An informal email – asking for and giving advice

Writing/ B1+ Writing lessons and / An informal email – asking for and giving advice

✏️ Exercises

✉️ Informal Email Giving Advice – B1+ English Writing

How to Write Friendly, Natural-Sounding Emails to Friends

🎯 What You’ll Learn

In this lesson, you’ll learn how to write a natural and warm informal email to a friend—especially when giving advice. You’ll discover how to:

  • Start and end your email appropriately
  • Respond to good news and accept invitations politely
  • Give suggestions using friendly, indirect language
  • Structure your message clearly: greeting → opening → body → closing

Read the sample email below to see these techniques in action!

📧 Sample: Informal Email Giving Advice

📩 To: Tony

📌 Subject: Tips for your Spain visit


Hi Tony,


How are you doing? It’s lovely to have news from you. I’m glad to know that you are finally moving into your brand new apartment. I know you have been waiting a long time for this. And thanks for the invitation, of course we’d like to come.

Anyway, I’m pleased to hear you have finally decided to visit the north of Spain, as I suggested you. You’re going to love it!


I think you should rent a holiday apartment and a car; that will give you much more freedom to explore the region at your own pace and convenience. You’ll see that the apartments are quite inexpensive. I’ll send you the details of the house we stayed in when we were there; it was nice and cozy. About the places to visit, you should visit the main mountain and beach towns. I’ll make you a list of the places we went to. I can’t now because I’m at work. And restaurants are easy. Why don’t you check which places have four or five stars on TripAdvisor? The food is always delicious!


Well, I hope this helps. I’m looking forward to visiting you next year. It’ll be great to meet again. Give my regards to Susan.


Cheers,

Tom

🧭 Structure of an Informal Advice Email

1. Greeting & Signature

First line: Hi Tony, / Hello John,

Last lines: Cheers, / Best, / Love, → Tom

2. Opening Paragraph
  • • Ask how they are: How are you doing?
  • • React to their news: I’m glad to know…
  • • Thank & accept: Thanks for the invitation—of course we’d like to come.
3. Body Paragraph (Giving Advice)
  • • Use soft suggestions: I think you should…
  • • Offer help: I’ll send you the details…
  • • Make recommendations: Why don’t you check…?
  • • Keep it conversational: I can’t now because I’m at work.
4. Closing Paragraph
  • • Wrap up kindly: Well, I hope this helps.
  • • Express future plans: I’m looking forward to visiting you…
  • • Send regards: Give my regards to Susan.

💬 Useful Phrases

Greeting
  • • Hi / Hello [Name],
  • • Hi there!
Opening Lines
  • • How are things?
  • • It’s lovely to have news from you.
  • • I’m so pleased to hear that you’re moving!
  • • Thanks for the invitation—we’d love to come!
Giving Advice (Politely)
  • • I think you should…
  • • You might want to…
  • • Why don’t you…?
  • • It’s a good idea to…
  • • I’d recommend…
Closing & Signature
  • • Well, I hope this helps!
  • • I’m looking forward to seeing you soon.
  • • Give my regards to [Name].
  • • Cheers, / Best wishes, / Love,

💡 Remember!

Keep it warm and personal.
Use friendly tone, natural advice phrases, and clear structure!

✨ A great informal email feels like a conversation—you’re talking to a friend! ✨