| Introduction |
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xiii | |
| Part One: Strictly Personal |
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Thanks/Compliments/Praise/Good News |
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2 | (18) |
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Thank-you letter to a casual, local acquaintance |
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4 | (1) |
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Thank-you letter to a relative who lives at a distance |
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5 | (1) |
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Thank-you letter for a monetary gift |
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6 | (1) |
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Thank-you letter for an inappropriate gift |
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7 | (2) |
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Letter thanking your host for his hospitality |
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9 | (1) |
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Letter praising an author's work |
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10 | (1) |
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Letter acknowledging the return of a borrowed item |
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11 | (1) |
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Letter thanking a clergyperson for officiating at a joyous occasion |
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12 | (1) |
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Letter thanking a clergyperson for officiating at a funeral |
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12 | (1) |
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General letter of congratulations |
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13 | (1) |
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Letter of thanks to a hairdresser |
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13 | (1) |
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Letter asking a hostess to share a recipe |
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14 | (1) |
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Letter asking a restaurant to share a recipe |
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15 | (1) |
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Letter of thanks to a dinner host |
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16 | (1) |
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Letter congratulating someone on a forthcoming wedding |
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17 | (1) |
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Letter of congratulations on a milestone birthday |
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18 | (1) |
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Letter of congratulations to someone you've been out of touch with |
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19 | (1) |
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20 | (22) |
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21 | (1) |
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22 | (1) |
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Visiting a seriously ill friend |
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23 | (1) |
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Conversation with a friend whose relative is terminally ill |
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24 | (1) |
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Conversation with someone whose relative has died |
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25 | (1) |
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Acknowledging the birthday or anniversary of someone who has recently died |
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26 | (1) |
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Letter expressing regret when someone has lost a competition |
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26 | (1) |
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Explaining a death to your young children |
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27 | (3) |
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Conversation with a woman who has just suffered a miscarriage |
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30 | (1) |
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Letter of condolence to a couple who has just suffered a miscarriage |
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31 | (1) |
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Telling your young child his pet has died |
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32 | (2) |
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Telling your young child you are getting divorced |
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34 | (2) |
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Telling your older child you are getting divorced |
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36 | (2) |
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Talking to a friend whose marriage or relationship has ended |
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38 | (1) |
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Talking to a bride whose wedding has been called off |
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39 | (1) |
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Letter of condolence on the death of a pet |
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39 | (1) |
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Talking to a friend whose relative has been arrested |
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40 | (1) |
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Letter covering a check to a stranger whose unfortunate story has touched you |
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41 | (1) |
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42 | (24) |
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Letter confronting someone you suspect of stealing from you |
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42 | (2) |
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Confronting someone you suspect of stealing from you |
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44 | (1) |
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Conversation getting rid of an undesirable member of the car pool |
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45 | (1) |
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Coping with a team parent who exhibits bad sportsmanship |
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46 | (1) |
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Asking someone to stop using a cell phone |
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46 | (1) |
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Confronting a guest who is using derogatory language |
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47 | (1) |
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Dealing with drop-in guests who arrive at an inconvenient time |
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47 | (1) |
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Explaining to a parent why you don't want her child to visit |
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48 | (1) |
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Reminding a guest that your home is smoke-free |
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49 | (1) |
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Telling a guest that he's making a mess |
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49 | (1) |
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Letter asking your neighbor to clean up his property |
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50 | (2) |
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Letter to a neighbor who is trashing your yard |
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52 | (1) |
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Conversation with a neighbor who is trashing your yard |
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53 | (1) |
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Dealing with a guest who has had too much to drink |
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54 | (1) |
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Dealing with someone who is smoking in a public no-smoking area |
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55 | (1) |
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Asking a friend not to bring her dog to your house |
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56 | (1) |
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Asking your host to keep his pet in another room when you visit |
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57 | (1) |
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What to say when someone cuts in front of you in line |
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58 | (1) |
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Asking a visitor who's too rough to stop playing with your child |
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59 | (1) |
