Email Writing: Four Formulas That Actually Work (B1)
🎙 From the classroom: Over eighteen years in hospitality, I wrote hundreds of emails to VIP guests, suppliers, and managers. The best emails I ever received — and sent — all had one thing in common: they had a clear purpose in the first sentence and a clear next step in the last. Everything else was noise.
💡 The Idea
A professional email has five parts: (1) Subject line — specific and informative, (2) Greeting — formal or semi-formal, (3) Opening line — why you’re writing, (4) Body — one main point per paragraph, (5) Closing — clear next step + professional sign-off. Keep it short: under 150 words for most professional emails.
🗣 Example
Subject: Meeting Request — Thursday 3pm
Dear Mr Chen,
I am writing to request a meeting to discuss the Q3 training schedule. Would Thursday at 3pm suit you?
Please let me know if this time is convenient or suggest an alternative.
Kind regards,
Sourov Deb
🎯 Try It Now!
Write a short professional email (80-100 words) using this situation:
✅ Check Your Answers
✅ Check your email for: (1) Specific subject line (2) Dear + title + name (3) ‘I am writing to…’ opener (4) One clear question (5) Polite close + sign-off. Avoid: ‘I am mailing you because…’ ❌ / ‘Kindly revert.’ ❌ / ‘Do the needful.’ ❌ These are common non-native patterns.
Independent project — not affiliated with, endorsed by, or accredited by Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Confers no qualification.