Chapter: E-mails
đ Vocabulary
English Grammar and Composition Classes Nine and Ten
â Most Important Exam Words
e-mailsenderreceiversubject linepurposeconcisereadableofficialprofessionalinformalreplyforwardnotifyignoredeletebypassessentialsubmissionappropriatesincerely
đ Word Formation Rules
âē Add the suffix -er to a verb to form a person noun: send â sender, receive â receiver.
âē Add the suffix -ment to a verb to form a noun: attach â attachment, arrange â arrangement.
âē Add the suffix -tion or -sion to form an abstract noun: submit â submission, notify â notification, respond â response.
âē Add the prefix un- to form the opposite adjective: necessary â unnecessary, official â unofficial, familiar â unfamiliar.
âē Add the prefix in- or im- to form a negative adjective: appropriate â inappropriate, formal â informal, polite â impolite.
âē Add the suffix -able to a verb to form an adjective meaning capable of being done: read â readable, bypass â bypassable.
âē Add -ly to an adjective to form an adverb: sincere â sincerely, prompt â promptly, polite â politely.
âē Change y to i before adding -es or -ed in many verbs: reply â replies/replied; notify â notifies/notified.
1. E-mail Basics and Purposes (8 words)
e-mail[/ËiËmeÉĒl/]nouneasy
Meaning: āĻ-āĻŽā§āĻāϞ; electronic message sent through the internet
Alt: āĻ-āĻŽā§āĻāϞ āĻāϰāĻž
Example: I sent an e-mail to my teacher yesterday. (āĻāĻŽāĻŋ āĻāϤāĻāĻžāϞ āĻāĻŽāĻžāϰ āĻļāĻŋāĻā§āώāĻāĻā§ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻ-āĻŽā§āĻāϞ āĻĒāĻžāĻ āĻŋāϝāĻŧā§āĻāĻŋāĨ¤)
Syn: electronic mailAnt: postal mail
đĄ Exam tip: Use e-mail as a noun and e-mail as a verb in sentence-making.
sender[/ËsendÉr/]nouneasy
Meaning: āĻĒā§āϰā§āϰāĻ; the person who sends a message
Alt: āĻĒā§āϰā§āϰāĻŖāĻāĻžāϰā§
Example: The sender should write his or her full name. (āĻĒā§āϰā§āϰāĻā§āϰ āĻĒā§āϰā§āĻŖ āύāĻžāĻŽ āϞā§āĻāĻž āĻāĻāĻŋāϤāĨ¤)
Syn: writer, originatorAnt: receiver
đĄ Exam tip: Sender is the opposite of receiver.
receiver[/rÉĒËsiËvÉr/]nouneasy
Meaning: āĻĒā§āϰāĻžāĻĒāĻ; the person who receives a message
Alt: āĻā§āϰāĻšāĻŖāĻāĻžāϰā§
Example: The receiver should understand the purpose of the e-mail. (āĻĒā§āϰāĻžāĻĒāĻā§āϰ āĻ-āĻŽā§āĻāϞā§āϰ āĻāĻĻā§āĻĻā§āĻļā§āϝ āĻŦā§āĻāĻž āĻāĻāĻŋāϤāĨ¤)
Syn: recipient, addresseeAnt: sender
đĄ Exam tip: Recipient is a useful synonym for receiver in formal writing.
purpose[/ËpÉËrpÉs/]nouneasy
Meaning: āĻāĻĻā§āĻĻā§āĻļā§āϝ; the reason for doing or writing something
Alt: āϞāĻā§āώā§āϝ
Example: The clear purpose of the e-mail is to request leave. (āĻ-āĻŽā§āĻāϞāĻāĻŋāϰ āϏā§āĻĒāώā§āĻ āĻāĻĻā§āĻĻā§āĻļā§āϝ āĻšāϞ⧠āĻā§āĻāĻŋāϰ āĻāĻŦā§āĻĻāύ āĻāϰāĻžāĨ¤)
Syn: aim, objectiveAnt: pointlessness
đĄ Exam tip: A good e-mail should state its purpose clearly.
subject line[/ËsĘbdĘÉĒkt laÉĒn/]nouneasy
Meaning: āĻŦāĻŋāώāϝāĻŧ-āĻļāĻŋāϰā§āύāĻžāĻŽ; the line that states the topic of an e-mail
Alt: āĻ-āĻŽā§āĻāϞā§āϰ āĻŦāĻŋāώāϝāĻŧ
Example: Write a meaningful subject line before sending the e-mail. (āĻ-āĻŽā§āĻāϞ āĻĒāĻžāĻ āĻžāύā§āϰ āĻāĻā§ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻ
āϰā§āĻĨāĻŦāĻš āĻŦāĻŋāώāϝāĻŧ-āĻļāĻŋāϰā§āύāĻžāĻŽ āϞā§āĻā§āĨ¤)
Syn: title, headingAnt: body text
đĄ Exam tip: In an exam e-mail, write the subject on a separate line.
