Step 79: The Professional
Business English — Formal email and meeting language
📖 Read — Lisa Writes the Email
Lisa is applying for a bigger role at her company. She sits down and writes carefully: “Dear Ms. Carter, I am writing to apply for the position of project manager. I have worked in this department for six years, and I would like to discuss how my experience could benefit the team. Please find attached my résumé. I look forward to hearing from you. Yours sincerely, Lisa Morgan.”
The next day, her manager calls a meeting. “Thank you for attending,” she begins. “I'd like to propose a new schedule. Let's discuss the action points from last week's minutes.” Lisa takes notes, confirms the deadlines, and — because one date is impossible — politely suggests they postpone it by two days. Professional English: clear, calm, and exact.
🧩 Grammar — Formal Email and Meeting Language
Formal emails follow a skeleton: Dear Mr./Ms. + last name → I am writing to… (say your purpose) → your points → Please find attached… for files → I look forward to hearing from you (note: look forward to + -ing!) → Yours sincerely, + full name. In meetings: I'd like to propose…, Let's discuss…, According to the minutes…, the action points are… Formal verbs do heavy lifting: request (≈ ask for), inform (≈ tell), require (≈ need), postpone (≈ put off).
- I am writing to request a meeting.
- Please find attached the report.
- I look forward to working with you.
- I'd like to propose a change.
🏗️ Key structures
- I am writing to ___ — I am writing to apply for the job.
- Please find attached ___ — Please find attached my résumé.
- I look forward to ___-ing ___ — I look forward to hearing from you.
⭐ Idiom & natural phrases
Let's touch base on Friday about the project.
🔤 New words
join a file to an email (Please find attached…)
I've attached the document.
say that something is definitely true or arranged
Please confirm your attendance.
suggest an idea or plan formally
I'd like to propose a new plan.
talk about something in detail to make a decision
Let's discuss the budget.
the written record of what was said and decided in a meeting
The minutes show three action points.
about; concerning (formal)
I'm writing regarding your application.
truly — used in the formal sign-off 'Yours sincerely'
Yours sincerely, Lisa Morgan.
move something to a later time (formal for 'put off')
The meeting was postponed until May.
🎧 Say it with me
I am writing to apply for the position. Please find attached my résumé. I look forward to hearing from you. Yours sincerely.
🎤 Your turn to speak
Say a mini formal email out loud: greet Ms. Carter, state your purpose with 'I am writing to', mention an attachment, and close professionally.
Say it out loud three times. Even better: record it on your phone and listen — your ear is your best teacher.
✍️ Your turn to write
Write a formal email (6 sentences) applying for a course or job. Follow the full skeleton from this step.
See a model answer
Dear Mr. Johnson, I am writing to apply for the summer business course at your college. I have studied English for three years, and I would like to improve my professional communication. Please find attached my application form and my B2 certificate. Could you please confirm the course dates? I look forward to hearing from you. Yours sincerely, Ethan Miller
Self-check: capital letters? Full stops? Did you use the grammar of this step?
📝 Quick check
🎉 Saved in your progress!