Skip to content
Skip to main content

About this free course

Download this course

Share this free course

Everyday English 2
Everyday English 2

Start this free course now. Just create an account and sign in. Enrol and complete the course for a free statement of participation or digital badge if available.

3.1 Writing to inform

Writing to inform is about communicating information to your audience. Your information should be factual, relevant and clear.

One example of when you ‘write to inform’ is in a job application. You may be asked to write a personal statement providing information on:

  • your qualifications
  • experience that makes you suitable for the role
  • reasons why you would like the position.

Activity 14 Texts that inform

Timing: Allow about 5 minutes

How many different texts to inform can you think of? Write down as many as you can.

To use this interactive functionality a free OU account is required. Sign in or register.
Interactive feature not available in single page view (see it in standard view).

Discussion

Here are some suggestions:

  • newspapers and magazines that contain information
  • a letter to confirm a doctor’s appointment
  • informative websites, for example Citizens Advice
  • a party invitation from a family member or friend
  • a textbook
  • recipes
  • instructions
  • manuals.

Below is an example of a text that informs. It is a formal letter from a rental agency, informing the recipient of changes to their rent. It shows the kind of language that is used in a text that informs.

41 Elm Walk
Newport
LM1 8HU

Newport Rentals
PO Box 71
Newport

29 March 2019

Dear Ms Edwardes

Re: Monthly rental for 41 Elm Walk

We are writing to tell you that we are changing the amount of rent you pay for number 41 Elm Walk. This will take effect from 1st May 2019.

The new amount and the way we have calculated it are shown on the next page.

Please read the notes we have sent with this letter. They tell you what changes you must tell us about. You can tell us about any changes online.

Yours sincerely

Mr Matthew Meadows

Activity 15 Features of texts that inform

Timing: Allow about 5 minutes

Tick the writing techniques that apply to the letter above.

Active content not displayed. This content requires JavaScript to be enabled.
Interactive feature not available in single page view (see it in standard view).

Discussion

The letter uses most of these techniques, apart from diagrams and illustrations.

It’s useful to keep these features in mind when you write to inform. In other words, you need to:

  • use language that is clear and to the point
  • include facts
  • write in an impersonal way
  • use short, clear sentences
  • break up your text with subheadings, diagrams and illustrations
  • write in an unbiased way.

One of the golden rules of writing to inform is contained in the acronym KISS (Keep It Short and Simple). That means deciding what must go in and what might go in.

Two questions can help you decide whether any piece of information is a ‘must-go-in’ or a ‘might-go-in’.

  • What am I trying to tell my reader?

    This question gets you to focus on why you are writing in the first place.

  • Will my reader understand what I am trying to say without this piece of information?

    If the answer to this question is ‘no’, the information must go in. If the answer is ‘yes’, you may or may not choose to include it.

In the next two activities, you plan and write an email. Before you do so, take a look at the example below, so that you’re familiar with the main elements and the kind of wording that is appropriate.

Email example

From: a.daniels@goodsgalore.com

To: d.saint@goodsgalore.com

cc: t.boss@goodsgalore.com

Date: 23 April 2019

Subject: March invoices

Dear Dave

I’ve just noticed we still haven’t received the invoices for March. The cut-off date is tomorrow and if we haven’t received them by then, they will not be paid until next month.

I’d be grateful if you could put them in the internal post before the end of the day.

Kind regards

Amy

Activity 16 Constructing an email that informs

Timing: Allow about 10 minutes

Imagine you are a supervisor in a care home. You have found that some of your cleaning staff are clocking on before they change into their uniforms. You know one team member in particular (Catrin Rogers) resents arriving five or ten minutes early to change into uniform. You suspect she has been encouraging others. This is against company regulations – in fact, it is a disciplinary matter.

Safta Iqbal, the Hygiene Manager, has asked you to deal with the problem. Safta also mentioned that the company has finally agreed to replace the existing lockers with bigger ones within the next six months.

You have been asked to write an email to inform the staff of this matter. Below are a number of statements that could go into the email. Decide which you must include (essential) and which you might include (optional) and drag and drop into the correct category.

Hint: Put yourself in your reader’s shoes. Look at the writing task and ask yourself: ‘What would I want from this if I were the reader?’ Remember, the more you question what you are doing, the better you will do it.

Active content not displayed. This content requires JavaScript to be enabled.
Interactive feature not available in single page view (see it in standard view).

Discussion

Here is one way of sorting the elements into ‘essential’ and ‘optional’:

Must include (essential):

  • Date: [today’s date]
  • To: All cleaning staff
  • From: [your name]
  • RE: Clocking on before changing into uniform
  • CC: Safta Iqbal, Hygiene Manager
  • Against company policy – must stop
  • Disciplinary issue – this is a warning
  • Kind regards [your name]

Might include (optional):

  • They all know it’s against company policy (told at induction).
  • They may not understand the reasons why – hours lost to department (5/10 minutes per person x 60 staff = 5/10 hours per day!).
  • Decision to order new lockers.
  • Anybody with any problems see me.

For this email it is essential to:

  • include the Date, To, From, Re and cc information
  • state the issue clearly
  • say what you want staff to do (and what will happen if they do not do it).

Activity 17 Writing an email that informs

Timing: Allow about 10 minutes

Now try writing the email that you planned in the previous activity. Use the ‘must include’ and ‘might include’ lists to help you.

To use this interactive functionality a free OU account is required. Sign in or register.
Interactive feature not available in single page view (see it in standard view).

Discussion

One possible version of the email is provided below. See how it compares to yours.

Date: 12.04.19

To: All cleaning staff

From: Head of Service

Re: Clocking on before changing into uniform

cc: Safta Iqbal, Hygiene Manager

It has come to my attention that some staff have been clocking on before changing into uniform. I wish to remind you that this is strictly against company policy and must stop.

I understand the time involved amounts only to five or ten minutes per person. Please note, however, that the Hygiene department employs over 60 staff. Five or ten minutes per person for 60 people costs the company five or ten hours per day. We cannot afford this loss of time.

From now on, disciplinary action will be taken against any member of staff found clocking on before they have changed.

Thank you for your co-operation.

Kind regards

[Your name]