The Art of Writing Emails in Ireland: Simple Guidelines

When living in or visiting Ireland, knowing how to write a polite and professional email can be very useful. While Irish people are known for being friendly and informal, they still maintain certain formalities in professional settings. Here’s a quick guide to help you write effective emails in Irish English.

The Basics of Email Structure

An email should always have a clear structure, starting with a polite greeting. In Ireland, it’s common to use “Dear [Name]” or “Hello [Name]” for formal emails. If you don’t know the recipient’s name, you can use “Dear Sir/Madam”. Avoid overly casual greetings like “Hey” in professional emails, but feel free to use it in more informal settings.
Be Clear and Concise

Irish people tend to value clarity and brevity in emails. When writing an email, get straight to the point without unnecessary details. I know, Irish people love to not get to the point very quickly when telling a story, but with emails it’s a different story. Use clear, straightforward language, and break up your text into short paragraphs for easy reading.

Polite Phrasing

Even when asking for something, it’s important to be polite. We’re not very direct with our language, and can perceive direct requests and statements as being rude. Irish people often use phrases like “Could you kindly…”, “I would appreciate…”, or “Would it be possible…?” when making requests. Similarly, when closing an email, use phrases like “Best regards”, “Kind regards”, or “Yours sincerely” for a formal tone, and “Cheers” for a more informal one. These phrases will help you sound less direct while maintaining the correct tone.

Paragraphs, paragraphs, paragraphs

I can’t stress enough how important it is to use paragraphs while writing any long-form text. The same is true when writing emails. Paragraphs are not one sentence; they are multiple sentences regarding the same topic. If, in your email, you need to talk about “x, y, and z”, then you should have three separate paragraphs to separate those points.

Linking Phrases and Sequencing

Linking phrases can be used throughout your email to enhance your speech and connect parts of what you are trying to say. “Furthermore,” “In addition,” “However,” “Therefore,” and “For example” are useful linking phrases to add further information to your email and ensure that your writing flows from point to point and doesn’t seem like two or three disconnected ideas. To sequence ideas, we can use words like “Firstly”, “Secondly”, Thirdly”, and so on, but try to avoid overusing them as they can become repetitive. Try mixing them with our previous phrases when introducing and contrasting ideas in your emails.

Proofread

Before sending an email, always double-check for spelling or grammar mistakes. While the Irish are generally forgiving of small errors, professionalism is important, especially in a work setting. Using a grammar checker can help, but reading the email aloud is a good way to catch mistakes you might otherwise miss.

Writing emails in Ireland follows a generally polite and clear style. By being respectful and keeping your emails concise, you’ll communicate effectively and professionally, whether you’re working or making casual arrangements. It’s always worth adding a touch of warmth, as this will help you connect with the friendly Irish people you meet!