Writing a letter in German requires a little attention to detail, whether you're doing business, writing to a friend, or practicing for a class or self-study.Proper salutations and closings are required to address your letter correctly.If your letter is informal or formal, follow the rules of decorum.
Step 1: The address should be 'Anschrift'.
It is not necessary to write an address on a letter.The address can be written on the envelope or package.Title, name, street and number, postal code, and location are different in German than they are in English."Herr" is used for Mr. and Ms. Mlller at the Zeughofstrasse 23, 1121 Berlin, Deutschland.
Step 2: Write the date on a piece of paper.
This is in the top right corner of the document.It is possible to write a date on a German letter in different ways than it is written in English.You can write the place you are writing from along with the date.The following are acceptable ways of writing from Berlin on April 13, 2017:13.04.2017 Berlin, den 13.April of this year.
Step 3: A formal salutation is 'Anrede'.
A short greeting should be addressed to the reader of the letter.There are many acceptable salutations for formal correspondence.If you are communicating with a professional, include their title.If you are writing to a man, woman or both, make sure to pay attention to the differences in spelling.
Step 4: When writing a letter, follow the rules.
You can tell the purpose of your writing in German.It is a good idea to structure your letter in a way that shows courtesy.The body of your letter should begin with a brief introduction.The first word in the body of your letter is not capitalized.Write in detail about the purpose of the letter.For example, register a complaint or inquire about a business opportunity, be clear about what you're asking for.If you would like the addressee to follow up on your letter, end it with a short closing that explains the purpose of the letter and thanks them for their time.
Step 5: A formal closing can be selected.
The closing of your letter needs to be respectful.It can be one of several forms.Since closings that sound similar in English will be written differently in German, pay special attention to the spelling.Potential closings include: Yours sincerely, and with the best regards.
Step 6: An informal greeting can be selected.
When writing an informal letter in German, you have more control over the beginning of your letter.It is not necessary to write the address or date.An informal salutation is what suits who you are writing to.Special attention should be paid to the spelling.If you are writing to a man, write "Liebe" instead of "Dear"Good day, Ms. Mller, try one of the following greetings.
Step 7: The body of your letter is what you should write.
Since you are writing an informal letter, you have the freedom to say what you want.To make your letter easy to read, keep your ideas grouped together and separate paragraphs with line breaks.The first word of your letter doesn't need to be capitalized.
Step 8: Don't close your letter formal.
It is courteous to include a clear closing in your letter.Depending on who you are writing to, you can be more casual or intimate.Try one of the closings: Herzlichst (Cordially) Viele Gre, Alles Liebe and Deine.
Step 9: The addresses should be formatted.
You will need the name of the person, business, or organization you are writing to, their street address, postal code, and location to send a physical letter.If you are writing from overseas, you should include the destination country.The model states that the information should be written in the proper order.
Step 10: The addresses should be on the envelope or package.
The sender's address should be formatted in the same way as the address of who you are writing to.The address is on the lower right.
Step 11: Send your letter.
If you want to send a letter from Germany to another country, you can contactDeutsche Post, visit their website, or stop by one of their offices.If you are writing to Germany or another location, you should contact your local post office to find out how to deliver the letter.Private shipping options are available from carriers like FedEx.
Step 12: When sending an email, follow the letter-writing rules.
When sending an email or other electronic correspondence, the guidelines for writing a letter in German apply.There are distinctions between formal and informal writing.Even though email is instantaneous, it still pays to show courtesy and respect when writing to people you don't know.