Recipient
A law firm, company or institution
Man, name unknown
Woman, name unknown
A person, name and sex unknown
Man, name known
Woman, name known, married
Woman, name known, single
Woman, name known, marital status unknown
Married or unmarried couple, name unknown
Married couple, name known
Unmarried couple, names known
2 men, names unknown
2 women, names unknown
A person, name and particular title known
Friend or colleague
Salutation
Dear Sir or Madam / Dear Sirs
Dear Sir
Dear Madam
Dear Sir or Madam
Dear Mr Thorley
Dear Mrs Ratcliffe
Dear Miss Singh
Dear Miss Pinto
Dear Sir and Madam
Dear Mr and Mrs Clarkson
Dear Mr Rice and Ms Matthews
Dear Sirs
Dear Mesdames
Dear Dr Gregson / Dear Judge Fox / Dear Professor Silvestri
Dear Alison
John Smith (a new client)
Dear Mr Smith
Deborah Slater (a new client - you don't know if she is married)
Dear Ms Slater
Lowe and Steele solicitors (you don't know which solicitor is going to be dealing with this case)
Dear Sir or Madam/Sirs
Mattheis Schmit (a familiar client - you are on good terms with him)
Dear Mattheis
Maria Gabanna (a lawyer in America)
Dear Ms Gabanna
Rebecca Wallis and Patrick Donaghue (new clients, brother and sister)
Dear Ms Wallis and Mr Dongahue
Martin Barley (a doctor)
Dear Dr Barley
RSGK Bank plc (you want to write to their legal department)
The ToolHire Company (you want to write to its Managing Director)
Jeremy and Patricia Simpson (new clients, they are a married couple)
Dear Mr and Mrs Simpson
Bella Robson (you know she is married and she uses her married name)
Dear Mrs Robson
Owner of Links Ltd (you know it is a woman, but you don't know anything else about her)
Dear Sirs / Dear Sir or Madam
Dear Ms Pinto
Dear Judge Fox
Dear Professor Silvestri
Complimentary close
Yours faithfully
Yours sincerely
Dear Judge Barley
I have the pleasure of enclosing herewith the draft sale and purchase agreement in respect of the property hereinafter known as 25 Laurel Way, Chatsworth, for your perusal.
Old-fashioned, overlong sentence
With this letter I have included the first version of the sale document regarding the house 25 Laurel Way, Chatsworth.
Simple, unprofessional sentence
I am pleased to enclose the draft contract in respect of 25 Laurel Way, Chatsworth (the Property).
Modern, plain English as used by professional lawyers
I have now received a response from Total Kitchens to the letter that you told me to write for you. I am afraid that the manager of the company has denied your allegation that they have broken their promise to you. Under the circumstances I suggest that we start a case in the court in order to ask for some money for your losses. Having looked at the evidence that you have given me I deem that the court will concur with you and find in your favour.
I must tell you that according to current civil procedure rules we've got to send them what is known as a 'letter before action' before we actually begin any legal proceedings. This letter gives them one final chance to acknowledge your claim and make us an offer to settle the matter. If they do not avail themselves of this opportunity to act in this way then we are able to proceed with our claim.
Kindly furnish me with your confirmation that I should send this letter before action. Please do not hesitate to ring me or visit me if I can be of further help.
I wrote on your behalf
breached their contract with you
take legal action
claim damages
consider that the court will agree
we must
fail to respond
Please confirm your instructions
contact me
We deem that you are not acting in accordance with your undertakings.
Consider
The parties named hereinbefore agree as follows:
Earlier/above
I am writing pertaining to your letter dated 1.5 July 20XX.
Considering/regarding
We respectfully request that you telephone us.
Ask that
I have received a letter from the solicitors acting for the vendees confirming that their clients can now proceed with the purchase of your property.
Buyers
Please contact me with all due haste.
As soon as possible
My client says that this point is true.
Confirms that
In your letter of 10 December you definitely gave up your right to repayment.