message[/ËmesÉĒdĘ/]nouneasy
Meaning: āĻŦāĻžāϰā§āϤāĻž; information sent to someone
Alt: āϏāĻāĻŦāĻžāĻĻ
Example: Her message contained all the necessary information. (āϤāĻžāϰ āĻŦāĻžāϰā§āϤāĻžāϝāĻŧ āϏāĻŦ āĻĒā§āϰāϝāĻŧā§āĻāύā§āϝāĻŧ āϤāĻĨā§āϝ āĻāĻŋāϞāĨ¤)
Syn: communication, noteAnt: silence
đĄ Exam tip: Message can be used as both a noun and a verb.
attachment[/ÉËtÃĻtĘmÉnt/]nounmedium
Meaning: āϏāĻāϝā§āĻā§āϤāĻŋ; a file sent with an e-mail
Alt: āϏāĻāϞāĻā§āύ āύāĻĨāĻŋ
Example: Please check the attachment with this e-mail. (āĻāĻ āĻ-āĻŽā§āĻāϞā§āϰ āϏāĻāϝā§āĻā§āϤ āĻĢāĻžāĻāϞāĻāĻŋ āĻ
āύā§āĻā§āϰāĻš āĻāϰ⧠āĻĻā§āĻā§āύāĨ¤)
Syn: enclosure, fileAnt: main text
đĄ Exam tip: Use attachment when referring to a document or photograph sent with an e-mail.
inbox[/ËÉĒnbÉks/]nouneasy
Meaning: āĻāύāĻŦāĻā§āϏ; the place where received e-mails are stored
Alt: āĻĒā§āϰāĻžāĻĒā§āϤ āĻŦāĻžāϰā§āϤāĻžāϰ āĻŦāĻžāĻā§āϏ
Example: I found your reply in my inbox. (āĻāĻŽāĻŋ āĻāĻŽāĻžāϰ āĻāύāĻŦāĻā§āϏ⧠āϤā§āĻŽāĻžāϰ āĻāϤā§āϤāϰ āĻĒā§āϝāĻŧā§āĻāĻŋāĨ¤)
Syn: mailbox, message boxAnt: outbox
đĄ Exam tip: Inbox contains received messages; outbox contains sent messages.
2. Effective E-mail Writing (8 words)
effective[/ÉĒËfektÉĒv/]adjmedium
Meaning: āĻāĻžāϰā§āϝāĻāϰ; producing the desired result
Alt: āĻĢāϞāĻĒā§āϰāϏā§
Example: A clear subject line makes an e-mail effective. (āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āϏā§āĻĒāώā§āĻ āĻŦāĻŋāώāϝāĻŧ-āĻļāĻŋāϰā§āύāĻžāĻŽ āĻ-āĻŽā§āĻāϞāĻā§ āĻāĻžāϰā§āϝāĻāϰ āĻāϰā§āĨ¤)
Syn: successful, efficientAnt: ineffective
đĄ Exam tip: The noun form is effectiveness.
concise[/kÉnËsaÉĒs/]adjmedium
Meaning: āϏāĻāĻā§āώāĻŋāĻĒā§āϤ āĻ āϏā§āĻĒāώā§āĻ; brief but complete
Alt: āϏāĻāĻā§āώā§āĻĒāĻŋāϤ
Example: A professional e-mail should be concise. (āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻĒā§āĻļāĻžāĻāϤ āĻ-āĻŽā§āĻāϞ āϏāĻāĻā§āώāĻŋāĻĒā§āϤ āĻ āϏā§āĻĒāώā§āĻ āĻšāĻāϝāĻŧāĻž āĻāĻāĻŋāϤāĨ¤)
Syn: brief, succinctAnt: verbose, wordy
đĄ Exam tip: Concise means short without omitting important information.
meaningful[/ËmiËnÉĒÅfÉl/]adjmedium
Meaning: āĻ
āϰā§āĻĨāĻŦāĻš; having a clear and useful meaning
Alt: āϤāĻžā§āĻĒāϰā§āϝāĻĒā§āϰā§āĻŖ
Example: Choose a meaningful subject for your e-mail. (āϤā§āĻŽāĻžāϰ āĻ-āĻŽā§āĻāϞā§āϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻ
āϰā§āĻĨāĻŦāĻš āĻŦāĻŋāώāϝāĻŧ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦāĻžāĻāύ āĻāϰā§āĨ¤)
Syn: significant, relevantAnt: meaningless
đĄ Exam tip: Meaningful is often used with subject, message, or experience.
