1. 1
The Letter of Inquiry/Letter Asking
for Information and
Assistance

2. INQUIRY LETTER
• An inquiry letter asks for information about a
product, service, or procedure. Businesses
frequently exchange inquiry letters, and
customers frequently send them to
businesses. Three basic rules for an effective
inquiry letter are to state exactly what
information you want, indicate clearly why
you must have this information, and specify
exactly when you must have it.
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3. 3
Important Language to Remember
 The Start: Dear Sir or Madam
To Whom It May Concern - (very formal as you do not know
the person to whom you are writing)
 Giving Reference: With reference to your advertisement (ad)
in...
Regarding your advertisement (ad) in ...
 Requesting a Catalog, Brochure, Etc.: After the reference, add
a comma and continue - ... , would (Could) you please send me
...
 Requesting Further Information: I would also like to know ...
Could you tell me whether ...
 Signature: Yours faithfully - (very formal as you do not know
the person to whom you are writing)

4. A letter asking information and assistance
must possess the following characteristics:
a.it must state the need for the information.
b.the overall tone of the letter must be
courteous or tactful.
c.It must be specific and concise and must
omit unnecessary details.
d.it must show appreciation.
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5. *Purpose of a letter asking information is to obtain detailed information
in asmuch as you are asking the recipient to spend some time
researching and gathering information.
This type of letter is often longer and more detailed than a letter
requesting a simple fact.
A letter asking information should be written in the following
manner:
•First, identify yourself.
•Explain your need for information and discuss your plan to use it.
•Ask your questions, making sure that you are specific and
thorough so that the recipient understands exactly what you need
to know.
•List and number your questions, if there are several.
•If you need the information by a certain date, mention the date in
the letter.
•Allow a recipient a reasonable amount of time to reply 5

6. Office of the President
Supreme Students Government
Leyte Institute of Technology (LIT)
Tacloban City, Leyte
October 3, 2003
Engr. Alberto m. Sabay
Chairman
Barangay 109-A
V&G Subdivision
Tacloban City, Leyte
Sir:
Greetings!
I am the President of the Supreme Student Government of the Leyte Institute of Technology (LIT), Tacloban
City. As president, I would like to help our senior BS in Environmental Education students gather information on the
values and feelings of your constituents regarding the Philippines’ most endangered species. Among these are the
Philippine Eagle and tarsier in the case of animals, and almagica and ebony in the case of plants.
I would appreciate information about the following:
1. Which form of life do you think is more important to save- endangered plants or endangered animals? Why?
2. On what basis did you decide your ranking? Usefulness to humans? Beauty? Species that live in our country?
3. Why are some people more interested in saving mammals and birds than they are saving “lower plants and animals”?
4. Why are most people more interested in saving larger, beautiful animals than smaller, less beautiful ones?
May I have the information by November 20, 2003 so that our senior BS Environmental Education students can
incorporate the data in their research work.
Thank you for your time and assistance on this matter.
Very truly yours,
REINBERT M. COSTELLO
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7. Thank you
Prepared by:
IRENE Q. GABON
Source: Research and Technical Writing
www.google.com
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