Writing Skills – Formal and
Informal Reply
Online Video Lesson / E-content
for
Class – XII – English Core
Prepared by
Kailash Kesharwani, PGT (English)
Kendriya Vidyalaya Bina (M.P.)
Creating Writing Skills: 8 Marks (Term-1)
Q1. Short writing task –Notice/ Classified Advertisements up to 50 words.
One out of the two given questions to be answered.
(3 Marks: Format: 1/Content : / Expression : 1)
Q2. (a) Letters to an editor (giving suggestions or opinion on issues of public interest).
(b) Article
One out of the two given questions to be answered
(5 Marks :Format: 1 / Content: 2 / Expression: 2)
Creating Writing Skills: 8 Marks (Term-2)
Q1. Short writing task – Formal / Informal
Invitation Cards or the Replies to invitation up
to 50 words.
One out of the two given questions to be
answered.
(3 Marks: Format : 1 / Content : 1 / Expression : 1)
Q2. Long Writing Tasks (One) –
(a) Letter or Application for a job, Word Limit - approximately 120-150 words.
(b) Report Writing - Word Limit - approximately 150-200 words.
One out of the two given questions to be answered
(5 Marks :Format: 1 / Content: 2 / Expression: 2)
INVITATION REPLIES
• A formal reply is usually very short. It is brief and to the point. The
quality of a good reply is that it is always pleasant.
• Even while declining the invitation or expressing inability to attend,
one must be polite and courteous.
• Formal replies demand a formal tone and treatment. There is no room
for unnecessary details or superfluous matter in them.
• An informal reply or private letter may, however, express personal
feeling or desires in an intimate style and informal tone.
Formal Replies
• Acknowledge the invitation.
• Express thanks in third person.
• Mention acceptance/regret.
• Specify the reason for refusal.
• Be brief and specific.
• Be formal in tone and treatment.
• Do not exceed the word limit (usually 50
words).
Example – 1 (Formal Reply)
Draft a formal reply accepting an invitation
to be present on the occasion of the
wedding of Ankush S/o Mr & Mrs Shankar
of 24, Green Park Road, Kanpur. You are
Vikram Gaur of Raja Ki Mandi, Agra.
Answer
Raja Ki Mandi, Agra
25 August 2020
Mr and Mrs Vikram Gaur thank Mr And Mrs Shankar
for inviting them on the occasion of the wedding of
their son Ankush at 24, Green Park Road, Kanpur on
15 May, 20XX and assure them that they will be
present on the occasion to wish the newly weds a
very happy married life. Mr and Mrs Gaur will reach
Kanpur by the Agra Mail which leaves Agra at 8.00
a.m.
Vikram Gaur
Example -2 (Formal Reply)
Draft a formal reply expressing your inability to
attend the inauguration of the showroom
‘Regalia’ on Sunday, the 20th July 20XX, at 11
a.m. at B-12, Rohini. You are Navin Jain of C-5,
G.K.J, New Delhi and your friend is G.L. Bansal
of 23, Sunder Nagar, New Delhi.
Answer
C-5, GK-I,
New Delhi
15 July, 20XX
Mrs & Mr Navin Jain thank Mrs & Mr G.L. Bansal for the
invitation to the inauguration of their showroom ‘Regalia’
on Sunday, the 20th July 20XX, at 11 a.m. at B-12,
Rohini, Delhi. However, they express their inability to be
present on the occasion due to a prior commitments.
Jains
Example -3 (Formal Reply)
You are Akshya / Aakriti. You have
been invited to participate in a
seminar on ‘Fundamental Rights of
Children’, organised by the Lions
Club of your district. Respond to the
invitation by writing a letter to the
Secretary of the club.
Answer - 1
25, Aram Bagh Road
Meerut
5 May, 20XX
The Secretary
Lions Club, Meerut
Sub: Acceptance of Invitation
Sir
Thanks for your invitation for a seminar on ‘Fundamental Rights of
Children’, and your concern for the under-privileged children. I would
like to utilise this opportunity to share my experiences with other like-
minded enthusiasts and experts.
I hereby confirm my participation in the seminar.
Yours faithfully
Answer - 2
25, Aram Bagh Road
Meerut
5 May, 20XX
The Secretary
Lions Club, Meerut
Sir
Sub: Inability to accept the invitation
Thank you very much for inviting me to participate in a seminar on
‘Fundamental Rights of Children’. I feel honoured and obliged. However, I
shall not be able to accept your invitation due to some previous commitments
which keep me confined to my place on that day.
