邀請信包括宴會、舞會、晚餐、聚會、婚禮等各種邀請信件，形式上大體分為兩種:一種為正規(guī)的格式 (formal correspondence)，亦稱請柬；一種是非正式格式 (informal correspondence), 即一般的邀請信。邀請信是在形式上不如請柬那樣正規(guī)，但也是很考究。書寫時應注意:
　　
邀請信一定要將邀請的時間（年、月、日、鐘點）、地點、場合寫清楚，不能使接信人存在任何疑慮。例如:“I’d like you and Bob to come to Luncheon next Friday.”這句話中所指的是哪個星期五并不明確，所以應加上具體日期, “I’d like you and Bob to come to luncheon next Friday, May the fifth.” 1. 邀請朋友共進午餐 Inviting a friend to informal luncheon

Dear [Zhang Ying]:

Will you come to luncheon on [Friday, May the fifth], at [twelve o’clock]?
My niece [Mary] is visiting us and I think you will enjoy meeting her. She is a charming, very pretty girl … and very good company! [John and Jane] will be here, and perhaps we can [give a dance] after luncheon. Do say you’ll come!
Affectionately yours,
Li Ming

親愛的[張營]:

您能在[5月5日星期五中午12點鐘] 來吃午飯嗎？
我侄女[瑪麗]正在我們家中作客，我想您會樂于見到她的。她是個漂亮而聰明的女孩子，……同她在一起是很使人高興的！[約翰和簡]也到這里來，也許在飯后我們能[開個舞會]，說好，一定得來呀！

2. 邀請朋友同他們不認識的人一起共進晚餐 Inviting friends to supper with the strangers

Dear [Susan]:

I know you are interested in [oil painting], so I’m sure you’ll be interested in [Mr. and Mrs. Lin dun]! They are coming here to supper [next Sunday night, October the twelfth], and we’d like you and [Walter] to come, too.
[Mr. and Mrs. Lin Dun] are that very charming couple we met in [London] last summer. They have a wonderful collection of [oil paintings of various stages]; and I understand that Mr. Lin Dun is quite an authority on [oil painting]. I’m sure you and Walter will thoroughly enjoy and evening in their company.
We’re planning supper at six; that will give us a nice long evening to talk. If I don’t hear from you before then, I’ll be expecting you on the [twelfth]!
Affectionately yours,
Li Ming

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