Writing Practice

I. A Brief Introduction

Write a Letter of Invitation

Invitations can be formal or informal based on the situation at hand. Formal invitations are usually laid out (设计) according to the traditional pattern and they are available at the stationer’s. If you purchase one, all you have to do is write the name(s) of the recipient(s), the nature of the event, the time, and the date in the blank spaces provided. The informal one, on the other hand, demand more personal creativity.

II. Tips for Writing Invitations

1) An informal invitation or acknowledgement is written in the same comfortable style and tone that you would use to write an informal letter.

2) Make sure your invitation offers all the information that your recipient needs — the purpose of gathering, the names of recipients, the precise date, time, and place.

3) Generally speaking, informal invitations should be mailed at least two weeks prior to a gathering.

4) In writing an acknowledgement, you should state clearly whether you’ll be there or not. If you are sending your regrets, you should offer a brief explanation of why you can’t come.

5) Your acknowledgement should also repeat the date, and (if appropriate) the place. Time is often mentioned in an informal acceptance.

III. Sample Letters

1) Formal invitation

Mr. and Mrs. Ludwig Stack

request the honour of your presence

at the marriage of their daughter

Sally Stack

to

Mr. Darrin Green

on Friday, May 16th

2008

at three o’clock

12 Carmine Street

Albany,  New York 12207

RSVP

* RSVP: (= please reply)

NB:

In formal invitations for dinners, parties, and events other than weddings, “request the pleasure of your company” is used instead of “request the honor of your presence”.

2) Informal invitation

Dear Lucy,

Trent and I are planning a dinner party on Saturday, June 14, at 7:30 p.m.. We’d very much like to have you come. Such a long time has passed since we joined up together last time!

Please let us know if you’ll be able to join us.

Affectionately,

Barbara

3) Informal acceptance

Dear Barbara,

I would love to come to the dinner party that you and Trent are having on Saturday, June 14, at 7:30 p.m.. Thank you for inviting me. It has, indeed, been too long a time since we last saw each other!

Your friend,

Lucy

4) Informal regrets

Dear Barbara,

Thank you so much for inviting me to your dinner party on Saturday, June 14. Unfortunately, much to my sorrow, I won’t be able to be there, as I have already promised to help supervise the Cancer Aid Benefit in Glenhaven that evening.

Hopefully we’ll find another opportunity to get together soon.

Love,

Lucy

IV. Homework

You are required to write a letter of invitation based on the information below and an informal acceptance letter and an informal regret letter.

我们想请贵公司参加于四月二十九日到五月四日在南京国展中心举办的2009国际商品交易会。关于交易会的详情我们一周内将寄给您。希望不久能收到您的答复，并能前来参加。

Reference:

A Letter of Invitation

Dear Mr. Grady,

We would like to invite your corporation to attend the 2009 International Fair which will be held from April 29 to May 4 at Nanjing Exhibition  Center. Full details about the fair will be sent in a week. 

We look forward to hearing from you soon, and hope that you will be able to attend. 

Yours faithfully,

Yang Kang

Informal acceptance

Dear Mr. Yang, 

Thank you for inviting our corporation to participate in the 2009 International Fair which will be held from April 29 to May 4 at Nanjing Exhibition Center. We are very pleased to accept the invitation and will be there with one of our new products.

Yours faithfully,

Grady

Informal regrets

Dear Mr. Yang, 

Thank you for inviting our corporation to participate in the 2009 International Fair which will be held from April 29 to May 4 at Nanjing Exhibition Center. Much to our sorrow, we won’t be able to come since we are opening a new shop at that time.

We hope to see you on some future occasion. 

Yours faithfully,

Grady