Lesson 10, Suggestion & Recommendation Emails

Assumes Lesson 6. This lesson covers only what’s different about suggestions.

When you’ll see it

• “…suggest what could be done…”
• “…recommend some places to…”
• “…propose an improvement…”
• “…give your ideas about…”
• “…advise them on…”

Typical situations: recommending places to visit or things to do to a visiting friend · proposing an improvement to a community center, workplace, or building · suggesting solutions to a shared problem · advising someone choosing between options.

Note: “suggest a solution” also appears as the third bullet of many complaint questions. When that happens, structure the email as a complaint (Lesson 7) and borrow this lesson’s language for that one paragraph.

What the bullets usually ask

The tone rule: suggest, don’t instruct

A suggestion that reads as an order is a register failure, in both formal and informal emails.

The softening kit: it might be worth… · you may want to consider… · one option would be… · I’d suggest… · perhaps the simplest solution would be… · if it were up to me, I’d…

The pitfall unique to this type: listing without recommending

The classic weak suggestion email lists four possibilities and never commits to one:

❌ “There are many things you could do. You could visit the museum, or the park, or the market, or go to the lake. There are also many restaurants.”

Four undeveloped options, no reasons, no recommendation. It fails on Content/Coherence, quantity is not development.

✅ “The one thing I’d genuinely make time for is the Saturday market by the river. It runs from about eight until two, and the food stalls at the far end are excellent, we’ve been three times this month. If the weather’s poor, the museum on King Street is a good fallback and it’s free on weekends.”

Two developed suggestions with reasons beat five bare ones, every time. The rule mirrors the rest of the course: develop, don’t list.

Always recommend. If the bullet asks for suggestions, the rater wants to see judgement. Naming a favorite, “the one thing I’d genuinely make time for is…” - demonstrates it.

Model answer, INFORMAL

Question: A friend is visiting your city for a weekend. Write to them. • Say how you feel about the visit • Suggest some things to do • Explain what they should bring or prepare

Hi Ammar,

I’m so glad you’re finally coming over, it feels like we’ve been talking about this for about two years! I’ve been thinking about what we should actually do while you’re here.

The one thing I’d genuinely make time for is the Saturday market down by the river. It runs from about eight until two, and the food stalls at the far end are the best in the city, we’ve been three times this month alone. If the weather turns, the art museum on King Street is a good fallback, and it’s free at weekends.

For Sunday I’d suggest the coastal path. It’s a fairly gentle two-hour walk with genuinely spectacular views, and there’s a decent pub at the halfway point.

Worth bringing proper shoes for that walk, and a waterproof, it’s been unpredictable lately. Don’t bother with anything smart; nowhere we’re going has a dress code.

Can’t wait to see you! Let me know what time you land and I’ll come and get you.

Cheers, Rosa

191 words.

Why it scores: commits to a clear favorite (“the one thing I’d genuinely make time for”) rather than listing · each suggestion carries a reason (food stalls are the best, free at weekends, spectacular views, pub halfway) · offers a weather fallback, which develops the paragraph · bullet 3 is practical and specific · warm and clearly informal without slang.

Model answer, FORMAL

Question: You are a member of a local community center. You have ideas about how it could be improved. Write to the center’s manager. • Explain how you use the center • Suggest improvements • Describe how these would benefit members

Dear Ms. Iqbal,

I am writing to put forward a few suggestions regarding the Northfield Community Center, which my family and I have used regularly for the past three years.

We attend the weekend activity sessions and occasionally book the smaller hall for family events, so we see the building at both its busiest and its quietest times.

My main suggestion would be to extend the weekday opening hours by two hours in the evening. At present the center closes at six, which makes it difficult for anyone working full-time to use the facilities at all. It might also be worth considering an online booking system for the halls, as the current telephone-only arrangement often means several attempts to reach someone.

Both changes would widen access considerably. Later opening would allow working residents to attend for the first time, and online booking would reduce administrative pressure on your staff as well as making the process simpler for members.

I would be happy to discuss either suggestion further.

Regards, Peter Nwachukwu

184 words.

Why it scores: establishes credibility in bullet 1 (three years, two kinds of use) · two developed suggestions, not five bare ones · each has a stated problem behind it (closes at six; telephone-only) · bullet 3 explains benefits for both members and staff, which shows real judgement · suggests rather than instructs throughout · formal, full name.

Grade your own suggestion email

• I recommended, not just listed
• Two or three developed suggestions, not five bare ones
• Every suggestion has a reason attached
• At least one clear favorite named
• A fallback or second option offered
• Benefits explained, not assumed
• Suggesting language throughout, nothing reads as an instruction
• Register consistent (Lesson 6 swap table)
• At least two complex sentences
• 175–190 words

8+ ticks = Level 9 territory. All 10 = you’re competing for 11–12.

Your practice

Open one set on Celpora and put today’s lesson to work.

Suggestion email template. Structure, phrases, and worked model for suggestions