FORMAL LETTERS

[Fly]

hello!i'm preparing for FCE and i have some problems with formal letters.can you suggest me some expression to use?i need first of all some endings.right me soon,i need you!

[Torsten]

In British English you usually close your letter with sincerely if you use the recipient's name in the salutation. If you start with your letter with Dear Sir or Madam you close your letter with faithfully.

In American English you use sincerely, no matter if you used the recipient's name in the salutation or not.
_________________
Test Of English for International Communication
TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary

[Luz]

On the post of some newspapers(like "The times")I've read that the senders use to begin simply "Sir"...is it more usual a longer form (like "Dear etc")or not?

[Alan]

As an opening to a letter Sir to me sounds very formal and abrupt. I would suggest that Dear Sir is more acceptable.
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Words, words, words...