SHORT WRITING COMPOSITION
CLASS XII
ENGLISH
FORMAL AND INFORMAL INVITATIONS AND REPLIES
Man is social by nature. Hence interaction and communication between human beings is
quite natural. We hold many social functions such as celebrations of birthday, engagement,
wedding, marriage anniversary; appointment, promotion. Invitations form an important part
of social dealings. An invitation is a request to an individual to attend a function. To invite
someone for an occasion, we use an INVITATION.
Invitations can be written in Print/Card format and a letter format as well. They are of two
types
1. Formal
2. Informal
MAIN CHARACTERISTICS
➢ An invitation is complete information. It answers the questions: who, whom, when, where,
what time
and for what. The important components of an invitation therefore are:-
➢ The occasion
➢ Name(s) of the invitee(s)
➢ Name(s) of the host(s)
➢ Date, time and venue
➢ Name(s) of the chief guest or special invitees, in case of an official invitation
FORMAT OF FORMAL INVITATIONS
In case of formal invitations, each of the following is written in a separate line with fonts of
varying sizes.
➢ Names of the hosts
➢ Names of the invitee (in case of a formal letter of invitation))
➢ Formal phrases of invitation , for example :-
Request the pleasure of your benign presence/company.
Seek your auspicious presence.
Solicit your gracious presence on the auspicious occasion
The date, time and venue of the event.
The occasion/reason of the invitation.
CHARACTERISTICS OF FORMAL INVITATIONS
Meant for a lot of invitees
These are written in the third person.
In case a VIP is invited as the chief guest the name of the VIP must appear
prominently.
Name of the invitee is not to be included. The addressee’s address is to be written
only on the envelope.
Simple Present Tense is to be used.
The date of writing is not to be given.
There is no signature of the host.
The abbreviation RSVP (French : repondez s’il vous plait ) i.e. ‘please reply’ is
written below on the left with name(s) , address and phone number of the host(s).
Put the invitation into a box.
Do not exceed 50 words. Time yourself- 6-8 minutes
SAMPLE FORMAL INVITATION (PRINTED/CARD FORMAT)
Q 1- Your school is organising the Annual Sports Day next month at one of the prestigious
stadiums of your city. Draft an invitation in not more than 50 words giving all the necessary
details.
SAMPLE FORMAL INVITATION (NON PRINTED/LETTER FORMAT)
➢ Meant for an individual
➢ Include the name of the invitee
➢ These are to be written on run-on lines. The sentence is not broken into different
words/phrases.
➢ Other details are similar to the mass-scale invitations
Q 2- Your school is organising the Annual sports Day next month at one of the prestigious
stadiums of your city. Draft an invitation in not more than 50 words requesting Mr. Deepak
Arya, IAS Collector Balaghat to preside over the function as the chief guest and to give away
the prizes.
ABC Vidyalaya Balaghat
Post- Bharweli Dist- Balaghat
February 9 ,2019
Mr. Deepak Arya, IAS
Collector, District= Balaghat
Subject: Invitation to be the chief guest
Sir
We are pleased to inform you that ABC Vidyalaya Balaghat is going to celebrate its 25th
Annual Sports Day on 15 February 2020 at 9:00 am at The Mulana Stadium. We shall consider
it a great honour and favour if you could grace the occasion and preside over the function as
the chief guest and give away the prizes.
We hope your honour will kindly accede to our request. We would appreciate a line in reply
or a telephone call on phone No 07632XXXXX.
Yours Faithfully
Pankaj Kumar
Principal
Sample Formal Replies- Acceptance
REPLIES - ACCEPTING OR DECLINING
Formal - follow a set formula
- formal words — kind invitation’, ‘great pleasure’, ‘regret’ etc.
- Use the third person instead of the first person (‘I’, we’)
- The address of the writer and the date to be written.
Q3. Mr. Deepak Arya (I.A.S.), collector, Balaghat has been invited to preside over the
Annual sports Day of ABC Vidyalaya Balaghat to be held on 15 February 2020 at the Mulna
Stadium. On behalf of Mr. Deepak Arya, write a formal reply of acceptance to Mr. Pankaj
Kumar, Principal, ABC Vidyalaya Balaghat.
SAMPLE FORMAL REPLIES- DECLINING
4. Mr. Deepak Arya (I.A.S.), collector, Balaghat has been invited to preside over the Annual
Sports Day of ABC Vidyalaya Balaghat to be held on 15 February 2020 at the Mulna Stadium.
On behalf of Mr. Deepak Arya, write a formal reply to Mr. Pankaj Kumar, Principal, ABC
Vidyalaya Balaghat informing about his inability to accept the same due to a prior engagement.
SAMPLE INFORMAL INVITATION (NON PRINTED/LETTER FORMAT)
➢ Written in a letter form, in informal format. Such letters are very persuasive in nature.
➢ Written in the first person
➢ Salutation is ‘dear + name’
➢ Date of writing the invitation is given.
➢ The sender’s address appears on the left hand side.
➢ Various tenses used to suit the sense.
Q 5- You are Manoj/Manjula. Draft an invitation for your friend/friends for the party you are
giving to celebrate your selection in the B.Tech. Course in Delhi University. Invent necessary
details within 50 words.
Sample Informal invitation (Printed/Card format)
(When the question says ‘draft a card’)
WEDDING INVITATION
Q6. You are S.K Verma. Draft an invitation to be sent on the occasion of your daughter,
Remya’s marriage. Invent the necessary details within 50 words.
SAMPLE INFORMAL REPLIES- ACCEPTANCE REPLIES
ACCEPTING AND DECLINING INFORMAL
Like an ordinary letter - do not use any formal expressions but use informal words and
expressions - use the first person (‘I’, ‘We’)
7. You are Mehul/Meena. You have been invited to attend the celebration of selection of your
friend in B.Tech. course in Delhi University. Respond to the invitation informally accepting
it.
Sample Informal Replies- REFUSAL
8. You are Mehul/Meena. You have been invited to attend the celebration of selection of your
friend in B.Tech. course in Delhi University. Respond to the invitation informally declining it
REPLY TO CARD TYPE INVITATIONS
Suggested Value Points:
• Written in the third person and in the simple present tense
• Date of reply is to be written on the top left corner
• Name of the sender, the host, the event, date, time and venue to be clearly mentioned
• Acceptance or refusal should be mentioned clearly
• Reply to be enclosed in a box
MODEL REPLY IN ACCEPTANCE (CARD TYPE)
INVITATION (LETTER TYPE) – 2
St. Joseph’s College
Thiruvananthapuram
Kerala-695002
03 August 2023
Anuradha Pai
Sarovaram
Nanthencode
Thiruvananthapuram– 695004
Subject: Invitation as moderator for Inter Collegiate debate competition
Dear Madam
St. Joseph’s College is organizing an Inter Collegiate debate competition in English on the
topic “Digital Turn in the Classroom-Boon or Bane?” in connection with the celebration of
the 3rd anniversary of NEP-2020.
Teams from five reputed colleges in and around the city are participating in the event which
is scheduled on 20 August 2023 at 10 am in the college auditorium. It would be a great
honour for us if you could kindly consent to be the moderator of the debate.
We request you to confirm your availability by 10 August 2023.
Yours sincerely
M K Kurien
Principal