straightforward[/ËstreÉĒtËfÉËrwÉrd/]adjmedium
Meaning: āϏāϰāϞ āĻ āϏā§āĻĒāώā§āĻ; easy to understand and direct
Alt: āϏā§āĻāĻžāϏāĻžāĻĒāĻāĻž
Example: Use a straightforward subject line. (āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āϏāϰāϞ āĻ āϏā§āĻĒāώā§āĻ āĻŦāĻŋāώāϝāĻŧ-āĻļāĻŋāϰā§āύāĻžāĻŽ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϰā§āĨ¤)
Syn: direct, uncomplicatedAnt: complicated, ambiguous
đĄ Exam tip: Straightforward is a compound adjective and is usually written as one word.
readable[/ËriËdÉbÉl/]adjeasy
Meaning: āϏāĻšāĻāĻĒāĻžāĻ ā§āϝ; easy to read and understand
Alt: āĻĒāĻžāĻ āϝā§āĻā§āϝ
Example: Simple formatting makes the e-mail readable. (āϏāĻšāĻ āĻŦāĻŋāύā§āϝāĻžāϏ āĻ-āĻŽā§āĻāϞāĻā§ āĻĒāĻžāĻ āϝā§āĻā§āϝ āĻāϰā§āĨ¤)
Syn: legible, clearAnt: illegible
đĄ Exam tip: Readable is formed from read plus -able.
appropriate[/ÉËproĘpriÉt/]adjmedium
Meaning: āĻāĻĒāϝā§āĻā§āϤ; suitable for a particular situation
Alt: āϝāĻĨāĻžāϝāĻĨ
Example: Use appropriate language in an official e-mail. (āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻāύā§āώā§āĻ āĻžāύāĻŋāĻ āĻ-āĻŽā§āĻāϞ⧠āĻāĻĒāϝā§āĻā§āϤ āĻāĻžāώāĻž āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϰā§āĨ¤)
Syn: suitable, properAnt: inappropriate
đĄ Exam tip: The adverb is appropriately and the noun is appropriateness.
formatting[/ËfÉËrmÃĻtÉĒÅ/]nounmedium
Meaning: āĻŦāĻŋāύā§āϝāĻžāϏ; the arrangement and style of written text
Alt: āϞā§āĻāĻžāϰ āϏāĻžāĻāϏāĻā§āĻāĻž
Example: Keep the formatting simple and neat. (āĻŦāĻŋāύā§āϝāĻžāϏāĻāĻŋ āϏāĻšāĻ āĻ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻĒāĻžāĻāĻŋ āϰāĻžāĻā§āĨ¤)
Syn: layout, arrangementAnt: disorder
đĄ Exam tip: Mention paragraphs, spacing, and font when explaining formatting.
abbreviation[/ÉËbriËviËeÉĒĘÉn/]nounmedium
Meaning: āϏāĻāĻā§āώāĻŋāĻĒā§āϤ āϰā§āĻĒ; a shortened form of a word or phrase
Alt: āĻļāĻŦā§āĻĻāϏāĻāĻā§āώā§āĻĒ
Example: Avoid inappropriate abbreviations in formal e-mails. (āĻāύā§āώā§āĻ āĻžāύāĻŋāĻ āĻ-āĻŽā§āĻāϞ⧠āĻ
āύā§āĻĒāϝā§āĻā§āϤ āϏāĻāĻā§āώāĻŋāĻĒā§āϤ āϰā§āĻĒ āĻāĻĄāĻŧāĻŋāϝāĻŧā§ āĻāϞā§āĨ¤)
Syn: short form, acronymAnt: full form
đĄ Exam tip: Formal e-mails generally require full words instead of casual abbreviations.
3. E-mail Actions and Communication (8 words)
compose[/kÉmËpoĘz/]verbmedium
Meaning: āϰāĻāύāĻž āĻāϰāĻž; to write a message
Alt: āĻāĻ āύ āĻāϰāĻž
Example: Compose the e-mail carefully before clicking send. (āĻĒāĻžāĻ āĻžāύā§āϰ āĻŦā§āϤāĻžāĻŽā§ āĻā§āϞāĻŋāĻ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻāĻā§ āĻ-āĻŽā§āĻāϞāĻāĻŋ āϏāϤāϰā§āĻāϤāĻžāϰ āϏāĻā§āĻā§ āϞā§āĻā§āĨ¤)
Syn: write, draftAnt: erase
đĄ Exam tip: The noun forms are composition and composer.
send[/send/]verbeasy
Meaning: āĻĒāĻžāĻ āĻžāύā§; to cause a message to go to someone
Alt: āĻĒā§āϰā§āϰāĻŖ āĻāϰāĻž
Example: Send the application to the head teacher. (āĻāĻŦā§āĻĻāύāĻāĻŋ āĻĒā§āϰāϧāĻžāύ āĻļāĻŋāĻā§āώāĻā§āϰ āĻāĻžāĻā§ āĻĒāĻžāĻ āĻžāĻāĨ¤)
Syn: forward, dispatchAnt: receive
đĄ Exam tip: Past and past participle forms are sent and sent.
