A letter of complaint

A letter of complaint:

The letter of complaint usually consists of three issues:

一

the reason for writing the letter,

1. I am writing to complain about…/that…

2. I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with somebody about something

3. I am most reluctant to complain, but…

4. I feel sorry to trouble you but I am afraid I have to make a complaint about…

Examples:

I

am

writing

to

complain

about

the

service

on

the

Beijing-Shanghai

train

which

I

took

on

August 16, 2001.

I am writing to express my dissatisfaction about the Walkman I bought at the duty-free shop in

your airport on February 14, 2005.

二

background information and problems (past tense)

三

actions required

1.

I

would

be

grateful

/

I

shall

appreciate

it

very

much

if

you

could

take

the

matter

into

consideration and solve it at your earliest convenience.

2. I would li

ke to have this matter settled by the end of…/ within 14 days.

Sample 1

You live in a room in college which you share with another student. You find it very difficult to

work

there

because

he

or

she

always

has

friends

visiting.

They

have

parties

in

the

room

and

sometimes borrow your things without asking you.

Write a letter to the Accommodation Office at the college and ask for a new room next term.

You would prefer a single room. Explain your reasons.

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to inform you that I wish to move into a new room next term. I would prefer a

single room, as I find the present sharing arrangement inconvenient.

I must explain that the reason for my dissatisfaction is my roommate’s inconsiderate behavior.

For one thing, his friends are constantly visiting him; for another, he regularly holds noisy parties.

In addition, he sometimes borrows my things without asking me. In these circumstances, I find it

difficult to concentrate on my studies, and I am falling behind in my assignments.

I am sure you will agree that the only solution is for me to move into a room of my own, where

I will be free from such distractions. Therefore, I would be grateful if you could find a single room

for me, preferably not in the same building but as near to the college campus as possible.

Yours sincerely,

Janice Kennedy

Sample 2

You have received your pay for your summer holiday part-time job, but your pay is less than

you were promised. Please write a letter to the manager of the unit, clearly stating what work you

have done and how long your work took. While explaining your case, put forward your demand

and suggestion.

Dear Manager,

I have received the $$800 check which

you pay to

me as a part-time software programmer

in

your

company

during

my

latest

summer

vacation.

However,

I

am

at

a

loss

why

the

amount

is

$$ 100 less than you promised to pay me.

It was contracted that a part-

time software programmer’s weekly wage is $$ 300. I signed the

contract with you and consequently worked in your company for a total of 3 weeks. In the period,

I went to and from work on time and to your satisfaction, I completed each task that you assigned

me without any errors.

Also, no blame about me was ever heard in any aspect. So my total income should be $$ 900,

which is $$ 100 more than that I gained from you. I firmly insist on your kind explanation of the

difference and making it up as soon as possible.

Your early reply would be highly appreciated.

Yours sincerely

Janet Smith

Sample 3

Dear Manager:

Much to my regret, I write this to place a complaint against your bad delivery service of your

company.

The

Samsung

tape

recorder

model

number

JB/4703

that

I

ordered

from

your

company

on

Nov. 1, arrived yesterday. The serial number of the machine is 4703 -0641. I am sorry to report

that the recorder has been badly damaged. There was no unusual damage to the packing case, but

when I opened it, I found that the lid of the recorder had been cracked and that the front surface of

the machine had been scratched.

Since there was such damage to the goods, I decided to file a complaint against the delivery

service.

Would

you

please

let

me

know

whether

I

should

return

the

recorder

to

you

for

a

replacement or if you have an authorized service representative here to which I should take it? I

will hold on to this recorder until I hear from you.

Sincerely yours,

Jonathan Edwards

社交书信

(Letters of Social Activities)

社交书信包括的内容很多，如邀请 信、推荐信、介绍信、证明信、贺信、感谢信等等

A Letter of Congratulation

祝贺信

开头：开门见山，说明消息来源

正文：回忆过去，表明感受，展望未来，提出建议。

结尾：表达祝愿

常用句型：

What exciting/thrilling news!

It is good/sensational news.

I was delighted/thrilled to hear/to receive the news that

…

.

It is the most joyful news I have heard for a long time.

I congratulate you on/upon your success.

Congratulations and all good/best wishes.

Please accept my heartiest congratulations on

…

Permit me to congratulate you

…

We want you to know how happy we were when

…

It gave me a great deal of pleasure to learn

…

Wish you all the happiness in the world.

I hope you will have nothing but joy and happiness in your life/career.

All the luck in the world to you!

Best of luck to you!

55 Fifth Avenue

New York 10003

October 19th, 2002

Mr. Joseph R. Smith

4903 Ellis Avenue

Chicago, Illinois 60607

Dear Mr. Smith,

As soon as I heard of your election to the board of directors of your firm, I felt I must write

you to let you know how happy I am with your advancement.