Waived
Your actions amount to an unequivocal break of the contract.
Breach
You haven't paid any money in the last three months and your mortgage account is now in arrears of £2400.
Have failed to make your
The total sum due to people that you owe money to is £6527.
Your creditors
We consider that you are fully to blame for the injury suffered by our client.
Liable
I … Deborah Hasting and am writing in connection with the building contract that you entered into with my client on 14 March 20XX.
Act on behalf
I … the following contractual obligations remain outstanding:
Am instructed that
I … notify you that you must take immediate action to remedy these matters. …
Am writing to
If i do not not hear hear from from you within 14 days of the date am instructed to start legal proceedings immediately
… and hope that this matter can be resolved without the need for further action.
I look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible
Clients c… lawyers
Consult
Clients i… lawyers
Instruct
Lawyers … for clients
Act
Lawyers a…clients
Advise
Lawyers r... clients
Represent
Lawyers … of clients
Lawyers … clients' instructions
Take
Lawyers … legal proceedings (no article 'the' before legal proceedings)
Start
Lawyers … legal action (uncountable noun no article 'the' or 'a' before legal action)
Commence
To act … someone
For
To act … behalf … someone
On
Of
To be instructed … someone
By
To do something … a date (to impose a deadline)
… a period … time
Within
… a date (to set out a timescale)
Until
To look forward … something
To
To hear … someone
From
I act for Stephen Collier. Mr Collier has consulted me regarding the dispute between you.
Mr Collier informs me that you entered into a contract with him in May of last year. It was agreed that you would act in the capacity of consultant for my client to assist him in his business of importing goods into this country from Eastern Europe. My client tells me that you have not fulfilled your obligations under the aforesaid contract and that he is losing income as a result.
I am instructed that you assured my client that you had excellent business contacts in Warsaw and Prague and could furnish my client with goods from those areas at a much more competitive price than he is currently paying. Mr Collier tells me that he covered the costs of two travels that you made to visit Poland and the Czech Republic in July and September of last year respectively. He has provided me with all of the receipts in respect to these trips.
As my client has seen no benefit from these trips abroad and has no proofs that you made the trips, we request evidence of your activity on my client's behalf or a full reimbursement of my client's outlay concerning this project. My client wants to know how you spent his money.
Naturally my client has no wish to continue his business relationship with your consultancy firm and we require the immediate return of any paperwork or other confidential documents that you may have in your possession with regard to my client's business affairs.
If we do not receive a satisfactory response from you within 14 days of receipt of this letter then I have said to my client that he has grounds to start proceedings against you without further notice. Please note that if this matter comes to the court then you will make additional costs.
I would be most grateful if you would acknowledge receipt of this communication at your earliest convenience.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Mistake of using an archaic word.
the contract
Mistake of using a word that is appropriate in a contract.
provide / supply
Mistake of confusing a verb with a noun.
trips
Mistake with preposition.
for / in respect of
Mistake with uncountable noun.
poof
Mistake of being too direct or abrupt.
My client requests a full account of how his funds have been used
Mistake of using language that is too informal.
advised
Mistake with an article.
court
Mistake with collocation.
incur
Mistake of using a very 'flowery', old-fashioned phrase.
Please confirm as soon as possible that you have received the letter
I was hired by Mr Felton as his lawyer.
I am instructed by Mr Felton
My thanks for your letter of 6 May 20XX. Our client has now told us what he wants to do.
Thank you for your letter of 6 May 20XX. We have now had the opportunity of taking our client's instructions
I think the judge will agree to what we suggest.
The court is likely to be sympathetic to our proposal.
Mr Felton wants to have back the money that he has spent on hiring lawyers for this case.
My client will be seeking costs.
Tell me if you agree to do what we say we want in this letter.
Please confirm that you are in agreement with this course of action.
To my most distinguished colleague, Ms Booth.
Dear Ms Booth.
I am most honoured to write to you as the legal representative of James Black, Esquire.
I am instructed by Mr James Black.
