Idioms and phrasal verbs

Normally, when we are writing more formally, we avoid using idioms and phrasal verbs as they are more typical of spoken language. It is, however, quite possible to use some idioms and phrasal verbs in less formal letters. Here are some phrasal verbs you could use:

visit = drop by or come round

investigate = look into

manage = get by

meet/find = come across

Vocabulary choice

In more formal/academic writing, there are some words we normally avoid using, but which you can use in this less formal type of writing. These words are either very simple general use words or imprecise words:

get = more formally “become” or “receive” or “obtain”

great = “excellent”

really = “extremely”

thing = object/activity

sort of = “type of”

Direct language and politeness

If you are writing a more formal letter, you need to be careful that it is appropriately polite. When you are writing to a friend, however, you do not need to be so polite. Typically, when we are polite we use more indirect language, but with friends we are much more direct and can even use imperative forms. So for example:

I would like = I want

I would be grateful if you could come = Please come

The model letter

Dear Pablo,

I’ve got some really exciting news to share with you. Guess what? I’ve won a holiday for two people in a competition. I do hope that you can come with me.

All I had to do to win the competition was write a slogan for a local travel agency. My winning submission was “Fly LTC and see the world”. As I said, my prize is a holiday and it is a cruise around the Mediterranean for a fortnight. The ship is the latest luxury liner and has all sorts of entertainment facilities including a swimming pool, a cinema complex and onboard tennis courts. It sounds as if it should be great fun.

I really hope that you are available sometime this summer. I’d love it if you could come with me, as it sounds just your cup of tea and you could always act as an interpreter for me when we get to Spain!

I need to book the cruise quite soon, so just drop me a line if you are free.

All the best

Angela