All of your friends have felt that in spite of the great difficulties you have faced in your

climb up through the ranks, the outstanding ability we all recognized in you. This could not go

unacknowledged. This advancement is certainly

your due, and I think

your firm should also be

congratulated on taking advantage more fully of your exceptional talents.

Sincerely yours,

Emil Holgerson

A Letter of Apology

道歉信

(Letters of Apologies)

道歉信是写信人对未尽之事向收信人表示歉意。语言要诚挚， 解释的理由要真实，不

要显出丝毫虚情假意，从而使收信人理解，并达到最终谅解。

开头：简单交代对何事进行道歉。

正文：解释事情发生的原因，消除误会或矛盾。

结尾：再次表示遗憾和歉意，表明 愿意补救的愿望，提出建议或安排。

常用句型：

I must apologize to you for

…

I am very sorry that..

I regret to inform you that I will not be able to

…

I am afraid what I have done has caused many inconveniences to you.

I sincerely hope you understand that I offended you quite unintentionally.

I believe you can understand that I have not intended to hurt you.

I owe you an apology.

It is my fault.

I am to blame for this unpleasant thing.

Please pardon/excuse/forgive me.

I sincerely hope that you will kindly accept my apologies.

I will try my utmost not to make such a stupid mistake again.

I trust the settlement of the matter will meet your wishes.

I hope you will kindly forgive my lapse of attention.

I am so sorry to have put you to/into so much trouble.

应注意：

事情原委要解释清楚。

说明情况与理由，实事求是，简明扼要。

态度诚恳。

用词委婉，语气温和，得体。

256 Weeton Road,

2nd Floor,

Hong Kong

7th June, 2004

Dear David,

I am very sorry that I could not meet you last night. I hope that you did not wait too long

outside the New York Theatre. I had to look after my small brother until my mother returned home.

She

was

a

long

time

at

the

doctor's

and,

she

arrived

home

very

late.

I

ran

all

the

way

to

the

bus-stop., but I had already missed the bus. I decided to get on a tram and I arrived at the New

York

Theatre

at

eight

o'

clock.

I

did

not

think

that

you

would

still

be

there

because

I

was

three-quarters of an hour late. I do hope that you will forgive me.

Your friend,

Peter

Oct. 31, 2000

Dear Mr. Clark,

I would like to express my apologies for not being able to keep our 9 o

’

clock appointment. I

had

a

small

accident

on

my

way

to

school.

I

will

come

over

to

your

apartment

the

day

after

tomorrow

—

Monday,

November

2,

at

9

a.m.

if

that

is

convenient

for

you.

I

will

check

my

mailbox tomorrow to see if you have left a note for me. Otherwise, I will see you at nine, Monday

morning. With many apologies.

Yours

Li Xiaomei(Signed)

December 15, 2000

Dear Mary,

I am very sorry that I was out when you came to see me yesterday afternoon. The fact is

that I had an engagement with some friends and, ignorant of your visit, accompanied them to the

cinema. Not until nine o’clock in the evening did I come back. You must have been disappointed

by my absence.

I hope you will not leave the city this week. I will call on you on Friday afternoon at

four o

’

clock. As this is the first time you come to Beijing, I will take you to some places that may

interest you. Please wait for me in your hotel at the appointed time.

Yours truly,

Xiao Cheng

感谢信

开头：表达谢意，提及受到的帮助。

正文： 回忆该帮助，高度评价

/

赞扬对方，表达当时的心情感受。

结尾：再次表达谢意，提出回报希望。

常用句型：

I am grateful/thankful to you for

…

I am much obliged to you for your help.

I shall always appreciate the assistance you have given me.

I am writing to express my thanks to you for the many kindnesses you showed me when

I was in hospital.

It was most thoughtful /considerate/ considerable and generous of you to send me such a

beautiful and fancy gift.

It is very kind of you to help us.

I hope you can know how much I appreciate your hospitality and your many kindnesses

to me.

But for your help, I would not..

If it had not been for your timely assistance, I am afraid that..

Thanks from the bottom of my heart for

…

With thanks from every one of us and best wishes to you.

Again, I would like to express our warm thanks to you.

I shall be pleased to reciprocate your favor when the opportunity arises.

应注意：

开头要直截了当。

表明诚意，避免空洞。

态度热情

Beginning of a thank-you letter

I

am

writing

to

extend/convey

my

heart-felt

thanks/sincere

appreciation/gratitude

to

you

for…

End of a thank-you letter

1.

I must thank you again for your generous help / kind assistance.

2.

Please accept my gratitude, now and always.