IELTS Guide Phil

Mastering the art of letter writing for IELTS General Training Writing Task 1 requires understanding the nuances of different formality levels. The vocabulary you choose must match your relationship with the recipient and the purpose of your letter. This comprehensive guide presents 100 carefully selected vocabulary words organized by formality level, complete with definitions and contextual examples to help you achieve the appropriate tone and register. You can watch this YouTube video explainer by IELTS Guide Phil.

Formal Letters (35 words)

Opening and Addressing (8 words)

1. Esteemed – Highly respected and admired
   I am writing to your esteemed organization regarding the scholarship opportunity.
2. Distinguished – Successful and commanding respect
   I would like to thank your distinguished committee for considering my application.
3. Venerable – Accorded respect because of age, wisdom, or character
   Your venerable institution has maintained excellence for decades.
4. Eminent – Famous and respected within a particular sphere
   I am honored to address such an eminent panel of experts.
5. Illustrious – Well known and respected for past achievements
   Your illustrious company has set industry standards.
6. Pursuant – In accordance with; following
   I am writing pursuant to our telephone conversation yesterday.
7. Pertaining – Relating to; concerning
   I require information pertaining to the registration process.
8. Regarding – Concerning; with respect to
   I am writing regarding the position advertised in yesterday’s newspaper.

Expressing Purpose and Intent (10 words)

9. Solicit – To ask for or try to obtain
   I would like to solicit your advice on this matter.
10. Inquire – To ask for information
    I am writing to inquire about accommodation options.
11. Petition – To make a formal request
    I wish to petition for reconsideration of my application.
12. Request – To politely ask for something
    I would like to request an extension for the deadline.
13. Beseech – To ask urgently and fervently
    I beseech you to consider my exceptional circumstances.
14. Endeavor – To try hard to achieve something
    I will endeavor to complete the requirements by the specified date.
15. Ascertain – To find out for certain; make sure of
    I am writing to ascertain the current status of my application.
16. Apprise – To inform or tell someone
    Please apprise me of any changes to the schedule.
17. Clarify – To make clear or easier to understand
    I would appreciate if you could clarify the admission requirements.
18. Elaborate – To explain in greater detail
    Could you please elaborate on the selection criteria?

Expressing Gratitude and Courtesy (8 words)

19. Gratitude – The quality of being thankful
    I would like to express my sincere gratitude for your assistance.
20. Appreciation – Recognition of the value or significance of something
    Please accept my appreciation for your prompt response.
21. Acknowledgment – Recognition of the existence or truth of something
    I would like to acknowledge your support throughout this process.
22. Obliged – Under a moral or legal duty; grateful
    I would be much obliged if you could provide this information.
23. Indebted – Owing gratitude for a service or favor
    I am deeply indebted to you for your guidance.
24. Beholden – Under obligation for a favor received
    I remain beholden to your organization for this opportunity.
25. Courtesy – Polite behavior; a polite gesture
    I would appreciate the courtesy of a written confirmation.
26. Deference – Respectful submission to another’s wishes
    In deference to your expertise, I seek your recommendation.

Closing and Final Remarks (9 words)

27. Anticipate – To expect or look forward to
    I anticipate your favorable response to this request.
28. Await – To wait for
    I await your reply with keen interest.
29. Sincerely – In a genuine way; honestly
    I sincerely hope you will consider my application favorably.
30. Respectfully – In a way that shows respect
    I respectfully request your consideration of this matter.
31. Cordially – In a warm and friendly way
    You are cordially invited to attend the ceremony.
32. Faithfully – In a loyal manner
    I remain faithfully committed to meeting all requirements.
33. Assurance – A positive declaration intended to give confidence
    Please accept my assurance that this will not happen again.
34. Disposition – A person’s inherent qualities; arrangement
    I trust in your fair disposition of this matter.
35. Compliance – The action of conforming to rules or standards
    I will ensure full compliance with all regulations.

