This essential writing guide for Moroccan Tronc Commun students details the layout and conventions of formal correspondence in English: formal application letters, letters of complaint, standard opening and closing formulas, vocabulary of formal polite requests, and model exam templates with scoring rubrics.
💡 Direct Writing Template : Formal Letter Layout
- Sender and Recipient Addresses : Sender’s address and date in the top right/left corner, followed by Recipient’s title, name and address.
- Formal Salutation : Dear Sir or Madam, (when name is unknown) OR Dear Mr./Mrs. [Last Name], (when name is known).
- Formal Opening Formula : ‘I am writing to apply for the position of…’ OR ‘I am writing to express my strong dissatisfaction with…’.
- Golden Rule for Formal Style : NO CONTRACTIONS ALLOWED (write ‘do not’ instead of ‘don’t’, ‘I would’ instead of ‘I’d’).
- Matching Sign-offs : If you opened with Dear Sir or Madam, close with
Yours faithfully,; If you opened with a named person (Dear Mr. Smith), close withYours sincerely,.
1. Critical Differences Between Informal and Formal Letters
- Tone and vocabulary : Use formal connectors (Furthermore, Consequently, Nevertheless) instead of casual words (Also, So, But).
- Polite closing request : ‘I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.’.
- Full Name : Always sign your full name clearly at the bottom.
2. Documents et exercices à télécharger (PDF)
Consultez et téléchargez les ressources pédagogiques officielles ci-dessous :
| Titre du document | Nature de la ressource | Accès |
|---|---|---|
| Lesson PDF | Document PDF | Télécharger PDF |
| Exercises PDF | Document PDF | Télécharger PDF |
| Answer Key PDF | Document PDF | Télécharger PDF |
3. Questions fréquentes des élèves (FAQ)
Q : When must you use ‘Yours faithfully’ instead of ‘Yours sincerely’?
You use ‘Yours faithfully’ when you do not know the recipient’s name (salutation ‘Dear Sir or Madam’), and ‘Yours sincerely’ when you address the person by their surname (‘Dear Mrs. Davis’).
Télécharger la ressource
Version PDF prête à consulter ou imprimer.