German Writing Practice: Formal Emails and Essays

German writing practice: formal emails and argued essays

For writing practice, know this first: German writing is direct and clearly structured. At B2, the tasks you meet most often, in Goethe and telc exams and at work, are the formal email and the Erörterung, a short essay weighing two sides. Both have fixed conventions that German readers notice immediately when they are missing.

Short answer: open with Sehr geehrte Frau … or Sehr geehrter Herr …, start the first line with a small letter, use Sie throughout, and close with Mit freundlichen Grüßen and no comma after it. In essays, put a comma before every subordinate clause.

Greetings and closings by relationship

Sehr geehrte agrees with the person: geehrte for a woman, geehrter for a man, a direct example of adjective endings. Choose the pair that matches how well you know the reader. The same habits carry over from English; see our guide to writing skills.

Red marks the four details German readers notice at once. The date is written 12. März 2026, with a full stop after the day.

Reader	Opening	Closing
Unknown, formal
Named, formal
Colleague, known
Friend

Writing practice with a model email: asking about a course

Four short paragraphs and a sign-off, one purpose each. Every word has its English meaning underneath.

1
Purpose
ichIinteressiereinterestmichmyselffürforIhrenyourDeutschkursGerman-courseimin-theSommer.summer
“I am interested in your German course this summer.”ikh in-teh-reh-SEE-ruh mikh für EE-run DOYCH-koors im ZOM-uh
Note: Small letter after the greeting comma. sich interessieren für + accusative.
2
Background
IchIlernelearnseitforzweitwoJahrenyearsDeutschGermanundandhabehavedastheNiveaulevelB1.B1
“I have been learning German for two years and am at B1 level.”ikh LAIR-nuh zite TSVY YAH-run DOYCH oont HAH-buh das nee-VOH bay-AINS
Note: seit + dative with the present tense: “have been learning”.
3
Questions
KönntencouldSieyoumirmebittepleasemitteilen,tellobwhethernochstillPlätzeplacesfreifreesind?are
“Could you please let me know whether there are still places?”KÖN-tun zee meer BIT-uh MIT-tile-un, op nokh PLET-suh FRY ZINT
Note: Konjunktiv II könnten for politeness; ob sends sind to the end.
4
Thanks
VielenmanyDankthanksiminVorausadvancefürforIhreyourAntwort.answer
“Thank you in advance for your reply.”FEE-lun DANK im for-OWS für EE-ruh ANT-vort
Note: A standard closing line before Mit freundlichen Grüßen.
5
Sign-off
MitwithfreundlichenfriendlyGrüßengreetingsAlexAlexSmithSmith
“Yours sincerely, Alex Smith”mit FROYNT-likh-un GRÜ-sun, AL-eks SMITH
Note: No comma after Grüßen; name on the next line.

The Erörterung: weighing pros and cons

An Erörterung discusses a question from both sides before reaching a reasoned opinion. The usual order is pro then contra when you disagree with the question, or the reverse when you agree, so that your own view comes last.

1 Einleitung Introduce the topic and ask the question.

2 Pro Arguments for, with examples.

3 Contra Arguments against.

4 Abwägung Weigh the two sides.

5 Schluss Your own reasoned opinion.

Phrase bank, with word order

German phrases come with their own word order. The red word shows where the verb goes after each phrase: next, or at the end. See connectors for the full system.

Purpose	Phrase	English	Verb goes
Introducing	▶ Heutzutage wird oft diskutiert, ob …HOY-tsoo-tah-guh virt OFT dis-koo-TEERT, OPHeutzutagenowadayswirdisoftoftendiskutiert,discussedob …whether	Nowadays it is often debated whether …	next (slot 2)
Introducing	▶ Im Folgenden möchte ich … erörtern.im FOL-gun-dun MÖKH-tuh ikh … air-ÖR-turnIm Folgendenin-what-followsmöchtewould-likeichI… erörtern.to-discuss	In what follows, I would like to discuss …	next (slot 2)
For	▶ Dafür spricht, dass … ist.dah-FÜR SHPRIKHT, das … ISTDafürfor-itspricht,speaksdass …thatist.is	One argument for is that …	to the end
Against	▶ Dagegen spricht, dass … kostet.dah-GAY-gun SHPRIKHT, das … KOS-tutDagegenagainst-itspricht,speaksdass …thatkostet.costs	One argument against is that …	to the end
Example	▶ Ein Beispiel dafür ist …ine bye-SHPEEL dah-FÜR ISTEinanBeispielexampledafürof-itist …is	An example of this is …	next (slot 2)
Contrast	▶ Andererseits muss man bedenken, …AN-duh-ruh-zites MOOS man buh-DENK-unAndererseitson-the-other-handmussmustmanonebedenken, …consider	On the other hand, one must consider …	next (slot 2)
Opinion	▶ Meiner Meinung nach ist …MY-nuh MY-noong NAHKH ISTMeiner Meinung nachin-my-opinionist …is	In my opinion, … is …	next (slot 2)
Opinion	▶ Ich bin der Ansicht, dass … sollte.ikh bin dair AN-zikht, das … ZOL-tuhIchIbinamder Ansicht,of-the-viewdass …thatsollte.should	I am of the view that … should …	to the end
Concluding	▶ Zusammenfassend lässt sich sagen, …tsoo-ZAM-un-fas-unt LEST zikh ZAH-gunZusammenfassendin-summarylässt sichcan-besagen, …said	In summary, it can be said …	next (slot 2)
Concluding	▶ Abschließend möchte ich betonen, …AP-shlee-sunt MÖKH-tuh ikh buh-TOH-nunAbschließendfinallymöchtewould-likeichIbetonen, …to-stress	Finally, I would like to stress …	next (slot 2)

Before you send: a self-check

0 of 8 checked. Reread your text with each point in mind.