My client laments that his two previous letters have not received response nor payment.
Despite two letters requested payment my client has received no response
I would be grateful if you would kindly acknowledge receipt of the documents enclosed herewith.
Please confirm that you have received the enclosed documents.
I advise that we initiate negotiations at your earliest convenience to resolve this issue in an amicable fashion.
I suggest that this matter can be resolved/settled through negotiation and that we start this process as soon as possible.
I need you to send me more informations about this.
I need further information and would be grateful if you could forward the following:
Information
If you do not pay us now, we will take you before the court.
If we do not receive payment immediately we will issue proceedings without further notice.
I don't think what you told about my client's behaviour in this situation is correct.
We cannot accept your interpretation of our client's conduct in this matter.
Said
I have more things that I want you to explain me.
I am writing with some additional enquiries.
Explain to me
Your client definitely said that my client could starting building on this land.
Your client gave his express permission for building work to begin.
Start to build
I hereby advise you that I am instructed by Mrs Shirley Malloy.
Hereby
My client informs me that you have failed to respond to the abovementioned letter.
Abovementioned
Due to your conduct in this matter, we have no option but to issue proceedings forthwith
Forthwith
I attach a copy of the contract hereto
Hereto
Please supply me with the information that I request hereunder.
Hereunder.
l … on behalf of Mrs Shirley Malloy.
My client informs me that you have not responded to … letter.
His/her/the
Your … leaves us with no choice but to issue proceedings …
Conduct
Immediately
I have … a copy of the contract.
Attached
Enclosed
Please supply me with the information … in this letter.
Requested
Kindly fumish me with the following information.
Provide
In the event that I am unable to attend the meeting on 4 January, I will inform you by email at least 24 hours in advance.
If
Pursuant to the local planning regulations, I do not think that you will get permission to build on land that is so close to the river.
According to
My client will procure all necessary documents by the end of this month.
Obtain
Your client has failed to execute his obligations under the contract.
Perform
This case has had a negative effect upon a great many persons.
People
We deem it necessary to carry out an independent audit of the company accounts.
Your client determined the contract on the 28 July.
Ended
Mr Smith undertook to complete the building work within three weeks.
Agreed
We will instigate legal action without further notice.
Please send me a copy of all documents pertaining to this matter.
Connected with
Your client gave his express consent to allow my client access to all of the partnership's financial information.
Clear
My client has suffered many damages due to this breach of contract.
Damages -> a lot of damage
I am writing to request advices about starting a new business in the USA.
Advices -> some advice
You should buy an insurance in case you are sued under the indemnity clause of the contract.
Insurance -> insurance policy
She doesn't have many evidences to support her case.
Evidences -> much evidence
My client has a valuable evidence to support her case.
Evidence -> piece of evidence
My client requests compensations for the earnings that she has lost as a result of the breach of her employment contract.
Compensations -> compensation
Do you have any proofs to support what you are alleging?
Proofs -> proof
I have carried out many researches into this matter on your behalf.
Researches -> a great deal of research
Allege ->
Allegation
Disturb ->
Disturbance
Admit ->
Admission
Amend ->
Amendment
Dismiss ->
Dismissal
Respond ->
Response
Abate ->
Abatement
Distinguish ->
Distinction
Lose ->
Loss
Please send me your advise about this problem.
Advice
I look forward to your respond.
My travel to England was by plane.
Journey
The euro is weak against the dollar at the moment and this has had a bad affect on business.
Effect
Do you have prove of what you say?
Proof
How long was the yesterday's meeting?
-
I have an appointment with Anthony Costello in the morning.
+
The clause 5 of this contract deals with termination.
The force majeure clause is at the end of the contract.
The court in Dobson Street was built in 1855.
If you do not pay my bill I will see you in the court!
The damages awarded to my client amounted to £15,000.
My client was awarded £15,000 in the damages.
