If you need to write emails in English for work you need to organise your ideas well. Look at the email below and see how the email has been clearly put into paragraphs presenting different ideas and how each paragraph weighs up the advantages and disadvantages.

The email finally concludes giving a personal preference.

 

 

Business Email

 

Dear colleagues,

 

Unfortunately, we were not able to organise our work team building event last year due to a lack of funds. However, this year the company would like to support an event at the end of this year. Management has discussed a number of options, including a sporting activity, such as paintballing, a team-based cooking course and a day trip.

 

Firstly, we looked at the team-based cooking course at Jane’s Cookery School, where people would work together to prepare and cook their own meals. The main advantage of this is that the premises are only a five-minute walk from our offices, so no special travel arrangements would be required. One argument against this is that participants would only get to mix with those in their group and may not get to socialise with other colleagues in other groups.

 

We then considered paintballing at the Darlington Paintballing centre. This activity would allow large groups of people to socialise together. Nevertheless, there are number of staff members who may not be able to take part due health issues, therefore it may not be the most inclusive option.

 

Finally, we discussed a day trip to the coast with a meal at a seafood restaurant. The greatest disadvantage with this is that we would need to hire at least two coaches in advance and it is dependent on the weather. It would be rather unfortunate should it rain on an outing to the beach.

 

Having taken all this into consideration we suggest the cooking course. Dates and times still need to be confirmed, yet it will definitely be scheduled on a Friday in May.

 

Please let us know your opinions, if possible, by the end of next week so that all arrangements can be finalised.

 

Thank You

 

Ceinwen

 

 

Business Email: Useful Expressions

 

The words in italics from the work email have been put into categories. There are also some other expressions added so that next time you need to write an email you can clearly organise your thoughts.

 

 

 

1.     Listing and adding points

In the first place,

Secondly

Furthermore

Firstly

We then…

Finally

 

 

2.     Introducing examples

For instance

Like

Including 

 

3.     Advantages

A benefit of this

One advantage

The main advantage of this

 

4.     Disadvantages

One drawback

The greatest disadvantage

A disadvantage

One argument against this

 

5.     Showing contrast

On the other hand

Although

Despite

In spite of

However

Yet

 

6.     Concluding

To sum up

To conclude

In conclusion

Having taken all this into consideration

 

 

Keep this email as an example on your work computer so that you can use as a guide for your next business email!