Informal Letter (Upper)

Asking about them, thanking for the letter

a. Hi! How are things? /… How are you (and your family)?
How’s it going? /What have you been up to?
How was (your holiday)?/ How were your exams/…?
How are things with you? How’s your new …….. going?
Have you ............................yet?

b. …I hope you are well/ everything is okay.

c. Thank you for your letter.
Many thanks for your (last) letter – it was really nice/great....
…...to hear from you again
…...to get your letter and hear all your news / hear that.....

Apologising for not writing sooner and saying why this was not possible (explain why, say what you’ve been doing recently)

a. It’s been such a long time since we wrote to each other.
…It’s been a while since I last wrote to you.

b. (I’m)(really) Sorry.....

.........I didn’t write back earlier (but…)
........ I haven’t written for so long/ for ages, but…
.........I haven’t kept in touch, but I’ve been really busy.......

c. I thought I’d better write and let you know that…

Referring to their news

…Great news about…
...Glad to hear that…
…It’s really good news that.....)
...Sorry to hear about…

BODY
Giving news and introducing new points
(start a NEW paragraph for each main point you want to make)

…Listen, did I tell you…?
…Oh, and another thing.
…By the way, you’ll never guess/believe.......

…(Do) You remember I told you in my last letter that........
…Let me tell you about.......
…Guess what?
…Anyway, you asked me to tell you.......
…The big news is that.........Can you believe it?
…One piece of sad news you’ll be sorry to hear is that .....
…One last thing.

Making suggestions

Why don’t you…?
Maybe you could…
How about…?

Changing topic Anyway, ...

Closing expressions (1)
(Give a reason for ending your letter)

a. That’s (about) all for now. Got to go.
…That’s about all my news.

b. Got to go now as .....
I must go and......-
I’d better stop/go now and.....
(I’d better say goodbye for now).

Closing expressions (2)
(Mention the next time you will see the person you are writing to, say when you hope to see/contact your friend)

a. Give my love/regards to....
Say hello to…
Everybody sends their love to…
We all miss you (too)

b. Write (back) /drop me a line soon (and tell me all your news).
I’d love to hear from you.

(I’m) (really) looking forward to seeing you soon (in July/on…)
See you soon!
Can’t wait to see you (in the summer).

Signing off
Love,/ Lots of love, /All my love, /With love,
Yours,
All the best
Take care,
Much love,...
Thinking of you,