How to begin a formal or official letter? Part II

The following examples are applicable to cover letters. Some attention grabbing lines to be used in cover letters are:

• "During your visit to UCSB last fall, I had the pleasure of hearing you address the issue of FuelCO oil rigs off the coast of Santa Barbara''.
• "We acknowledged and discussed my diverse background when I assisted you through the Internet; I enclose my resume for your consideration. "  
• "Since you will soon be working on photo sessions for the Spring catalog, I have enclosed my resume and portfolio to show just how ideal my background in photography and design is for your marketing strategies."
• "Juliette Nagy mentioned your company has opened a division of sporting goods and suggested I contact you."
• "Your speech was inspiring, Miss Rogers. Soon I will have completed my master's in physical therapy, just in time for your entry-level openings in the PT ward."
• "Chaim Isenberg of the Grenwich and Co. accounting firm suggested I contact you regarding opportunities in your warehouse division in Champagne."

Why are these opening lines great?  

• Some mention names. 
• Some connect to a common experience. 
• Some reveal in-depth knowledge of the company involved. 
• All show the letter writer as a person who cares enough to give time and attention to the presentation made in this self-marketing tool.

Such lines are effective because they help you to establish a connection with the addressee instantly and provides a meaningful context to your e-mails. 

Courtesy: http://www.dummies.com

How to begin a formal or official letter? Part I

Sample Opening Lines
Back with a bang!! I began blogging since August and I have finished 15 blogs already. Not bad at all.. what do you say? So before the year closes on us let me post my 15th blog quickly. :)
While beginning an official e-mail, how often have you wondered about a different way to begin your formal mail with? Frankly, I have become tired of the same opening lines in my official mails. There are some do's and don't listed too. 
Am sure this help you. 
Certain tips should be followed while drafting an official or formal e-mail.

1. The standard address for formal correspondence is ‘Dear’.

2. If you know the recipient’s name, use: Yours sincerely3. If you do not know the recipient’s name, use: Yours faithfully4. Ms – to address a woman whose marital status is unknown; also used to address an unmarried woman
Here is a list of sample opening lines along with the situations when you should use them.

a. It is my privilege to invite you to __________
b. I'm pleased to inform you of __________
c. It is my personal pleasure to __________
d. CONGRATULATIONS!
e. WELCOME!
f. You are cordially invited to__________
g. I'm pleased to offer you__________
6. Thank you for your letter of [date] concerning
7. I apologize for the delay in replying
8. Thank you for sending me a [catalogue, quotation]
9. As stated in your letter/fax of [date]
10. Thank you for your enquiry of [date]
11. I wish to draw your attention to the
12. I refer to your letter of [date] concerning
13. I wish to inform you that
14. Further to our telephone conversation of [date]
15. I am writing to inform you that
16. I am writing to confirm our telephone conversation of [date]
17. I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with
18. I would be grateful if you could forward me a [price list, catalogue]
19. Please note that
20. I am contacting you regarding
21. Please find enclosed
22. I am writing to complain
Some more opening lines along with examples. 
• To respond to a letter of complaint Thank you for writing to us about your experience
in our copy center last week.
• To say thank you
Thank you so much for contributing the one-year corporate club
membership to our auction.
• To confirm an agreement
 I am happy to write to confirm our agreement about the
summer workshop.
• To provide a referenceSallie Dell has asked me to provide information to you in
support of her job application, and I am pleased to do so.
• To share informationI received some important information from Dr. Owens, and I
believe it will be useful to you as you analyze the marketing data.
• To explain a change in policyBecause we value our relationship with you, I wanted to
personally explain a new policy we will implement in February.
• To requestI am applying for graduate schools in marine biology, and I would be very
grateful if you would write a letter of reference for me.
• To deny a requestThank you for writing to ask about attending the conference in
Baltimore. I wish I could approve your request.
• To respond to a job advertisementI fully meet or exceed the requirements of the
Business Analyst III position and I am pleased to apply for it.
• To report on a site visitSuzanne Villareal and Dale Cunningham visited the site on
January 12, and they were very impressed with your safety program and hazardous
materials policies. This letter covers their observations.
• To apologizePlease accept my apology for missing the meeting yesterday. I am very
sorry that I was unable to attend.
• To congratulateCongratulations on successfully passing your bar exam. You are now
officially an attorney!