reply[/rÉĒËplaÉĒ/]verbeasy
Meaning: āĻāϤā§āϤāϰ āĻĻā§āĻāϝāĻŧāĻž; to answer a message
Alt: āĻāĻŦāĻžāĻŦ
Example: Please reply to my questions immediately. (āĻ
āύā§āĻā§āϰāĻš āĻāϰ⧠āĻāĻŽāĻžāϰ āĻĒā§āϰāĻļā§āύāĻā§āϞā§āϰ āĻāϤā§āϤāϰ āĻ
āĻŦāĻŋāϞāĻŽā§āĻŦā§ āĻĻāĻžāĻāĨ¤)
Syn: answer, respondAnt: ignore
đĄ Exam tip: Reply to a person or message, not reply a person.
forward[/ËfÉËrwÉrd/]verbmedium
Meaning: āĻ
āύā§āϝā§āϰ āĻāĻžāĻā§ āĻĒāĻžāĻ āĻžāύā§; to send a received message to another person
Alt: āϏāĻžāĻŽāύ⧠āĻĒāĻžāĻ āĻžāύā§
Example: I will forward the notice to all classmates. (āĻāĻŽāĻŋ āύā§āĻāĻŋāĻļāĻāĻŋ āϏāĻŦ āϏāĻšāĻĒāĻžāĻ ā§āϰ āĻāĻžāĻā§ āĻĒāĻžāĻ āĻŋāϝāĻŧā§ āĻĻā§āĻŦāĨ¤)
Syn: send on, transferAnt: retain
đĄ Exam tip: Forward can be a verb, adjective, adverb, or noun depending on use.
respond[/rÉĒËspÉnd/]verbmedium
Meaning: āϏāĻžāĻĄāĻŧāĻž āĻĻā§āĻāϝāĻŧāĻž; to answer or react to something
Alt: āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāĻā§āϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧāĻž āĻāĻžāύāĻžāύā§
Example: The manager responded to my e-mail this morning. (āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāϏā§āĻĨāĻžāĻĒāĻ āĻāĻ āϏāĻāĻžāϞ⧠āĻāĻŽāĻžāϰ āĻ-āĻŽā§āĻāϞā§āϰ āĻāϤā§āϤāϰ āĻĻāĻŋāϝāĻŧā§āĻā§āύāĨ¤)
Syn: reply, answerAnt: ignore
đĄ Exam tip: Use respond to, not respond at.
notify[/ËnoĘtÉĒfaÉĒ/]verbmedium
Meaning: āĻāĻžāύāĻžāύā§; to officially inform someone
Alt: āĻ
āĻŦāĻšāĻŋāϤ āĻāϰāĻž
Example: The office notified us about the meeting. (āĻ
āĻĢāĻŋāϏāĻāĻŋ āϏāĻāĻž āϏāĻŽā§āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§ āĻāĻŽāĻžāĻĻā§āϰ āĻāĻžāύāĻŋāϝāĻŧā§āĻā§āĨ¤)
Syn: inform, announceAnt: conceal
đĄ Exam tip: The noun is notification; notify someone of something is a common structure.
ignore[/ÉĒÉĄËnÉËr/]verbeasy
Meaning: āĻāĻĒā§āĻā§āώāĻž āĻāϰāĻž; to pay no attention to something
Alt: āĻāĻĄāĻŧāĻŋāϝāĻŧā§ āϝāĻžāĻāϝāĻŧāĻž
Example: Do not ignore an important e-mail. (āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻā§āϰā§āϤā§āĻŦāĻĒā§āϰā§āĻŖ āĻ-āĻŽā§āĻāϞ āĻāĻĒā§āĻā§āώāĻž āĻāϰ⧠āύāĻžāĨ¤)
Syn: neglect, disregardAnt: notice, attend
đĄ Exam tip: Ignored e-mails may be bypassed or deleted.
delete[/dÉĒËliËt/]verbeasy
Meaning: āĻŽā§āĻā§ āĻĢā§āϞāĻž; to remove a message or file
Alt: āĻŦāĻŋāϞā§āĻĒ āĻāϰāĻž
Example: She deleted the unwanted messages. (āϏ⧠āĻ
āύāĻžāĻāĻžāĻā§āĻā§āώāĻŋāϤ āĻŦāĻžāϰā§āϤāĻžāĻā§āϞ⧠āĻŽā§āĻā§ āĻĢā§āϞāϞāĨ¤)
Syn: remove, eraseAnt: save, retain
đĄ Exam tip: The noun is deletion and the adjective is deletable.
