Writing for Business: Inquiry Response Letter

Businesswoman writing at her desk.

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This guide to responding to inquiry letters is written especially for English language learners. It covers standard structure and phrases used in responses. Inquiries arrive in order to ask for more information about a product or a service. The speed with which you reply, as well as how helpful you are in providing information requested will ensure that your inquiry response is successful.

It is very important to make a good impression when responding to inquiries from potential customers. Of course, the best impression will be made by providing the materials or information that the prospective client has asked for, this positive impression will be improved by a well-written response.

Business Letter Basics

The basics of business letter writing are similar for each type of business letter. Remember to place your or your company's address at the top of the letter (or use your company's letterhead), followed by the address of the company you are writing to. The date can either be placed double spaced down or to the right. You can also include a reference number for correspondence.

For further types of business letters, use this guide to different types of business letters to refine your skills for specific business purposes such as making inquiries, adjusting claims, writing cover letters, and more.

Important Language to Remember

  • The StartDear Mr, Ms (Mrs, Miss—it's very important to use Ms for women unless asked to use Mrs or Miss)
  • Thanking the Potential Customer for His/Her InterestThank you for your letter of... inquiring (asking for information) about...
    We would like to thank you for your letter of... inquiring (asking for information) about...
  • Providing Requested MaterialsWe are pleased to enclose...
    Enclosed you will find...
    We enclose...
  • Providing Additional InformationWe would also like to inform you...
    Regarding your question about...
    In answer to your question (inquiry) about...
  • Closing a Letter Hoping for Future BusinessWe look forward to... hearing from you / receiving your order / welcoming you as our client (customer).
  • SignatureYours sincerely (remember use 'Yours faithfully' when you don't know the name of the person you are writing and 'Yours sincerely' when you do.

Example

Jackson Brothers
3487 23rd Street
New York, NY 12009
Kenneth Beare
Administrative Director
English Learners Company
2520 Visita Avenue
Olympia, WA 98501
September 12, 2000
Dear Mr. Beare
Thank you for your inquiry of 12 September asking for the latest edition of our catalog.
We are pleased to enclose our latest brochure. We would also like to inform you that it is possible to make purchases online at jacksonbros.com.
We look forward to welcoming you as our customer.
Yours sincerely
(Signature)
Dennis Jackson
Marketing Director
Jackson Brothers
Format
mla apa chicago
Your Citation
Beare, Kenneth. "Writing for Business: Inquiry Response Letter." ThoughtCo, Apr. 5, 2023, thoughtco.com/writing-respon-letters-1210171. Beare, Kenneth. (2023, April 5). Writing for Business: Inquiry Response Letter. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/writing-respon-letters-1210171 Beare, Kenneth. "Writing for Business: Inquiry Response Letter." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/writing-respon-letters-1210171 (accessed March 19, 2024).