What you will learn
Вы научитесь распознавать четыре части короткого сообщения и выбирать формулировку, которая сразу объясняет ситуацию и следующий шаг.
A complete short message
Hi Max,
I'm running ten minutes late.
Please start without me.
See you soon, Anna
A complete message
Hi Max, I'm running about ten minutes late because the bus is delayed. Please start without me. See you soon, Anna
Даже очень короткое сообщение отвечает на два вопроса получателя:
- What happened?
- What should I do or expect?
Four parts
| Part | Example | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| greeting | Hi Max, | addresses the reader |
| reason or update | I'm running ten minutes late. | explains the situation |
| action or request | Please start without me. | makes the next step clear |
| closing | See you soon, | ends naturally |
Useful compact patterns
- change a time: I can't meet at six. Can we meet at seven instead?
- ask for contact: Please call me after work.
- cancel politely: I'm sorry, but I can't come today.
- give an update: I've arrived. I'm waiting by the entrance.
Tone and clarity
Late maybe is not a complete useful update. Call me can sound direct; please makes a neutral request. Do not add long background if the receiver only needs a time and action.
Punctuation
Use a comma after the name and closing in a simple message. Line breaks make the parts easy to scan, but the same structure also works in a chat message.
Try it yourself
Write a three- or four-line message for this situation: you will be fifteen minutes late for a class or meeting.
Check: Include a greeting, the length of the delay, one action for the reader and a natural closing.