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Asking a visitor who's too rough to stop playing with your pet |
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59 | (1) |
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Letter complaining to your neighbor about a barking dog |
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60 | (1) |
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Talking to your neighbor about tree limbs that extend over your property |
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61 | (1) |
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Asking friends not to phone before or after a certain hour |
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62 | (1) |
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Letter asking a friend not to phone so often |
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63 | (1) |
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Chastising a dinner guest who regularly shows up late |
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64 | (1) |
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Asking for, or demanding, the return of a borrowed item |
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65 | (1) |
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66 | (11) |
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Writing a classified personal ad |
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66 | (2) |
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Replying to a classified personal ad |
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68 | (2) |
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Rejecting a respondent to your personal ad |
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70 | (1) |
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Ending a dating relationship by letter |
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71 | (1) |
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Returning a gift from an admirer by mail |
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72 | (1) |
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Refusing a gift from an admirer |
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73 | (1) |
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Announcing a broken engagement |
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74 | (1) |
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Telling people that you are getting divorced |
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75 | (1) |
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Discouraging a persistent suitor |
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76 | (1) |
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76 | (1) |
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77 | (17) |
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Refusing to lend personal property |
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77 | (1) |
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Refusing to let your friend drive your brand-new car |
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78 | (1) |
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Letter declining a semiformal invitation |
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78 | (1) |
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Returning an inappropriate gift by mail |
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79 | (1) |
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Refusing an inappropriate gift |
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79 | (1) |
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Declining an invitation from someone you don't want to socialize with |
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80 | (1) |
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Declining to buy cookies from a coworker for her child's fundraiser |
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81 | (1) |
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Declining to buy cookies from a neighborhood child |
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82 | (1) |
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Declining an invitation to a high-stakes poker game |
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83 | (1) |
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What to say when you need to decline your neighbor who is collecting for a charity |
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84 | (1) |
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What to say when your friend asks your opinion of her purchase---and you hate it |
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85 | (1) |
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Answering questions about your illness without eliciting sympathy |
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86 | (1) |
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Declining to discuss your serious illness |
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86 | (1) |
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87 | (1) |
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Explaining to your host why you haven't eaten much of a food you hate |
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87 | (1) |
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Refusing to take sides in a disagreement |
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88 | (1) |
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Deflecting unwanted advice |
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88 | (1) |
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Answering your teenager's questions about your past behavior |
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89 | (1) |
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Avoiding volatile discussions |
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90 | (1) |
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What to say when you can't remember a person's name |
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91 | (1) |
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What to say when you don't recognize someone who knows you |
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91 | (1) |
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Answering ``And what do you do?'' |
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92 | (1) |
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Refusing to lie to a friend's spouse |
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92 | (1) |
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Deflecting a too-personal question |
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93 | (1) |
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Refusing to answer a question |
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93 | (1) |
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Apologies/Excuses/Mending Fences |
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94 | (10) |
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Letter accepting overtures of renewed friendship |
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94 | (1) |
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Letter apologizing for an old insult |
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95 | (1) |
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Letter accepting an apology |
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96 | (1) |
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Letter admitting to and apologizing for causing damage at a friend's house |
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97 | (1) |
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Letter apologizing for accidentally taking something belonging to your host |
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98 | (1) |
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Letter of apology for arriving at a social occasion with a contagious ailment |
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99 | (1) |
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Conversation with your child's friend's parent when you discover your child has head lice right after a sleepover |
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100 | (1) |
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Letter apologizing for misbehavior or poor judgment |
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101 | (1) |
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Letter apologizing for a social gaffe |
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102 | (1) |
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103 | (1) |
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104 | (3) |
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Answering your child's questions about Santa |
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104 | (1) |
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What to say to a mother whose baby or child is not cute |
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105 | (1) |
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What to say to the mother who has just had a child who is physically or mentally challenged |
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106 | (1) |
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Invitations/Announcements |
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107 | (5) |
