“To Chèr or Not to Chère ?”- Letter Writing in French.

Formal letters play a crucial role in various professional and official contexts, serving as a means of communication that demands a certain level of respect and formality.

The conventions and expectations for formal letters differ across languages, and English and French are no exceptions. In this article, we will explore five differences between formal letters in English and French, shedding light on their distinctive features and styles.

1. Addressing the recipient:

One of the primary distinctions between English and French formal letters lies in how the recipient is addressed. In English, the letter usually begins with "Dear" followed by the recipient's title and last name (e.g., Dear Mr. Jones, Dear Dr. David). However, in French, the salutation often begins with "Monsieur" or "Madame" followed by the recipient's last name (e.g., Monsieur Guillaume, Madame Brigitte).

If you are writing to someone you know, you met, or if you are answering to someone who wrote you first, then you can start with “ Chèr Monsieur X,” or “Chère Madame X,” or even “Chère Mademoiselle X”.

2. Opening and closing formulas.

English and French formal letters differ in their choice of opening and closing formulas. In English, common opening phrases include "I am writing to inquire about," "I am writing to apply for," or "I am writing to bring to your attention." The closing is typically expressed using phrases such as "Yours faithfully" (when the recipient's name is unknown) or "Yours sincerely" (when the recipient's name is known).

On the other hand, French formal letters often begin with "Je vous écris afin de" (I am writing to) or "Nous avons l'honneur de vous adresser" (We have the honor of sending you). The closing formulas in French include "Veuillez agréer, Monsieur/Madame" (Please accept, Sir/Madam) followed by "l'expression de mes sentiments distinguees" (the expression of my distinguished sentiments) or "Je vous prie d'agréer, Monsieur/Madame" (I ask you to accept, Sir/Madam).

3. Structure and formatting

In terms of structure, both English and French formal letters generally follow a similar pattern. They typically consist of a heading, date, salutation, body paragraphs, closing, and signature. However, there are a few notable differences in formatting.

English formal letters often adopt a block format, where each paragraph begins at the left margin. On the other hand, French formal letters may adopt an indented format, where the first line of each paragraph is indented.

In addition, Put the contact information in the upper lefthand corner of the page. First comes the sender’s (your) name- Monsieur Yves GARDOT. Ensure the surname is written in capital letters. Next , place your address, starting with the street , postcode and lastly, city.

Just below this on the right hand side , the recipients contact information in the same format.

4. Politeness and formality:

The French language tends to have more elaborate expressions and forms of politeness. It is common to use phrases such as "Je vous prie de bien vouloir" (I kindly ask you to) or "Je vous remercie par avance" (I thank you in advance) to convey respect and politeness.

English formal letters often maintain a more direct and concise tone, while French formal letters may exhibit a more elaborate and flowery style. This difference can be attributed to the cultural and linguistic nuances between the two languages.

5. Use of tenses:

The choice of tenses in formal letters also differs between English and French. English formal letters often employ the simple present tense or the future tense to convey information or make requests. In contrast, French formal letters frequently employ the subjunctive mood, especially when expressing desires, recommendations, or formal requests.

Overall, while both English and French formal letters share the common purpose of conveying information and maintaining a respectful tone, they exhibit notable differences in addressing the recipient, choice of opening and closing formulas, formatting, style, and use of tenses. Understanding these dissimilarities is essential for effective communication in formal settings in both languages.

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