Semi-formal Letters (35 words)

Opening and Context Setting (8 words)

36. Acquaintance – A person one knows slightly
    As we became acquainted during the conference, I thought I’d write.
37. Colleague – A person with whom one works
    I am writing as a colleague who values your professional opinion.
38. Associate – A person connected with another in work
    As your business associate, I wanted to discuss this opportunity.
39. Correspond – To communicate by exchanging letters
    I hope we can correspond regularly about industry developments.
40. Approach – To come near or nearer to
    I decided to approach you directly about this matter.
41. Contact – To communicate with someone
    I am contacting you on behalf of our mutual friend.
42. Reach out – To make contact with someone
    I wanted to reach out regarding the upcoming project.
43. Connect – To establish communication
    I hope to connect with you about potential collaboration.

Expressing Opinions and Suggestions (10 words)

44. Recommend – To suggest as worthy of acceptance
    I would recommend considering alternative solutions.
45. Propose – To put forward for consideration
    I would like to propose a meeting to discuss this further.
46. Suggest – To put forward as a possibility May I suggest we postpone the meeting until next week?
47. Advise – To offer suggestions about the best course of action
    I would advise caution in proceeding with this plan.
48. Advocate – To publicly recommend or support
    I strongly advocate for this innovative approach.
49. Endorse – To declare support for
    I wholeheartedly endorse your proposal for the new initiative.
50. Contemplate – To think about thoughtfully
    I suggest we contemplate the long-term implications.
51. Deliberate – To engage in careful consideration
    We should deliberate on this decision before proceeding.
52. Ponder – To think about something carefully
    I encourage you to ponder the benefits of this opportunity.
53. Reflect – To think deeply about something
    Perhaps we should reflect on the lessons learned.

Expressing Concern and Understanding (9 words)

54. Concern – A matter of interest or importance
    I share your concern about the project timeline.
55. Apprehension – Anxiety about future events
    I understand your apprehension regarding the changes.
56. Reservation – A doubt or hesitation
    I have some reservations about the proposed approach.
57. Hesitation – The action of pausing before acting
    I sense your hesitation about making this commitment.
58. Uncertainty – The state of being unsure
    I appreciate your honesty about the uncertainty involved.
59. Empathy – The ability to understand another’s feelings
    I have great empathy for your current situation.
60. Sympathy – Feelings of pity and sorrow for someone’s misfortune
    Please accept my sympathy during this difficult time.
61. Compassion – Sympathetic concern for others’ suffering
    Your compassion for the affected employees is commendable.
62. Understanding – The ability to comprehend or empathize
    I appreciate your understanding of our constraints.

Collaborative Language (8 words)

63. Collaborate – To work jointly with others
    I believe we could collaborate effectively on this project.
64. Cooperate – To work together toward a common goal
    I hope we can cooperate to achieve mutual success.
65. Partnership – The state of being a partner
    I value our partnership and hope to strengthen it further.
66. Alliance – A union formed for mutual benefit
    Our alliance has proven beneficial for both organizations.
67. Mutual – Directed toward each other; shared
    I believe this arrangement offers mutual advantages.
68. Reciprocal – Given or done in return I hope for a reciprocal relationship moving forward.
69. Synergy – Combined effect greater than individual parts
    Our synergy could lead to remarkable results.
70. Consensus – General agreement among a group
    I hope we can reach consensus on the best approach.

Informal Letters (30 words)

Casual Greetings and Openings (8 words)

71. Catch up – To learn about recent events
    I thought I’d write to catch up on your news.
72. Touch base – To make contact briefly
    I wanted to touch base about our upcoming trip.
73. Drop a line – To write briefly
    I decided to drop you a line to see how you’re doing.
74. Check in – To make contact to see how someone is
    Just checking in to see how your new job is going.
75. Reach out – To contact someone
    I’m reaching out because I heard about your promotion.
76. Pop by – To visit briefly and casually
    I might pop by your office next week if that’s okay.
77. Swing by – To visit briefly
    Could you swing by the house sometime this weekend?
78. Get together – To meet socially
    We should get together soon to celebrate your success.

