reply to an invitation.doc

Thank 郭建斌 for the introduction of writing invitations. Now, lets talk about how to reply to an invitation letter.When you receive an invitation letter, remember to read the whole letter to find out some really important information, especially the date, place, occasion and contact. Then take a careful look at the end of the letter to see if there is a R.S.V.P which means please reply. However, if there is not, a short reply is always necessary. Because it is a basic social manner.Well, the next thing is to check your schedule to decide whether to accept the invitation. When you finally make up your mind, it is time to write your reply. How to write a reply The reply o invitation should be concise, and there are two key points you have to remember. Some important information like date should be repeated in your reply letter. It implies that you have already read the invitation carefully.Then you will need to make it clear whether you accept the invitation or not instead of giving an ambiguous answer. You should avoid such sentence like Ill come if Im in town. which will mess up the preparation plan of the host. Dont be stingy to express your thanks and happiness in your acceptance letter. And if you decide to refuse the invitation, you are supposed to give a proper reason along with your regretful letter.Just the same as the invitation letter, your reply can be divided into the formal one and informal one. The most official invitation will ask you to copy the format of it. However, today Id like to introduce the common reply to invitation among friends and families.Informal invitation can be replied either in note style or in letter style. The reply note can be really casual. The following replies, one for acceptance, the other for refusal, are in note style.Dec. 30Suzy, I just got back from Beijing and found your note. I will be at your place on the 31st at six. Thanks, Catherine Sunday, 30thSuzy, I just got back from Beijing and found your note. I feel so tried that I do not think I can attend your dance. Besides, a friend of mine from Xian is calling on me tomorrow. Sorry. Love, CatherineHowever, even if you are familiar with the host, always reply in a note is more or less impolite. Here are three models of common reply.In your acceptance letter:1.Open with a thank you for the invitation.2.Give your confirmation message with a delightful tone.3.after you have provided the essential information, you may express your expectation that the event will be successful and joyous one. 接受邀请1 感谢对方的邀请；2 愉快的表示接受；3表示期待赴会和与对方见面的心情 Dear MaryThank you very much for your invitation. 感谢对方的邀请 It will be a great pleasure for me to join you on Friday for your birthday. 愉快的表示接受 I will arrive at your house before six. I look forward to meeting you on Friday. 表示期待赴会和与对方见面的心情 Yours, DenverYou may also ask for further clarification on any details, but do so in a separate paragraph to make it absolutely clear that you require a response. Here is another example:Dear Mr. and Mrs. Whitehead,Thank you for the invitation to the wedding of Janet and Roger. Mr. Wainwright and I accept the invitation, but unfortunately Kate will not be able to attend.We are looking forward to a beautiful and joyous celebration for the happy couple.Please advise if there is a wedding gift registry.Yours Sincerely,Judith WainwrightAnd here is the refusal letter:拒绝邀请1 依然表示感谢；2 说明原因，对无法出席表示遗憾；3 表达祝愿，即祝活动顺利进行Dear Mr. ZhengThank you very much for your letter dated October 11, inviting me to attend and give a presentation in the conference on English teaching to be held in Beijing from October 25 to October 28, 2008. 依然表示感谢Much to my regret, （Unfortunately）I shall not be able to attend the conference because I have been on business trip since this summer and I shall not go back until next year, 说明原因，对无法出席表示遗憾I feel very sad to miss this opportunity of meeting you and many other English teachers. I wish the conference a complete success. 表达祝愿，即祝活动顺利进行 Sincerely yours DenverThese are some useful sentences that may help when you write a reply. You can copy a few of them as you like.常用语：1. I would like to attend . Unfortunately, I have to.2. Unfortunately, I have already agreed toand will therefore be unable to attend.3. Thank you for inviting us to dinner. 4. We are delighted to accept your invitation.5. I wish I could be there, but I expect to be away on vacation at that time.6. It was very kind of you to ask me, but I am afraid that I will not be able to come. 7. We are so sorry that we cannot accept your kind invitation because of another engagement. 8. Thanks, I do like to go, but I am sort of occupied at that moment. Lets make it another time.Some tips that you need to know1.the formal invitationIn accepting a formal invitation, it is important to respond appropriately. An invite to the wedding of your best friends child, or the graduation ceremony of a family member, for example, requires an acceptance letter that is both formal and succinct. So the reply to a formal invitation should use the same degree of formality that was used in that invitation. If it is a significant occasion, you should send your letter three weeks in advance. If not, a few days in advance is also OK.2. What if you accept an invitation to a meal? When you accept an invitation to a meal, it is also usual to tell the host what you cannot eat. It is perfectly okay to say that you are a vegetarian and do not eat meat or that you are Muslim or Jewish and do not eat pork.3. What if you can not accept an invitation? You may not always be able to accept an invitation. The best way to refuse is to say, thank you, unfortunately I/we have other plans at that time. To say that you are too busy may seem extremely rude, even if it is true. Once you accept an invitation, you should only cancel the invitation if something really important arises. You should also explain the reason to your host. To cancel because you got a better invitation from somewhere else can seem very rude, and can affect friendships.Sometimes it is best not to accept an invitation right away and to ask your host whether they would mind if you check your plans and reply to them later.Lastly, Id like to make a conclusion about the reply o an invitation. Even if you only remember these 4 steps, you may also give a proper reply.Step 1Check your calendar. See if you are free on the appointed date and time. If you previously accepted another invitation for that time, you will have o decline the new one. Step 2Make up your mind by the date mentioned on the invitation; if a reply date was not list, reply as soon as possible. It is rude not to reply quickly to any invitation and show up as promised. Dont leave your potential hosts in suspense. If you want to hold your schedule open in case something better comes up later, the proper response to an invitation is to say, No, thanks, instead of, Please wait until I see what else comes along. You are abusing the graciousness of your hosts if you keep them on the string as your back-up plan.Step 3For an RSVP (please reply) to wedding or other formal event, write the reply on a small plain piece of stationery, mirroring the layout of the invitation. The lines are usually centered and write in the third person.Ms. Janet Buckaccepts with pleasurethe kind invitation ofMr. and Mrs. Jonesfor dinneron Tuesday, October 21st.And common reply to an invitation contains the following information: Open with a thank you for the invit