PBAU Writing Lab
Where do you write your address in a formal English letter?
In the top right corner
Rephrase using "Despite": "Although she was ill, she went to work."
Despite being ill / Despite her illness, she went to work
Reported Command: "Wear your safety goggles," the boss said.
The boss told/ordered us to wear our safety goggles
Second Conditional: "If I (be) you, I (apply) for that scholarship."
If I were you, I would apply
A phrasal verb that means "to represent" or "to tolerate". (Example: "I won't ____ ____ ____ your laziness anymore").
Put up with
Formal opening for a Letter of Complaint: "I am writing to express my strong ____ with..."
dissatisfaction / disapproval
Combine using a relative: "That is the company. My brother works there."
That is the company where my brother works / in which my brother works
Modal of logical deduction (Negative): "It's impossible that he is at work; it's Sunday!"
He can't be at work
Express a regret about the past: "I didn't study for the exam." -> "I wish I..."
had studied for the exam
An idiom used when you have too much work to do. (Example: "I'm ____ ____ with reports").
Snowed under
A formal way to say "Also" at the beginning of a sentence.
Furthermore / Moreover / In addition
Relative pronoun for "people" when it is the OBJECT of the sentence (Formal). (Example: "The man to ____ I spoke...").
Whom
Modal of "Perfect" advice (Regret): "It was a mistake to tell him the secret."
I shouldn't have told him the secret
Complete the Mixed Conditional: "If I hadn't lost my keys (past), I (be) at home now (present)."
would be
To lose your job because the company no longer needs your position (not because you did something wrong).
made redundant
What does the abbreviation "Ref." stand for in a formal letter?
Reference
Connector of result: Name two formal synonyms for "So".
Therefore, Consequently, As a result, Thus
Change to Reported Speech: "I'll help you with the workload tomorrow," she said.
She said she would help me with the workload the following day
Use "I wish" to express annoyance with someone's habit: "Stop smoking in the office!"
I wish you would stop smoking in the office
A term for a job that is boring and involves the same actions every day.
Repetitive / Monotonous / Soul-destroying
Transform to formal: "Can you give me my money back?
I would appreciate it if you could provide a full refund / I am writing to request a refund
Define the difference: "The workers who were tired went home" (Defining) vs "The workers, who were tired, went home" (Non-defining).
In the first, only the tired ones left; in the second, ALL the workers were tired and they all left
Reported Suggestion: "Why don't we hire a new intern?"
He suggested hiring a new intern / He suggested that we (should) hire a new intern
Replace "If" with "Provided": "I will take the job if the salary is good."
I will take the job provided (that) the salary is good
The term for the money given to someone when they are forced to leave a company (compensation).
Severance pay