays, our company had received a proposal to be merged with one of the greatest IT companies over the world. Therefore, we have been constantly meeting with all related parties include, top management, auditors, as well as banks. Consequently, I have worked flat out and have not got a minute to myself even including weekends. As a result, I believe that the situation will continue for next 2 weeks.

I would like to see you on Saturday Evening April 19th at 7:00 PM at Starbucks where we would grab couple coffee and stop by TJ Friday restaurant to have dinner together.

Please let me know that if that will be convenient for to you. I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours Sincerely,

Khaled

[WangPu]

hi Simon. Could you give your opinion about my letter, and whether I can get Band 6. thank you so much.

Dear John,

It’s extremely pity that I could not come and meet you at World Trade Centre of Beijing next week. I am very sorry about that, but I have to cancel the meeting.
As you know, Last year I changed my job to a company named HUAWEI. It is the biggest telecom equipment manufacturer, and famous for its high competitive and pressure job. Due to some bugs of our equipments’ software, I have to flight to Thailand to fix them as a software engineer next Monday. It will take about one or two weeks to deal with them. So it’s why I could not attend the meeting with you.
I suppose I will be back at the end of this month. We could meet at the first weekend of next month. Could you have free time of that weekend? I will meet you at the same place and take you to have a dinner in one delicious local Chinese restaurant. Wish you have time.

Regards,
Wang

[DJ]

Hello Frank,

I am writing now regarding our trip that we are going to meet in Australia on next week. I can predict how much you are interested in the trip.

First of all, I really don't want to tell you about the cancellation of our trip, but I have to apologize you for the unexpected decision without compromising of you.

I would like to explain why I have to cancel it. My manager requested me yesterday that I must attend to a significant conference that will be held in Singapore from next Monday for 2 weeks because I should present to a second global manager about current issues that are related to important customers.

I can suggest you that we will be able to meet in Singapore after finishing the conference instead of coming here, so this will be helpful for you to reduce your budget as well.

I am sorry again for the urgent change, let me know if you have any other suggestion.

Best regards,
DJ.

[Eric YU]

Hi Simon, please give me some advice. Thank you!

Dear Eric,

I hope you’re well. I am writing to inform you that I am quite busy recently, so I can’t meet you next Thursday, which I am very sorry about.

Do you remember that I have told you about my boss tended to assign me a new case. He told me last week that I should accomplish this task before next Friday. Because I am unfamiliar with this assignment, I’ve spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to get this job done.

However, since we haven’t seen each other for a couple of years, I am very looking for this meet. If you are convenient, we can postpone the meeting to Saturday night after I finish my new challenge. We can have a good time without pressure as well as celebrate my achievement together in the restaurant we’ve eat several times.

I will be very grateful about your understanding. Please let me know will you be able to accept my invitation, I am going to make a dinner reservation for Saturday.

Speak soon

Monkey

[rathy]

Hi Simon, Please tell is this letter is ok for grade 7
Dear Suja,
I hope by Gods grace you and your family members are doing good. I know how much you are excited about our meeting. I am sorry to inform you that I have to hold up my visit.

My brother had met with an accident and he is admitted in the hospital. Doctor has advised him to be in bed rest for one month.My husband is also out of station and he has gone to attend some business meeting. At present he needs me and I have to look after him.

I wonder if it is possible to visit you after 2 months. I can take some time off and book my tickets by next month end. Is it possible for you?
Please write and let me know what your response is. I hope you will understand. convey my regards to all there.
I'm looking forward to hear from you.
Best Wishes,
Rathy.

[rathy]

Hi Simon, Please tell is this letter is ok for grade 7
Dear Suja,
I hope by Gods grace you and your family members are doing good. I know how much you are excited about our meeting. I am sorry to inform you that I have to hold up my visit.

My brother had met with an accident and he is admitted in the hospital. Doctor has advised him to be in bed rest for one month.My husband is also out of station and he has gone to attend some business meeting. At present he needs me and I have to look after him.

I wonder if it is possible to visit you after 2 months. I can take some time off and book my tickets by next month end. Is it possible for you?
Please write and let me know what your response is. I hope you will understand. convey my regards to all there.
I'm looking forward to hear from you.
Best Wishes,
Rathy.

[Williams]

Dear Janet,
I hope you're well. I am writing to inform you, that I won't be making it to the meeting.
As you all know I have a younger brother who is preparing for his entrance exams to college. I have to drop him at exam center and pick shim up. For this reason I won't be available,but really wish to meet you.
But over the weekend I will be available, I don't know if it is convenient for you so we could meet at the cinema.
I look forward to meeting you again.
Regards
John

[kajal]

hi simon plz check out my letter n suggest me to improve for 7 bands
Dear jane and sophie,

I hope you both are well. I am just writing to cancel our weekend plan that we have made to spend quality time together. I heartily apologise for my absence.

The reason behind this is my term examination that has been popped up unexpectedly and scheduled to begin from next week. The sudden arrival of examination has made me feel anxious about my preparation that is now running out of time.

I know you must be feeling bad due to the cancellation of our meeting but I assure you that we will definitely meet soon after my exams. Moreover we will spend a whole week together instead of a weekend as I am going to have vacations at that time. The place will be of your choice.

I am extremely sorry for this inconvenience.

See you soon.

kj

[Isoo]

Dear Sara,
I hope you have been keeping well. I am writing to apologize for not being able to meet you next week.
I was looking forward to see you next Saturday at our favourite restaurant, it has been a long time since we meet up together. However, I'm afraid that would be unattainable at this time.
My company is to sign a new project and I have to meet our new clients this weekend. Therefore I will be quite occupied for the whole week. moreover, I might be obliged to travel to Dammam for two days or so to settle everything down.
However, I'll have a short break later on. I'm all yours on the third, fourth and fifth of December. pick the date that suits you! Also, I suggest that we try somewhere else. How about the new coffee shop that recently opened in Riyadh Park centre? The place looks fabulous with extraordinary design and I checked the menu too, it's quite intriguing.
Sorry again, waiting for your response and see you soon,
Islam