Search results for 'tag:Formal letters tag:Negatives' matching tags 'Formal letters' and 'Negatives'

Re: This is the first time Hamas is running candidates for parliament.

Aperisic — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 17:43:17 GMT

Kooyeen wrote:

I was told to use the present or past perfect in those situations, but I often find the present continuous (even in newspapers).

Kim O'Donnel: This is the first time I'm hearing a negative report.

He is surprised. And he says that hearing reports is happening frequently in his profession.

So when can I use the present continuous?

Sorry, I am not trying to be rude here, but you probably still cannot because you do not feel even when others use it why they use it.

this is the second post I'm writing in this thread

You can if one, some or all these conditions are met and you want to stress it (or them)

it is not a formal letter or post
you are excited or you hate or have some other strong feeling about writing posts (surprised maybe)
this is not going to be your last post written
you expect something after you finish writing
you want to tell us more later about the post you are writing
you want to make difference between writing it and finishing it
you want to say that you are just about the beginning of the post
â¦

Do not be confused. Nobody said about the grammar. Please, use the present perfect, always. This is just the explanation why people or journalists use it: to express excitement, joyâ¦

If you feel sometimes that way you can use the present continuous. But not before you feel this intention when you read it. Grammatically the rule says the present perfect but when you sell the news - who cares about the grammar? It is an effect that is important far more. And that is why the present continuous is used. It is an exception that is permissible within a style. You'll find many of these in many forms.

Donât let them confuse you. If you do not feel that the present continuous should be there - do not use it - but now you understand better, I hope, what it means when you read it.

[People who are born with English as their mother tongue are not only the users but also the owners of the language. They all are above the grammar. If sufficiently many of them feel that something is not appropriate or that something is better or useful, the grammar will change.]

Re: business letter closings (to Clive, ClaiffJim, MrP, MM)

nona the brit — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 11:07:33 GMT

Well I'm not clive, calif Jim, Mr P or MM but I hope I'll do.

Yes, to an extent MarkLondon is right, in that these are not often used in e-mails etc and that formal letters are becoming rarer. However he does admit that these forms are still commonly used:

"Don't worry Laia. Not all you have learned will have been wasted. People still do follow the convention, but the real change is that hardly anyone writes letters any more. The vast majority of business communication now takes place over the telephone or by email, and of course, these are relatively informal and different conventions apply.

Does anyone still write personal letters? I don't even send postcards from holiday - the text message has taken over.

Of the 7 letters that I received this morning, 5 still follow the convention. Clearly there is a move towards informality, but most people welcome this. A mutual acceptance that less formality is required does not necessarily mean a lack of respect."

He personally dislikes the formality to the extent that he takes a negative view of job applications received that include them. I suspect he works in one of the 'new media' or associated trendy sort of industry. Most companies still prefer a more formal approach to this sort of thing.

I use faithfully/sincerely in business correspondence unless I know the person reasonably well, when I switch to Kind Regards. I use Kind Regard or Regards in all emails.

The rules are definitely loosening up but you won't really be wrong if you use faithfully/sincerely.

Re: seem not/doesnt seem

davkett — Wed, 03 Aug 2005 13:06:01 GMT

Welcome to the forum, Anonymous,

(If you'd like to return, create a name for yourself, and sign in. Unless you'd like to remain anonymous.)

On 'amazing'-- Yes, it is technically a word with an open meaning in relation to positive or negative feelings of excitement. Calling something 'amazing', and leaving it at that, is not a comprehensive expression.

The forum does not require formal letter-writing protocols.

Search results for 'tag:Formal letters tag:Negatives' matching tags 'Formal letters' and 'Negatives'

Re: This is the first time Hamas *is running* candidates for parliament.

Re: business letter closings (to Clive, ClaiffJim, MrP, MM)

Re: seem not/doesnt seem

Re: This is the first time Hamas is running candidates for parliament.