Thanking you once again for your kind invitation.
Yours sincerely
Example – 3 (Formal Reply)
Q. You are Neeraj, a student of XII class of Girdhari
Lai Model School, Jungpura, Jind. You had
requested the Principal, Hindu Sr. Sec. School,
Sonepat for migration. Draft a reply from the
Principal expressing his inability to accede to your
request.
Answer
Hindu Sr. Sec. School
Sonepat
21 July, 20XX
Dear Mr Neeraj
I am sorry to inform you that your request for migration to this
institution in class XII cannot be acceded to. We allow
migration only in class XI. Moreover, we do not have additional
seats in class XII to accommodate students from outside.
Yours faithfully
S.K. Kapur
Principal
Informal Replies
Main characteristics
Acknowledge the invitation in first person.
Use second person for the sender of invitation
Mention acceptance/regret
Specify the reason in case of refusal
Use warm and simple language
Do not exceed the word limit (50 words)
Example -1 (Informal Reply)
Q. You are Aakash/Varsha. You
have been invited to attend the
wedding of your friend’s sister
during summer vacation.
Respond to the invitation,
regretting your inability to
attend it.
Answer
205, Vasant Kunj
New Delhi
4 March, 20XX
Dear Neha
Thank you for your cordial invitation on the occasion of your
sister’s wedding. I, however, regret my inability to be with you
on this happy occasion as we shall be leaving for Shimla for
summer holidays on 1 May, 20XX. Please excuse my absence.
Do convey my regards and best wishes to the couple.
Yours sincerely
Varsha/Aakash
Example - 2 (Informal Reply)
Q. You are Manoj /Mini. You have
been invited to attend a birthday party
of your closest friend. Respond to this
invitation in not more than 50 words.
Answer - 1
217 MIG Flats
Surya Vihar, New Delhi
15 March, 20XX
Dear Shuchi
I have received your invitation for your birthday party on
25 March, 20XX at 5 p.m. at Hotel Janpath. I am
extremely happy to know that all our old friends are likely
to be there. I would like to confirm my participation.
Looking forward to the momentous occasion.
With love.
Manoj/Mini
Answer – 2
217 MIG Flats
Surya Vihar, New Delhi
15 March, 20XX
Dear Shuchi
I acknowledge with thanks your kind invitation to your birthday party on
the 25th March. I regret to inform you that I will not be able to join you in
the celebrations due to some very urgent and unavoidable prior
engagements that may keep me tied down here on that day.
Please accept my heartiest felicitations and love.
Kindly accept a small gift that I am sending through courier.
Wishing you a very happy birthday.
Yours sincerely
Example – 3 (Informal Reply)
You are Shiv Khera, a noted educationist. You have
been invited by the Value Education Club of
Vivekanand Sr. Sec. School, Roop Nagar, New
Delhi to deliver a talk on ‘The Importance of
Devotion, Dedication and Discipline’ on a date and
time convenient to you. Respond to the invitation.
Answer
C-2/21, New Defence Colony
New Delhi
25 August, 20XX
The Secretary
Value Education Club
Vivekanand Sr. Sec. School
Roop Nagar, New Delhi
Dear Rohit
I thank you for your invitation to speak on a topic dear to me. I hope
Friday, the 12th September, 20XX will be acceptable to you.
With best wishes.
Yours sincerely
Example – 4 (Informal Reply)
Q. You are Prem Shankar Jha, eminent
economist. You have received an
invitation from the Lion’s Club to speak
on the salient features of the latest
budget. Regret your inability due to
previous commitments.
Answer
27 Ashoka Road
New Delhi
3 March, 20XX
The Secretary
Lion’s Club
Agra
Dear Sir
Thanks for sending me an invitation to speak on the salient
features of the latest union budget. I regret my inability to join
you on the date suggested by you due to heavy and unavoidable
prior commitments.
Yours faithfully
• You were invited by a friend of yours to spend some
days at his farmhouse in Manali during the summer
vacation. Respond to his invitation.
• You have received an invitation to attend the prize
giving ceremony on the occasion of the Regional
Social Sciences Exhibition. Write a letter to the
Secretary of the ‘The World View’ (the organiser of
the exhibition) informing him about your inability to
attend. Give three reasons.
Thanks
for
Watching Patiently