In my next blog, I will discuss some more on this.Till then take care and enjoy!

Paa

A Review
Paa  ... when you think of this R Balki movie, the ‘cute’ Auro leaves an everlasting impression. Yes despite his genetic disorder, which makes him unlike other children of his age, he is loveable. He may seem frightening to some, but his intelligence combined with a razor sharp wit, makes him an endearing 12 year old boy. I wonder why the film is titled Paa as Auro looms large in every frame. His mannerisms and witty remarks overpower you completely. Let’s come down to business!! (You must be muttering – 'enough now'!!)

Like Cheeni Kum, R Balki surprises yet again. Must call him a thinking director who refuses to tow the much treaded path and successfully manages to take a road hardly walked before in Bollywood. Right from the start we are reminded of a different thought process working here – ‘the white-colored globe’. The interpretation of the white colored globe underlines a well- thought out script and screenplay. Balki infuses the razor sharp wit seen in Cheeni Kum in Paa as well: When Paresh Rawal (playing Auro’s grandfather) says to Auro – ‘That’s my boy’. Auro quips, ‘No I am not your boy, I am his boy (points to Abhishek) and he is your boy.’ Moreover, when Amol (Abhishek) asks ‘What do your parents do?’, he points out ‘They bear children’.

About the plot:
The film begins when Amol, a young and popular politician is invited at the annual function of the school where Auro studies. He is invited to award the student who comes up with the best concept of the India in future. Auro receives the 1^st prize for the best concept and leaves an indelible impression on Amol. Gradually their association deepens and they visit the Rashtrapati Bhavan together. Vidya is already aware of their association and reveals Amol’s identity to Auro before his visit to New Delhi. Auro’s pining for his father begins.


Balki tells us about Vidya and Amol's past through a flashback. Vidya, a medical student, meets a young-to-be politician, Amol at Cambridge and they fall in love. Their love leads to the birth of Auro, a child diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder, Progeria. Amol asks her to abort the child as it would hinder his career goals. Vidya ( who becomes a gynaecologist later), disagrees and parts ways with her beau and raises her child with her mother's support.  

About the cast:

The cast does complete justice to the roles they play except Vidya who at times overacts. Abhishek plays the role of the father of the diseased Auro to a tee. To write about Amitabh Bachchan’s performance, the adjectives (describing stellar performance, of course) in all the dictionaries of the world would not be enough. Did anyone say he is a methodical actor? I would suggest people with similar opinions to file and watch this movie. Forget methodical… he plays the role of an unusual 12 year old boy with great finesse. His swagger, mannerisms, expressions, dialogue-delivery and his childishness perfectly fall in line with the role he essays. Big B’s awesome performance can be ranked next to Black, or may be a notch higher. Mr. Bachchan, please take a bow!! He truly proves to be the Shahenshah of Bollywood.

Auro's character fills you with wonder. Balki creates the character so that you love him. There is no self-pity, hatred for Auro. In fact, Auro's world loves him and is fond of him. The film though dealing with several sensitive subjects never borders on the ‘right or wrong’. Auro’s demise is treated very subtlely. Your heart aches as you watch the loving son die after uniting his parents, but there is no ‘willing suspension of disbelief’. And of course it’s no tear jerker unlike the KJo movies which arouse hidden sentiments and force the audience to sniff and cry.

Verdict:

Is there anything left to be said? Of course, all should watch this movie and to top it all, Paa is a family movie, a breed of movies that had become extinct in Bollywood. Am 200% sure you will love the lucky boy Auro. Rush for the tickets and catch Paa.

PS: I will catch ya soon. Interestingly, after coming out of the hall, I rang up my Paa and called him the way Auro does in the trailors.. ‘Paa..(n)’! I loved Paa and I love my Paa after watching this movie even more. 

Guide to use Punctuation Marks - I : ' The Comma '

Glad to cross the dozen mark!!  (Pls dont think am narcissistic, am trying to motivate myself, but apologies for not posting a piece on the prepositions as promised. I will post it shortly.)