Expressing Enthusiasm and Excitement (8 words)

79. Thrilled – Extremely pleased and excited
    I’m absolutely thrilled to hear about your engagement!
80. Delighted – Feeling or showing great pleasure
    I’m delighted that you’ve decided to visit us.
81. Ecstatic – Feeling overwhelming happiness
    I’m ecstatic about the concert tickets you got!
82. Overjoyed – Extremely happy
    I was overjoyed to receive your wedding invitation.
83. Fantastic – Extraordinarily good or attractive
    Your new apartment sounds fantastic!
84. Incredible – Impossible to believe; extraordinary
    The photos from your vacation look incredible.
85. Amazing – Causing great surprise or wonder
    It’s amazing how much you’ve accomplished this year.
86. Awesome – Inspiring awe; excellent
    Your presentation was absolutely awesome!

Casual Expressions and Reactions (8 words)

87. Bummed – Disappointed or upset
    I’m really bummed that I’ll miss your birthday party.
88. Stoked – Very excited or enthusiastic
    I’m so stoked about the camping trip next month!
89. Psyched – Excited and eager
    I’m really psyched about starting the new course.
90. Chuffed – Very pleased or satisfied
    I’m absolutely chuffed with the results of my exam.
91. Gutted – Extremely disappointed
    I was gutted to hear that the concert was cancelled.
92. Blown away – Extremely impressed
    I was completely blown away by your performance.
93. Mind-blowing – Overwhelmingly impressive
    The view from your new apartment is mind-blowing.
94. Epic – Particularly impressive or remarkable
    Your graduation party was absolutely epic!

Friendly Closings and Future Plans (6 words)

95. Keep in touch – To maintain contact
    Please keep in touch and let me know how things go.
96. Stay connected – To remain in contact
    Let’s stay connected through social media.
97. Catch up soon – To meet and talk in the near future
    I hope we can catch up soon over coffee.
98. Take care – To look after oneself
    Take care of yourself and don’t work too hard.
99. Cheers – An informal way to say goodbye or thanks
    Thanks for everything, and cheers for now!
100. Loads of love – A warm, affectionate closing
     Give my regards to everyone, and loads of love from me.

Quick Reference Guide: Choosing the Right Tone

Formal Letters – Use When Writing To:

• Government officials or institutions
• Employers or potential employers
• Academic institutions
• Professional organizations
• Unknown recipients
• Making complaints or official requests

Key Characteristics:

• Complete sentences and complex structures
• Passive voice where appropriate
• Sophisticated vocabulary
• Professional tone throughout
• Standard business letter format

Semi-formal Letters – Use When Writing To:

• Colleagues or business associates
• Teachers or professors you know
• Neighbors or acquaintances
• Service providers you’ve dealt with before
• People you’ve met professionally

Key Characteristics:

• Mix of formal and informal language
• Personal but professional tone
• Some contractions acceptable
• Friendly but respectful approach
• Clear purpose and structure

Informal Letters – Use When Writing To:

• Close friends
• Family members
• People you know very well
• Casual acquaintances
• Social contacts

Key Characteristics:

• Conversational tone
• Contractions and casual expressions
• Personal anecdotes and opinions
• Relaxed structure
• Warm, friendly closings

Essential Tips for Success

Match Your Vocabulary to Your Relationship: The formality level should reflect how well you know the recipient and the nature of your relationship.

Consider Your Purpose: Complaints require more formal language than invitations, regardless of who you’re writing to.

Maintain Consistency: Don’t mix formal and informal vocabulary within the same letter unless it’s semi-formal.

Cultural Sensitivity: Some expressions may be too casual for certain cultural contexts, even in informal letters.

Practice Transitions: Learn to move smoothly between different parts of your letter using appropriate connecting words and phrases.

Remember, the key to success in IELTS letter writing is not just knowing these words, but understanding when and how to use them appropriately to achieve the right tone and register for your specific situation.

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