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English Quiz - Writing Letters (Questions)

Formal letter writing is when writing seriously to businesses or companies. Letter writing is still an important skill even though we all send emails nowadays.

This little quiz will test you mainly to see what you know about formal letter writing; however, some of the stuff also applies to informal letter writing. Informal letter writing is used for writing to friends and relatives.

Because formal letters are less common than ever, you might think it's not worth playing this quiz or learning how to write formally. You will regret this when it comes to applying for jobs - most large reputable companies still choose interviewees based not only on a CV, but also the formal letter attached with it.

You won't need to buy any stamps to do this 11-plus English quiz. Have fun!

1. What is the name given to the person to whom a letter is addressed?
[ ] The addresser
[ ] The recipient
[ ] The addressee
[ ] The addressor
2. In letter writing, what is a 'salutation'?
[ ] The opening greeting
[ ] The closing greeting
[ ] An expression of complaint
[ ] An expression of gratitude
3. In letter writing, what is a 'subscription'?
[ ] A membership fee
[ ] A request to subscribe to something
[ ] The closing greeting
[ ] An expression of ingratitude
4. What does the abbreviation 'ASAP' mean?
[ ] As soon as possible
[ ] As soon as promising
[ ] As soon as probable
[ ] As soon as paid
5. What does the abbreviation 'RSVP' mean?
[ ] Please don't reply
[ ] Please reply
[ ] You may reply by free post
[ ] Please use the return envelope
6. What does the abbreviation 'PS' mean?
[ ] Post it safely
[ ] Postage stamp(s)
[ ] Post sack
[ ] Post script
7. What does the abbreviation 'enc.' mean?
[ ] Entertaining content
[ ] Encrypted letter
[ ] Encyclopedia
[ ] Enclosure
8. What salutation would you use to greet Mrs. Mary Jones?
[ ] Dear Mary Jones,
[ ] Dear Madam Jones,
[ ] Dear Mrs. Jones,
[ ] Dear Mrs. Mary Jones,
9. What subscription would you use to end your letter to Mrs. Mary Jones?
[ ] Yours Sincerely,
[ ] Yours sincerely,
[ ] Yours faithfully,
[ ] Yours Faithfully,
10. What is a 'covering letter'?
[ ] A decorated design attached to the main letter to make it look more attractive
[ ] A letter that covers business matters
[ ] A paper cover that hides the contents of the main letter
[ ] An accompanying explanatory letter
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English Quiz - Writing Letters (Answers)
1. What is the name given to the person to whom a letter is addressed?
[ ] The addresser
[ ] The recipient
[x] The addressee
[ ] The addressor
Now you won't get embarrassed at the post office anymore
2. In letter writing, what is a 'salutation'?
[x] The opening greeting
[ ] The closing greeting
[ ] An expression of complaint
[ ] An expression of gratitude
For example: Dear Mr. Smith,
3. In letter writing, what is a 'subscription'?
[ ] A membership fee
[ ] A request to subscribe to something
[x] The closing greeting
[ ] An expression of ingratitude
For example: Yours sincerely, AND Yours faithfully,
4. What does the abbreviation 'ASAP' mean?
[x] As soon as possible
[ ] As soon as promising
[ ] As soon as probable
[ ] As soon as paid
Learn this stuff asap!
5. What does the abbreviation 'RSVP' mean?
[ ] Please don't reply
[x] Please reply
[ ] You may reply by free post
[ ] Please use the return envelope
RSVP stands for a French phrase, 'répondez, s'il vous plaît': which means 'please reply'. The person sending you the invitation requires you to tell them whether you wish to accept or decline the invitation to an event, e.g. a wedding. Etiquette demands that you reply!
6. What does the abbreviation 'PS' mean?
[ ] Post it safely
[ ] Postage stamp(s)
[ ] Post sack
[x] Post script
When you've finished and signed your letter, you might have forgotten to say something: write PS under your signature and then write what you had forgotten to put in the main letter
7. What does the abbreviation 'enc.' mean?
[ ] Entertaining content
[ ] Encrypted letter
[ ] Encyclopedia
[x] Enclosure
If you intend to include other papers with your letter, you can write 'enc.' followed by a list of the papers enclosed
8. What salutation would you use to greet Mrs. Mary Jones?
[ ] Dear Mary Jones,
[ ] Dear Madam Jones,
[x] Dear Mrs. Jones,
[ ] Dear Mrs. Mary Jones,
If you know the person's surname, use it without the first name. If you didn't know the person's name you would write 'Dear Sir' or 'Dear Madam'
9. What subscription would you use to end your letter to Mrs. Mary Jones?
[ ] Yours Sincerely,
[x] Yours sincerely,
[ ] Yours faithfully,
[ ] Yours Faithfully,
This would be followed directly underneath by your signature, and underneath that: your name enclosed in brackets. DON'T spell 'sincerely' wrongly! If you didn't know the person's name, you would write 'Yours faithfully'
10. What is a 'covering letter'?
[ ] A decorated design attached to the main letter to make it look more attractive
[ ] A letter that covers business matters
[ ] A paper cover that hides the contents of the main letter
[x] An accompanying explanatory letter
It's a letter providing additional information that is sent with another document or item of post