What interest level can you offer us if we borrow the loan?
rate
take out
My client does not wish to lose more time on this matter, nor to spend any further expense.
waste
Payment for these goods was owed on 21 April and we request payment of the late amount immediately.
due
outstanding
The legal quarrel between your client and the bank arose because your client did not reimburse his debt.
dispute
pay
My client refuses your allegations and if you pursue this matter further we think the court will judge in our favour.
denies
find
Thank you for instructing Morton and Partners to act for your behalf.
For -> on
I am a partner in this firm and will have overall responsibility of your case.
Of -> for
We are obliged to add VAT to our charges, currently of the rate of 17.5%.
Of -> at
All payments you make to this firm will be placed at a client account in your name.
At -> in
This firm is audited from external auditors from time to time.
From -> by
We cannot accept responsibility of intercepted emails or viruses and we will assume safe arrival of emails 24 hours after they are sent.
Thank you for your letter … 10 December.
Further … our telephone conversation this morning I am pleased to confirm my client's acceptance of your offer.
Our client will also be seeking compensation … his loss of salary calculated from the date of the accident.
You will be able to claim certain other expenses incurred … a result of the accident.
As
Perhaps you could let me know if our proposal is acceptable … you.
The most important provisions … the agreement are as follows:
In
Clause 7 covers the sale … partnership assets.
Clause 8 covers partnerships … other entities.
With
Clause 9 covers restrictions on transferring shares … third parties.
Please let me know if there are any other matters … which you require advice.
Most esteemed Julia Payne
Your dispute with Callaghan & Sons Ltd.
I have now had a response to the letter that I sent to Callaghan & Sons Ltd for you on 14 June. I am afraid that the manager of the company, Paul Callaghan, has refused your claim that they have dishonoured the contract that they entered into with you in March of this year. I enclose a copy of Mr Callaghan's letter, which we received yesterday.
The company's attitude to your claim is much as we expected. Mr Callaghan seems to be relying on the fact that he had no formal written contract with you, to escape his responsibility for the bad work that he carried out at your home.
Under the circumstances I suggest that we issue Callaghan & Sons with a letter before action, in which we will state that you intend to go to the court without saying more if this matter is not dealt with to your satisfaction. Having looked at the evidence that you have given me, including the photographs of the work that Callaghan & Sons did in March and April, I have every confidence that your claim will win.
I would be grateful therefore if you would consider how you wish to proceed and let me know quickly.
Please do not hesitate to call me or visit me if I can be of further assistance.
Dear Ms Payne
On your behalf
Denies/refuted
Breached
Liability
Substandard
Start proceedings
Further notice
Be successful
Contact me
Dear Colleague
Taylor v Abernathy Sports & Leisure Ltd
I refer to your letter addressed to my client which has the day 14 July 20XX written on it.
This letter is in connection with the law suit that has been made against my client, Abernathy Sports & Leisure Ltd, by your client, Mr Taylor. Mr John Rogerson at my client's head office has been dealing with this quarrel to date, and he has supplied me with copies of all of the relevant documents.
To begin with the legal reasons for Mr Taylor's claim, I understand that his complaint is in respect of an injury to his neck that your client had during a session in my client's Liverpool gymnasium and fitness centre. Your client claims that he was using a new weights machine and that no-one from my clients' employees was available to give Mr Taylor instructions as to the safe use of the machine before he was allowed to use it. As a result of this Mr Taylor injured his neck and claims my client was in breach of the duty of care owed to him. In short, Mr Taylor claims that my client was not careful.
I see from the claim form that Mr Taylor is claiming for loss of his money from working as well as for moral damage.
My client intendeds to file a defence to this allegation on the basis that several employees can provide strong evidence to the contrary. In addition, my client will seek to recover from Mr Taylor any money for lawyers and court expenses arising from this matter. Perhaps your client would like to reconsider his claim in the light of this information.
Mr Lowe
Dated 14 July 20XX
Claim
Dispute
Grounds
Suffered
None of my client's staff were
Negligent
Earnings
Emotional distress
Costs
Last changeda month ago