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Informal letter inviting people to your house |
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107 | (1) |
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Writing to explain to someone why you no longer will be inviting him/her to your house |
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108 | (1) |
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Letter declining an invitation from a former in-law, when you fear repercussions for keeping up a relationship |
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109 | (1) |
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110 | (2) |
| Part Two: Personal Business |
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112 | (2) |
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112 | (1) |
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Terminating someone's employment (in person) |
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113 | (1) |
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114 | (3) |
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Employment recommendation for a personal acquaintance |
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114 | (1) |
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Nonemployment recommendation for a personal acquaintance |
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115 | (1) |
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Letter of reference for a household service provider |
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116 | (1) |
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Soliciting/Fundraising/Fee Adjusting |
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117 | (5) |
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Verbal request for payment of an overdue personal loan |
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117 | (1) |
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Letter explaining your rate increase for household services |
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118 | (1) |
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Letter requesting a reference |
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119 | (1) |
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Letter requesting a credit reference |
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120 | (1) |
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Letter soliciting household work |
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121 | (1) |
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122 | (8) |
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Letter of complaint about a defective or unsatisfactory product |
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122 | (1) |
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Requesting the correction of a bill |
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123 | (1) |
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Letter requesting the correction of a bill |
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124 | (1) |
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Refusing to cosign a loan |
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125 | (1) |
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Letter declining a job offer |
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125 | (1) |
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Letter declining a volunteer position |
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126 | (1) |
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Letter declining a request for a loan |
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127 | (1) |
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Letter complaining to a restaurant about poor food |
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128 | (1) |
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Letter complaining to a restaurant about unsanitary conditions |
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129 | (1) |
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130 | (5) |
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Advertisement for an apartment or house for rent |
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130 | (2) |
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Advertisement for a house/condo for sale |
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132 | (2) |
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Advertisement for a car for sale |
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134 | (1) |
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135 | (4) |
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Letter praising a product, service, or business establishment |
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135 | (2) |
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Letter praising a service provider |
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137 | (1) |
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Letter offering a volunteer position |
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138 | (1) |
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139 | (4) |
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For a charitable contribution |
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139 | (1) |
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140 | (1) |
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For a letter of recommendation |
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140 | (1) |
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As a follow-up letter to a job interview |
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141 | (1) |
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142 | (1) |
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Correspondence with Publishers |
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143 | (3) |
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Letter covering a manuscript submission or qurey |
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143 | (2) |
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Letter inquiring about the status of a manuscript (after at least three months) |
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145 | (1) |
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Communicating with Your Landlord or Service Provider by Letter |
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146 | (4) |
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Notifying the landlord that you are not renewing your lease |
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146 | (1) |
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Giving your landlord thirty days' notice |
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147 | (1) |
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Withholding rent pending the solution of a problem |
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148 | (1) |
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Refusing to pay a bill until service is rendered properly |
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149 | (1) |
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150 | (6) |
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Letter notifying a relative that he is a beneficiary |
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150 | (1) |
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Letter notifying someone outside the family that she is a beneficiary |
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151 | (1) |
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Letter notifying a relative that he is not a beneficiary |
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152 | (1) |
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Letter asking when an estate will be settled |
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153 | (1) |
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Letter explaining that a will has not yet been probated |
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154 | (2) |
| Part Three: Strictly Business |
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156 | (5) |
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Conversation dismissing an employee |
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156 | (1) |
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Letter dismissing an employee |
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157 | (1) |
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Verbal resignation from a job |
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158 | (1) |
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158 | (1) |
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Letter of recommendation for an acceptable employee |
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159 | (1) |
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Letter of recommendation for an unacceptable employee |
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160 | (1) |
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161 | (9) |
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Crafting a resume with minimal work experience |
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161 | (2) |
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Letter responding to a help-wanted ad |