4. Official and Personal E-mails (8 words)
official[/ÉËfÉĒĘÉl/]adjeasy
Meaning: āĻāύā§āώā§āĻ āĻžāύāĻŋāĻ; relating to an authority or organization
Alt: āϏāϰāĻāĻžāϰāĻŋ
Example: Use a formal tone in an official e-mail. (āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻāύā§āώā§āĻ āĻžāύāĻŋāĻ āĻ-āĻŽā§āĻāϞ⧠āĻāύā§āώā§āĻ āĻžāύāĻŋāĻ āĻāĻā§āĻāĻŋ āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϰā§āĨ¤)
Syn: formal, authorizedAnt: unofficial, informal
đĄ Exam tip: Official e-mails need a clear subject, polite salutation, and formal closing.
professional[/prÉËfeĘÉnÉl/]adjmedium
Meaning: āĻĒā§āĻļāĻžāĻāϤ; suitable for a job or profession
Alt: āĻĻāĻā§āώ āĻ āĻāĻĻā§āϰ
Example: His professional e-mail was brief and polite. (āϤāĻžāϰ āĻĒā§āĻļāĻžāĻāϤ āĻ-āĻŽā§āĻāϞāĻāĻŋ āϏāĻāĻā§āώāĻŋāĻĒā§āϤ āĻ āĻāĻĻā§āϰ āĻāĻŋāϞāĨ¤)
Syn: businesslike, formalAnt: unprofessional
đĄ Exam tip: Professional writing avoids slang and unnecessary words.
informal[/ÉĒnËfÉËrmÉl/]adjeasy
Meaning: āĻ
āύāĻžāύā§āώā§āĻ āĻžāύāĻŋāĻ; friendly and relaxed in style
Alt: āĻāϰā§āϝāĻŧāĻž
Example: An informal e-mail may begin with a friendly greeting. (āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻ
āύāĻžāύā§āώā§āĻ āĻžāύāĻŋāĻ āĻ-āĻŽā§āĻāϞ āĻŦāύā§āϧā§āϤā§āĻŦāĻĒā§āϰā§āĻŖ āϏāĻŽā§āĻāĻžāώāĻŖ āĻĻāĻŋāϝāĻŧā§ āĻļā§āϰ⧠āĻšāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰā§āĨ¤)
Syn: casual, friendlyAnt: formal, official
đĄ Exam tip: Informal does not mean careless; spelling and grammar should still be correct.
colleague[/ËkÉliËÉĄ/]nounmedium
Meaning: āϏāĻšāĻāϰā§āĻŽā§; a person who works with another
Alt: āϏāĻšāϝā§āĻā§
Example: The director sent a note to her colleagues. (āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻāĻžāϞāĻ āϤāĻžāĻāϰ āϏāĻšāĻāϰā§āĻŽā§āĻĻā§āϰ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āύā§āĻ āĻĒāĻžāĻ āĻžāϞā§āύāĨ¤)
Syn: co-worker, associateAnt: employer
đĄ Exam tip: Colleague is often used in official notes and workplace e-mails.
interview[/ËÉĒntÉrvjuË/]nouneasy
Meaning: āϏāĻžāĻā§āώāĻžā§āĻāĻžāϰ; a formal meeting to assess a person
Alt: āϏāĻžāĻā§āώāĻžā§āĻāĻžāϰ āĻā§āϰāĻšāĻŖ āĻāϰāĻž
Example: I wrote a thank-you e-mail after the interview. (āϏāĻžāĻā§āώāĻžā§āĻāĻžāϰā§āϰ āĻĒāϰ āĻāĻŽāĻŋ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āϧāύā§āϝāĻŦāĻžāĻĻ āĻ-āĻŽā§āĻāϞ āϞāĻŋāĻā§āĻāĻŋāĨ¤)
Syn: meeting, questioningAnt: avoidance
đĄ Exam tip: Interview can be used as both a noun and a verb.
position[/pÉËzÉĒĘÉn/]nouneasy
Meaning: āĻĒāĻĻ; a job or role in an organization
Alt: āĻ
āĻŦāϏā§āĻĨāĻžāύ
Example: She applied for the position of assistant executive. (āϏ⧠āϏāĻšāĻāĻžāϰ⧠āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻŦāĻžāĻšā§āϰ āĻĒāĻĻā§āϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻāĻŦā§āĻĻāύ āĻāϰā§āĻāĻŋāϞāĨ¤)
Syn: post, jobAnt: unemployment
đĄ Exam tip: Position is a frequent word in job-related personal e-mails.
enthusiasm[/ÉĒnËθuËziÃĻzÉm/]nounmedium
Meaning: āĻā§āϏāĻžāĻš; strong interest and eagerness
Alt: āĻāĻĻā§āĻĻā§āĻĒāύāĻž
Example: He expressed enthusiasm for the new project. (āϏ⧠āύāϤā§āύ āĻĒā§āϰāĻāϞā§āĻĒā§āϰ āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋ āĻā§āϏāĻžāĻš āĻĒā§āϰāĻāĻžāĻļ āĻāϰāϞāĨ¤)
Syn: eagerness, passionAnt: apathy, indifference
đĄ Exam tip: The adjective is enthusiastic and the adverb is enthusiastically.
sincerely[/sÉĒnËsÉĒÉrli/]adveasy
Meaning: āĻāύā§āϤāϰāĻŋāĻāĻāĻžāĻŦā§; honestly and genuinely
Alt: āĻŦāĻŋāĻļā§āĻŦāϏā§āϤāϤāĻžāϰ āϏāĻā§āĻā§
Example: End a formal e-mail with âSincerelyâ. (āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻāύā§āώā§āĻ āĻžāύāĻŋāĻ āĻ-āĻŽā§āĻāϞ âSincerelyâ āĻĻāĻŋāϝāĻŧā§ āĻļā§āώ āĻāϰā§āĨ¤)
Syn: genuinely, faithfullyAnt: insincerely
đĄ Exam tip: Sincerely is a common complimentary close in formal e-mails.