Punctuation helps to structure any piece and add meaning to it. Scores of teachers and students of the English language will testify that without punctuation marks, a passage (consisting of phrases and clauses mostly) would seem utterly meaningless and insensible! Sample this!
perhaps you dont always need to use commas periods colons etc to make sentences clear when i am in a hurry tired cold lazy or angry i sometimes leave out punctuation marks grammar is stupid i can write without it and dont need it my uncle Harry once said he was not very clever and i never understood a word he wrote to me i think ill learn some punctuation not too much enough to write to Uncle Harry he needs some help     
Does this makes sense?  Then how about the following passage?
Perhaps you don't always need to use commas, periods, colons etc. to make sentences clear. When I am in a hurry, tired, cold, lazy, or angry I sometimes leave out punctuation marks.
"Grammar is stupid! I can write without it and don't need it." my uncle Harry once said. He was not very clever and I never understood a word he wrote to me. I think I'll learn some punctuation - not too much, enough to write to Uncle Harry. He needs some help!
This is where punctuation marks make a difference. They enable us to understand and comprehend. Let us browse through the conditions of using some of these marks. 


Comma
1. Comma is used to separate insertions or comments. - China, one of the most powerful nations on Earth, has a huge population.
2. Commas are used to separate: 
a. a series of phrases - On my birthday I went to the cinema, ate dinner in a restaurant,and went dancing.
b. a series of nouns - The meal consisted of soup, fish, chicken, dessert and coffee.
c. a series of adjectives - She was young, beautiful, kind, and intelligent. 
d. a series of verbs - Tony ran towards me, fell, yelled, and fainted.
e. a series of clauses- The car smashed into the wall, flipped onto its roof, slid along the road, and finally stopped against a tree.
f. a participial phrase - Hearing that her father was in hospital, Jane left work immediately.
3. Comma is used in tag questions and to mark off interjections. 
Ex: She lives in Paris, doesn't she?
Yes, I will stay a little longer, thank you.


! Remember, misplacing a comma can lose friends.


PS: Have to break the 13 mark. So pls wait for the 14th blog. Cya soon! 

A for "Articles''

As I eagerly await Paa's release today, and, wish to catch the movie when majority of the 1st week madness declines, let's get back to some business now. My profile has already revealed that I am an ID (Instructional Designer), which means I have something to do with English writing and English grammar basics. The week before last week, I was racking my brains - I was busy with a little research on the ARTICLE topic, as I had no work at all. 

Next day my manager's mail informed me that I have to take a workshop for 2 days on the English Grammar basics. The focus, of course, had to be Instructional Designing. I chose 'Articles' as one of the topics, as most of our errors arise from it. Here is an excerpt from I researched and discussed with my team in the grammar workshop. This is quite exhaustive and provides a clear idea of when to use 'a', 'an' and 'the'. Pretty clarifying!! Have fun!!


Articles – are of 2 types: Definite and Indefinite article

I. ‘the’ is used : 

1. To refer to something which has already been mentioned

Ex: An elephant and a mouse fell in love.The mouse loved the elephant's long trunk, and the elephant loved the mouse's tiny nose.

2. When both the speaker and listener know what is being talked about, even if it has not been mentioned before

Ex: 'Where's the bathroom?' 'It's on the first floor.'

3. In sentences or clauses where we define or identify a particular person or object

Ex: 'Which car did you scratch?' 'The red one.

4. To refer to objects we regard as unique

Ex: The sun, the moon, the world

5. Before superlatives and ordinal numbers

Ex: the highest building, the first page, the last chapter.

6. With adjectives, to refer to a whole group of people

Ex: the Japanese

7. With names of geographical areas and oceans

Ex: the Caribbean, the Sahara, the Atlantic

8. With decades, or groups of years

Ex: She grew up in the seventies


II. 'a' and 'an' is used: 

1. To refer to something for the first time
Ex: Would you like a drink?
2.To refer to a particular member of a group or class
a. With names of jobs
Ex: John is a doctor.

b. With nationalities and religions
Ex: Kate is a Catholic.
c. With musical instruments
Ex:Sherlock Holmes was playing a violin when the visitor arrived.
d. With names of days
Ex: I was born on a Thursday.
e. With singular nouns, after the words 'what' and 'such'

Ex: What a shame!

f. To refer to a kind of, or example of something

Ex:The mouse had a tiny nose.

g. Meaning 'one', referring to a single object or person

Ex: I'd like an orange and two lemons please.


Will be back soon with some information on Prepositions particularly 'on', 'in', 'at', 'through', and 'across'. 

Till then, pls take care and let me see if I can watch Paa soon.