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163 | (1) |
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Resume cover letter for a known position |
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164 | (1) |
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Resume cover letter (not sent in response to a job opening) |
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165 | (1) |
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Nontraditional letter requesting employment (no resume) |
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166 | (2) |
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Letter requesting further information from a job applicant |
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168 | (1) |
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Letter requesting a reference for a job applicant |
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169 | (1) |
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Collections/Payments/Price Quotes |
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170 | (11) |
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Collection letter, polite first notice |
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170 | (1) |
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Collection letter, firm second notice |
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171 | (1) |
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Collection letter, humorous |
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172 | (1) |
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Letter stating that continued delinquencies will damage creditworthiness |
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173 | (1) |
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Letter requesting credit information |
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174 | (1) |
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Letter requesting a credit reference |
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175 | (1) |
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Letter declining credit but offering to do business on a cash basis |
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176 | (1) |
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Letter supplying a price quote |
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177 | (1) |
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Letter adjusting a price quote |
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178 | (1) |
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Letter seeking quotes from prospective vendors |
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179 | (1) |
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Letter seeking quotes on office space |
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180 | (1) |
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Thanks/Appreciation/Goodwill |
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181 | (9) |
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Customer appreciation letter |
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181 | (1) |
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Letter to a former customer |
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182 | (1) |
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Letter thanking an employee for a job well done |
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183 | (1) |
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Letter thanking an employee for his performance on a specific project |
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184 | (1) |
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Letter thanking a job applicant for interviewing |
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185 | (1) |
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Letter acknowledging the receipt of a resume. when you have no openings |
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186 | (1) |
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Letter to a dissatisfied customer |
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187 | (1) |
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Letter to a coworker who lost out to you for a promotion |
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188 | (1) |
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Letter congratulating a coworker who received a promotion over you |
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189 | (1) |
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190 | (12) |
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Letter responding to a request for information |
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190 | (1) |
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Letter refusing to supply requested information |
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191 | (1) |
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Letter declining to continue doing business with a client |
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192 | (1) |
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Letter refusing to share credit information |
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193 | (1) |
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Letter asking a third party to supply a credit reference to a vendor |
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193 | (1) |
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Letter refusing to provide information about your company |
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194 | (1) |
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Letter apologizing for delayed shipping |
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195 | (1) |
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Letter apologizing for a performance delay (reason apparent) |
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196 | (1) |
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Letter apologizing for a performance delay (reason not apparent) |
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197 | (1) |
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Cute letter apologizing for an error |
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198 | (1) |
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Formal letter apologizing for an error |
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199 | (1) |
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Letter thanking a customer for an early payment |
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200 | (1) |
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Letter declining a business gift |
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201 | (1) |
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202 | (3) |
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Letter advising a tenant her lease will not be renewed |
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202 | (1) |
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Letter advising a tenant of a partial/non-refund of a security deposit |
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203 | (1) |
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Letter asking a tenant to vacate in thirty days |
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204 | (1) |
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205 | (21) |
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Political campaign letter from an incumbent |
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205 | (2) |
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Political campaign letter from a non-incumbent |
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207 | (1) |
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Letter congratulating a rival candidate |
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208 | (2) |
| Part Four: Speeches and Toasts |
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210 | (2) |
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Passing the torch to the next president of your organization |
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212 | (1) |
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213 | (2) |
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Toasting a milestone birthday |
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215 | (1) |
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216 | (1) |
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217 | (2) |
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Toasting the retirement of an employee |
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219 | (1) |
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Toasting the retirement of a friend |
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220 | (1) |
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Honoring a friend for good works |
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221 | (2) |
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Acknowledging a friend has been elected to office or promoted at work |
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223 | (2) |
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Acknowledging a milestone anniversary |
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225 | (1) |
| About the Author |
|
226 | |
Other versions by this Author