5. Problems and Reasons for Bypassing E-mails (8 words)
bypass[/ËbaÉĒpÉËs/]verbhard
Meaning: āĻāĻĄāĻŧāĻŋāϝāĻŧā§ āϝāĻžāĻāϝāĻŧāĻž; to avoid or pass without dealing with something
Alt: āĻāĻĒā§āĻā§āώāĻž āĻāϰ⧠āĻāϞ⧠āϝāĻžāĻāϝāĻŧāĻž
Example: The receiver may bypass an e-mail with an unclear subject. (āĻ
āϏā§āĻĒāώā§āĻ āĻŦāĻŋāώāϝāĻŧā§āϰ āĻ-āĻŽā§āĻāϞ āĻĒā§āϰāĻžāĻĒāĻ āĻāĻĄāĻŧāĻŋāϝāĻŧā§ āϝā§āϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰā§āύāĨ¤)
Syn: avoid, skipAnt: consider, address
đĄ Exam tip: Bypass can be used as both a verb and a noun.
essential[/ÉĒËsenĘÉl/]adjmedium
Meaning: āĻ
āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻšāĻžāϰā§āϝ; absolutely necessary
Alt: āĻ
āϤā§āϝāĻžāĻŦāĻļā§āϝāĻ
Example: The e-mail contains essential information about the exam. (āĻ-āĻŽā§āĻāϞāĻāĻŋāϤ⧠āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž āϏāĻŽā§āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§ āĻ
āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻšāĻžāϰā§āϝ āϤāĻĨā§āϝ āĻāĻā§āĨ¤)
Syn: necessary, vitalAnt: unnecessary, optional
đĄ Exam tip: The noun is essence; essential information means very important information.
familiar[/fÉËmÉĒliÉr/]adjmedium
Meaning: āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻāĻŋāϤ; known from previous experience
Alt: āĻ
āĻŦāĻāϤ
Example: Messages from familiar senders are more likely to be read. (āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻāĻŋāϤ āĻĒā§āϰā§āϰāĻā§āϰ āĻŦāĻžāϰā§āϤāĻž āĻĒāĻĄāĻŧāĻžāϰ āϏāĻŽā§āĻāĻžāĻŦāύāĻž āĻŦā§āĻļāĻŋāĨ¤)
Syn: known, recognizableAnt: unfamiliar, unknown
đĄ Exam tip: Use be familiar with something, but be familiar to someone.
unnecessary[/ĘnËnesÉsÉri/]adjeasy
Meaning: āĻ
āĻĒā§āϰāϝāĻŧā§āĻāύā§āϝāĻŧ; not needed
Alt: āĻ
āĻĒā§āϰāĻžāϏāĻā§āĻāĻŋāĻ
Example: Remove unnecessary words from your e-mail. (āϤā§āĻŽāĻžāϰ āĻ-āĻŽā§āĻāϞ āĻĨā§āĻā§ āĻ
āĻĒā§āϰāϝāĻŧā§āĻāύā§āϝāĻŧ āĻļāĻŦā§āĻĻ āĻŦāĻžāĻĻ āĻĻāĻžāĻāĨ¤)
Syn: needless, redundantAnt: necessary, essential
đĄ Exam tip: Un- changes necessary into its opposite.
delay[/dÉĒËleÉĒ/]nouneasy
Meaning: āĻŦāĻŋāϞāĻŽā§āĻŦ; a period of waiting or lateness
Alt: āĻŦāĻŋāϞāĻŽā§āĻŦ āĻāϰāĻž
Example: Late submissions may cause a delay in the decision. (āĻĻā§āϰāĻŋāϤ⧠āĻāĻŽāĻž āĻĻāĻŋāϞ⧠āϏāĻŋāĻĻā§āϧāĻžāύā§āϤ⧠āĻŦāĻŋāϞāĻŽā§āĻŦ āĻšāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰā§āĨ¤)
Syn: postponement, latenessAnt: promptness, speed
đĄ Exam tip: Delay works as both a noun and a verb: delay the reply.
