How to Write an Effective Email in English
With over 4 billion email users as of 2022, emails are the go-to method of communication for many people around the world. This is especially true in business and professional contexts, with companies worldwide setting personalised email accounts for all their employees so that they can correspond with clients, partners, and each other easily.
While email is relatively simple to use from a technical perspective, there are still some basic guidelines that everyone should follow in order to write effectively and keep their communications straight and to the point.
In this article, we’ll give you some tips on how to write an effective email in English in a business context.
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Table of Contents
How to Write an Effective Work Email in English – General tips
1. Use a clear and concise subject line
2. Mind the Register
3. Use a spell checker
Useful Tips to write an effective email in English at the workplace
1. Be clear and concise
2. Use a professional tone
3. Use a professional signature
Writing an effective email in English – Useful phrases for business emails
Greetings
Introduction
Getting to the point
Making a request
Saying thank you
Ending your email
Sample Emails
Sample email 1: Asking for a meeting
Sample email 2: Welcoming a new employee
How to Write an Effective Work Email in English – General tips
When it comes to email etiquette, there are a few general tips that you should always follow:
1. Use a clear and concise subject line
The subject line of your email is the first thing that the recipient will see, so it’s important to make it clear and concise. A good subject line will give the recipient an idea of what the email is about, without being too long or vague. For example, an appropriate subject title for an email about a virtual meeting might be “Videoconference on Wednesday at 10am.”
2. Mind the Register
‘Register’ refers to the level of formality in your language, and it should be consistent throughout your email. Naturally, formal language is used in settings such as academic writing or business communications, while informal language is more common in personal emails or text messages. If you’re not sure about what level of formality is expected of you in a given context, you can opt for a neutral register (neither too formal nor too informal).
3. Use a spell checker
In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to make a typo or two, but if you want to make a good impression, sending a message full of mistakes is not going to help your case. So, before you hit send, be absolutely sure to run a spell check on your email to help you catch any errors so that you can fix them before it is too late.
Useful Tips to write an effective email in English at the workplace
Now that we’ve gone over some general tips, let’s delve into more specific guidelines you can follow to write an effective email in English.
When it comes to workplace email etiquette, there are a few things to keep in mind:
1. Be clear and concise
When you’re writing a business email, it’s important to get to the point quickly and avoid any unnecessary details. One way of doing this is stating the purpose of your email in the opening sentence so that the recipient knows what to expect. For example, if you’re emailing a colleague about a project, you might say something like, “I’m looking for your input on the Alternate Football Stickers Project.”
2. Use a professional tone
In a business context, it’s important to use a professional tone. This means avoiding any slang or jargon (a professional email is probably not the best place to try to use your favourite idiomatic expressions), as well as keeping your emotions in check. Just stick to formal or neutral language and avoid exclamation points, jokes, or other informal elements.
3. Use a professional signature
Why remind people who you are in every email when you can create a professional signature that includes your name, title, the name of your company, and your contact information? Indeed, your email signature is not just a chance to make a good impression –it’s how you let both colleagues and clients know who exactly is reaching out to them.
Besides the information we mentioned before, your signature can include relevant links such as your website or social media profiles, and your company’s or project’s logo.
Writing an effective email in English – Useful phrases for business emails
Greetings
If you don’t know the recipient well, or if you want to be extra formal, you can start your email with a greeting such as “Dear Sir or Madam,” “To whom it may concern,” or simply “Hello.”
Introduction
If you know the recipient well, you can start your email with a brief introduction. For example, you might say something like, “I Hope this email finds you well”, “It was great to see you at the conference last week,” or “I’m sorry we didn’t get a chance to meet in person.” If you’ve never met the recipient in person, you can introduce yourself by using phrases such as “My name is Mike and I work for ABC company,” and even add something like “I’m a big admirer of your work.” before stating the purpose of your email.
Getting to the point
Once you’ve said hello and introduced yourself (if necessary), it’s time to get to the point. For example, you might say something like, “I’m writing to ask for your help with a project I’m working on,” or “I was hoping I could get some feedback from you on my latest report.”
Making a request
If you’re emailing someone to request something, it’s a good idea to be straightforward about what you need. For example, you might use expressions such as “I’m writing to see if you’re available for a meeting on Wednesday at 10am,” or “I was wondering if you could send me the latest sales figures.”
Saying thank you
If you’re emailing someone to say thank you, just keep your message short and sweet. Phrases like “Thank you for your help with the ABC project,” or “Thank you for your time yesterday” will help you sound grateful while not taking much of your recipient’s time.
Ending your email
Once you’ve said everything you need to say, it’s time to end your email. If you’re emailing someone for the first time, or if you want to be extra formal, you can say something like “Sincerely,” “Best regards,” or “Thank you for your time.” If you know the recipient well, or if you want to be less formal, you can say something like “Best,” “All the best,” or simply “Thanks”
Sample Emails
Now that you know the basics of how to write a business email, let’s take a look at a few sample emails.
Sample email 1: Asking for a meeting
Subject: Request for meeting
Register: Neutral
Hello Mark,
I hope this email finds you well. I’m writing to request a meeting with you to discuss the ABC project. I believe there are some areas we need to explore in more depth, and I would value your input.
Would you be available for a meeting on Wednesday at 10am? If not, please let me know what time would be more convenient for you.
Thank you for your time,
Marcel
Sample email 2: Welcoming a new employee
Subject: Welcome!
Register: Formal
Dear Mr. Smith,
We are pleased to welcome you to ABC company. We are confident that you will be a valuable addition to our team.
Please find attached a copy of your employment contract, as well as our employee handbook.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact HR.
We look forward to working with you.
Sincerely,
Susan Queally
As you can see, a good email is not a particularly elaborate one, but one that will state your agenda clearly, while making sure you sound appreciative of your addressee’s time and attention.
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If used effectively, emails can help you build relationships, resolve problems, and get work done. So be sure you keep these tips in mind the next time you need to send an email, and we are certain you will make a good impression.
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