书信是联系亲情的纽带，交流感情的渠道。凭借书信，可以传递信息倾诉衷肠，也可以邀朋会友共享快乐；可以忏悔过失求得谅解，也可以诚心诚意表示感激；可以推荐自我谋得空间，还可以量体裁衣求得发展。随着信息时代的飞速发展，借助于网络，作为书信家族“新贵”的电子邮件e-mail的粉墨登场，让信件的写作更具真实性和时代感。

由于文化背景和风俗习惯的不同，英语书信在格式、表达方式以及写作风格等方面都异于汉语书信。作为书面表达最常见的应用文考查形式，英语书信尽管应包括收信人的姓名与地址、寄信人的姓名、寄信人的地址、写信的时间等，但考查重点仍是书信的内容。它要求考生用所学词汇、语法和句型来组织语言进行表达。

不同内容的书信在用词和语气上有一定的差异。一般私人信件比较随便，用词讲究不大，而求职信、申请信、道歉信、感谢信、邀请信等则要求语言较为正式，措辞得当，格式完整。

★ 写作步骤

1. 审清题意，理解所要写作的书信是何种类型，收信人是什么身份，应采用什么语气和格式来完成写作。

2. 罗列词汇，根据提示，将可能用到的词汇、短语、句型搜集整理。

3. 串句成篇，适当添加连接词和过渡词，必要时增加相关细节以使行文连贯。

4. 检查润色。

★ 各类书信写作中常用句型

邀请信：

It is my pleasure / a great honor for me to invite you to ...

I am sure that you will enjoy yourself here.

I hope that you won’t decline my invitation.

感谢信：

It was kind and generous of you to do this for me and I do appreciate it more than I can say.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for ...

道歉信：

I am terribly sorry that I have done ...

I hope that the settlement of the matter will meet your wishes.

I regret to inform you that I am unable to do ...

询问信：

I am writing to you in the hope that I may obtain ...

I shall be grateful if you can offer me the information about ...

I would like some detailed information about ...

求职信：

I wish to apply for a position with your company.

I am very interested in exploring a position as a ... with your company.

I trust myself that I have the appropriate qualifications and experience for this post.

投诉信：

I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with / at ...

I am completely disappointed to find ...

英文书信作文常用句型

一、开首语

Pardon me, though a stranger to you personally, for taking liberty to address you these few lines.

As I have not heard of you for long, I feel anxious.

I must apologize for not having written to you previously.

Please pardon my long in writing to you.

Pardon me for neglect when you honored me with a visit the other day.

Having mislaid your address, I have not been able to reply sooner.

Your letter of the 4th this month was duly received.

I have the pleasure to tell you that..

I have just received your kind letter.

Your kind letter of Saturday arrived this morning.

二、结束语

Please notify me soon.

Looking forward to a prompt reply.

Please do not fail to write to me.

I shall feel obliged by a reply at your earliest convenience.

I look for your answer in a few days.

Let me hear if you receive the parcel safely.

As the season grows colder, I hope you will take good care of yourself.

With kind regards to your family.

Please give my compliments to your family.

Pray give my best remembrances to Mr. Brown.

My parents ask also to add their best thanks to mine.

Adieu till then.

Thanking you for the past favour.

I think you for the trouble you have taken.

Hoping you will have a pleasant trip.

Wishing you a pleasant journey.

The help you sent is sincerely valued.

三、社交用语

The bearer of this letter, Mr. Chen, professor of ..., (an esteemed friend of mine), is desirous of being introduced to your acquaintance.

I am very grateful for your kindness in permitting me to...

I respectfully acknowledge your note and will wait upon you as proposed.

Should an interview be desired, I shall be happy to call at any hour you may appoint.

I have some important business matter to communicate to you.

Anything further will be discussed when we meet.

I regret that a prior engagement will prevent me from a tending.

I think you for your kind entertainment last evening.

I shall have great pleasure in accepting your invitation.

Accept my thanks for our handsome present.

四、祝愿语

I wish you a happy New Year.

Pray accept my best and sincerest wishes for the New Year.

Presenting the compliments of the season.

With every good wish.

Pray allow me to congratulate your most heartily on your success in your examination.

I am glad to hear that you were appointed..., on which I congratulate you most heartily.

I congratulate you upon your success.