submission[/sÉbËmÉĒĘÉn/]nounmedium
Meaning: āĻāĻŽāĻžāĻĻāĻžāύ; the act of presenting something for consideration
Alt: āĻāĻŽāĻž āĻĻā§āĻāϝāĻŧāĻž āύāĻĨāĻŋ
Example: The deadline for submission is tomorrow. (āĻāĻŽāĻžāĻĻāĻžāύā§āϰ āĻļā§āώ āϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧ āĻāĻāĻžāĻŽā§āĻāĻžāϞāĨ¤)
Syn: presentation, deliveryAnt: withdrawal
đĄ Exam tip: The verb is submit; remember the double s in submission.
inappropriate[/ËÉĒnÉËproĘpriÉt/]adjmedium
Meaning: āĻ
āύā§āĻĒāϝā§āĻā§āϤ; not suitable for a situation
Alt: āĻ
āϝāĻĨāĻžāϝāĻĨ
Example: Bright colours and capital letters are inappropriate in a formal e-mail. (āĻāύā§āώā§āĻ āĻžāύāĻŋāĻ āĻ-āĻŽā§āĻāϞ⧠āĻāĻā§āĻā§āĻŦāϞ āϰāĻ āĻ āĻŦāĻĄāĻŧ āĻšāĻžāϤā§āϰ āĻ
āĻā§āώāϰ āĻ
āύā§āĻĒāϝā§āĻā§āϤāĨ¤)
Syn: unsuitable, improperAnt: appropriate, suitable
đĄ Exam tip: In- gives the opposite meaning of appropriate.
bypassable[/ËbaÉĒpÉËsÉbÉl/]adjhard
Meaning: āĻāĻĄāĻŧāĻŋāϝāĻŧā§ āϝāĻžāĻāϝāĻŧāĻž āϏāĻŽā§āĻāĻŦ; capable of being bypassed
Alt: āĻāĻĒā§āĻā§āώāĻŖā§āϝāĻŧ
Example: A vague subject can make an e-mail bypassable. (āĻ
āϏā§āĻĒāώā§āĻ āĻŦāĻŋāώāϝāĻŧ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻ-āĻŽā§āĻāϞāĻā§ āĻāĻĄāĻŧāĻŋāϝāĻŧā§ āϝāĻžāĻāϝāĻŧāĻžāϰ āĻŽāϤ⧠āĻāϰ⧠āϤā§āϞāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰā§āĨ¤)
Syn: avoidable, skippableAnt: unavoidable
đĄ Exam tip: The suffix -able means capable of being done.
6. Useful Verbs, Adjectives, and Word Formation (8 words)
clarify[/ËklÃĻrÉfaÉĒ/]verbmedium
Meaning: āϏā§āĻĒāώā§āĻ āĻāϰāĻž; to make something easier to understand
Alt: āĻĒāϰāĻŋāώā§āĻāĻžāϰāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻŦā§āϝāĻžāĻā§āϝāĻž āĻāϰāĻž
Example: Please clarify the reason for your request. (āϤā§āĻŽāĻžāϰ āĻ
āύā§āϰā§āϧā§āϰ āĻāĻžāϰāĻŖāĻāĻŋ āĻ
āύā§āĻā§āϰāĻš āĻāϰ⧠āϏā§āĻĒāώā§āĻ āĻāϰā§āĨ¤)
Syn: explain, elucidateAnt: confuse, obscure
đĄ Exam tip: The noun is clarification and the adjective is clear or clarified.
recognize[/ËrekÉÉĄnaÉĒz/]verbmedium
Meaning: āĻā§āύāĻž; to identify someone or something previously known
Alt: āϏā§āĻŦā§āĻā§āϤāĻŋ āĻĻā§āĻāϝāĻŧāĻž
Example: The receiver should recognize the senderâs full name. (āĻĒā§āϰāĻžāĻĒāĻā§āϰ āĻĒā§āϰā§āϰāĻā§āϰ āĻĒā§āϰā§āĻŖ āύāĻžāĻŽ āĻā§āύāĻž āĻāĻāĻŋāϤāĨ¤)
Syn: identify, knowAnt: misidentify
đĄ Exam tip: British spelling is recognise; both forms are accepted according to style.
encourage[/ÉĒnËkĘrÉĒdĘ/]verbmedium
Meaning: āĻā§āϏāĻžāĻšāĻŋāϤ āĻāϰāĻž; to give support or confidence
Alt: āĻ
āύā§āĻĒā§āϰāĻžāĻŖāĻŋāϤ āĻāϰāĻž
Example: The manager encouraged the staff to reply promptly. (āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāϏā§āĻĨāĻžāĻĒāĻ āĻāϰā§āĻŽā§āĻĻā§āϰ āĻĻā§āϰā§āϤ āĻāϤā§āϤāϰ āĻĻāĻŋāϤ⧠āĻā§āϏāĻžāĻšāĻŋāϤ āĻāϰāϞā§āύāĨ¤)
Syn: inspire, motivateAnt: discourage
đĄ Exam tip: The noun is encouragement; encourage someone to do something is the correct pattern.
cooperate[/koĘËÉpÉreÉĒt/]verbmedium
Meaning: āϏāĻšāϝā§āĻāĻŋāϤāĻž āĻāϰāĻž; to work together
Alt: āϏāĻšāĻŽāϤ āĻšāϝāĻŧā§ āĻāĻžāĻ āĻāϰāĻž
Example: All departments should cooperate on the project. (āϏāĻŦ āĻŦāĻŋāĻāĻžāĻā§āϰ āĻĒā§āϰāĻāϞā§āĻĒāĻāĻŋāϤ⧠āϏāĻšāϝā§āĻāĻŋāϤāĻž āĻāϰāĻž āĻāĻāĻŋāϤāĨ¤)
Syn: collaborate, assistAnt: oppose, compete
đĄ Exam tip: The noun is cooperation and the adjective is cooperative.
polite[/pÉËlaÉĒt/]adjeasy
Meaning: āĻāĻĻā§āϰ; showing good manners
Alt: āĻļāĻŋāώā§āĻ
Example: Always use polite language when writing to an authority. (āĻāϰā§āϤā§āĻĒāĻā§āώāĻā§ āϞā§āĻāĻžāϰ āϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧ āϏāĻŦāϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧ āĻāĻĻā§āϰ āĻāĻžāώāĻž āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϰā§āĨ¤)
Syn: courteous, civilAnt: rude, impolite
đĄ Exam tip: Polite becomes politely as an adverb and politeness as a noun.
promptly[/ËprÉmptli/]advmedium
Meaning: āĻĻā§āϰā§āϤ; without delay
Alt: āϏāĻŽāϝāĻŧāĻŽāϤā§
Example: She replied promptly to the official notice. (āϏ⧠āϏāϰāĻāĻžāϰāĻŋ āύā§āĻāĻŋāĻļā§āϰ āĻĻā§āϰā§āϤ āĻāϤā§āϤāϰ āĻĻāĻŋāϞāĨ¤)
Syn: quickly, immediatelyAnt: slowly, late
đĄ Exam tip: Prompt means quick or punctual; promptly is its adverb form.
relevant[/ËrelÉvÉnt/]adjmedium
Meaning: āĻĒā§āϰāĻžāϏāĻā§āĻāĻŋāĻ; closely connected with the topic
Alt: āϏāĻŽā§āĻĒāϰā§āĻāĻŋāϤ
Example: The first few lines should contain relevant information. (āĻĒā§āϰāĻĨāĻŽ āĻāϝāĻŧā§āĻāĻāĻŋ āϞāĻžāĻāύ⧠āĻĒā§āϰāĻžāϏāĻā§āĻāĻŋāĻ āϤāĻĨā§āϝ āĻĨāĻžāĻāĻž āĻāĻāĻŋāϤāĨ¤)
Syn: pertinent, relatedAnt: irrelevant, unrelated
đĄ Exam tip: Relevant information directly supports the subject of an e-mail.
accurate[/ËÃĻkjÉrÉt/]adjmedium
Meaning: āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻā§āϞ; correct and free from mistakes
Alt: āϏāĻ āĻŋāĻ
Example: Check that the address and date are accurate. (āĻ āĻŋāĻāĻžāύāĻž āĻ āϤāĻžāϰāĻŋāĻ āύāĻŋāϰā§āĻā§āϞ āĻāĻŋ āύāĻž āĻĒāϰā§āĻā§āώāĻž āĻāϰā§āĨ¤)
Syn: correct, preciseAnt: inaccurate, incorrect
đĄ Exam tip: The noun is accuracy; accurate spelling and grammar improve readability.
đĄ Exam Tips
âĸ Write the recipientâs e-mail address and a clear subject line before the body of the message.
âĸ Begin a formal e-mail with a polite salutation such as âDear Sir/Madamâ or âDear Sirâ.
âĸ State the purpose in the opening sentence and keep the body concise and relevant.
âĸ Use short paragraphs, correct spelling, proper punctuation, and a blank line between paragraphs.
âĸ Use a formal tone for authorities, offices, applications, and official notices; use a friendly tone for close friends.
âĸ End a formal e-mail with âYours faithfullyâ, âYours sincerelyâ, or âSincerelyâ, followed by the senderâs full name.
âĸ Avoid slang, unnecessary abbreviations, all capital letters, bright colours, and decorative fonts in formal e-mails.
âĸ Use active voice where possible: âWe are sending your order todayâ is clearer than âYour order will be sent by us today.â
âĸ When replying, answer every question in the original e-mail immediately and clearly.
âĸ Remember the contrast pairs frequently tested in vocabulary: sender/receiver, formal/informal, necessary/unnecessary, appropriate/inappropriate, and include/exclude.
âĸ Do not confuse reply with forward: reply answers the sender, while forward sends the received message to another person.
âĸ Proofread the e-mail before sending it, especially the address, subject, tense, spelling, and closing.