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German · Writing · B2

Writing in German: formal emails and argued essays

German writing is direct and clearly structured. At B2, the tasks you meet most often, in Goethe and telc exams and at work, are the formal email and the Erörterung, a short essay weighing two sides. Both have fixed conventions that German readers notice immediately when they are missing.

Short answer: open with Sehr geehrte Frau … or Sehr geehrter Herr …, start the first line with a small letter, use Sie throughout, and close with Mit freundlichen Grüßen and no comma after it. In essays, put a comma before every subordinate clause.

Betreff: Anfrage zum Sprachkurs Sehr geehrte Frau Weber, ich interessiere mich für Ihren Kurs … Mit freundlichen Grüßen← no comma Alex Smith comma after greeting small letter to start
Two small conventions mark a German email as correct: the comma after the greeting with a small letter after it, and no comma after the closing.

Greetings and closings by relationship

Sehr geehrte agrees with the person: geehrte for a woman, geehrter for a man, a direct example of adjective endings. Choose the pair that matches how well you know the reader. The same habits carry over from English; see our guide to writing skills.

Köln, 12. März 2026Anfrage zum Sommerkurs Sehr geehrte Frau Weber,ich interessiere mich für … Mit freundlichen GrüßenAlex Smith place, date →subject in bold,no “Betreff:”comma after greetingsmall letter next line← no comma← name on its own line
Red marks the four details German readers notice at once. The date is written 12. März 2026, with a full stop after the day.
ReaderOpeningClosing
Unknown, formal
Named, formal
Colleague, known
Friend

A model email: asking about a course

Four short paragraphs and a sign-off, one purpose each. Every word has its English meaning underneath.

  1. 1
    Purpose
    ichIinteressiereinterestmichmyselffürforIhrenyourDeutschkursGerman-courseimin-theSommer.summer
    “I am interested in your German course this summer.”ikh in-teh-reh-SEE-ruh mikh für EE-run DOYCH-koors im ZOM-uh
    Note: Small letter after the greeting comma. sich interessieren für + accusative.
  2. 2
    Background
    IchIlernelearnseitforzweitwoJahrenyearsDeutschGermanundandhabehavedastheNiveaulevelB1.B1
    “I have been learning German for two years and am at B1 level.”ikh LAIR-nuh zite TSVY YAH-run DOYCH oont HAH-buh das nee-VOH bay-AINS
    Note: seit + dative with the present tense: “have been learning”.
  3. 3
    Questions
    KönntencouldSieyoumirmebittepleasemitteilen,tellobwhethernochstillPlätzeplacesfreifreesind?are
    “Could you please let me know whether there are still places?”KÖN-tun zee meer BIT-uh MIT-tile-un, op nokh PLET-suh FRY ZINT
    Note: Konjunktiv II könnten for politeness; ob sends sind to the end.
  4. 4
    Thanks
    VielenmanyDankthanksiminVorausadvancefürforIhreyourAntwort.answer
    “Thank you in advance for your reply.”FEE-lun DANK im for-OWS für EE-ruh ANT-vort
    Note: A standard closing line before Mit freundlichen Grüßen.
  5. 5
    Sign-off
    MitwithfreundlichenfriendlyGrüßengreetingsAlexAlexSmithSmith
    “Yours sincerely, Alex Smith”mit FROYNT-likh-un GRÜ-sun, AL-eks SMITH
    Note: No comma after Grüßen; name on the next line.

The Erörterung: weighing pros and cons

An Erörterung discusses a question from both sides before reaching a reasoned opinion. The usual order is pro then contra when you disagree with the question, or the reverse when you agree, so that your own view comes last.

1 Einleitung Introduce the topic and ask the question.
2 Pro Arguments for, with examples.
3 Contra Arguments against.
4 Abwägung Weigh the two sides.
5 Schluss Your own reasoned opinion.

Phrase bank, with word order

German phrases come with their own word order. The red word shows where the verb goes after each phrase: next, or at the end. See connectors for the full system.

PurposePhraseEnglishVerb goes
Introducing▶ Heutzutage wird oft diskutiert, ob …HOY-tsoo-tah-guh virt OFT dis-koo-TEERT, OPHeutzutagenowadayswirdisoftoftendiskutiert,discussedob …whetherNowadays it is often debated whether …next (slot 2)
Introducing▶ Im Folgenden möchte ich … erörtern.im FOL-gun-dun MÖKH-tuh ikh … air-ÖR-turnIm Folgendenin-what-followsmöchtewould-likeichI… erörtern.to-discussIn what follows, I would like to discuss …next (slot 2)
For▶ Dafür spricht, dass … ist.dah-FÜR SHPRIKHT, das … ISTDafürfor-itspricht,speaksdass …thatist.isOne argument for is that …to the end
Against▶ Dagegen spricht, dass … kostet.dah-GAY-gun SHPRIKHT, das … KOS-tutDagegenagainst-itspricht,speaksdass …thatkostet.costsOne argument against is that …to the end
Example▶ Ein Beispiel dafür ist …ine bye-SHPEEL dah-FÜR ISTEinanBeispielexampledafürof-itist …isAn example of this is …next (slot 2)
Contrast▶ Andererseits muss man bedenken, …AN-duh-ruh-zites MOOS man buh-DENK-unAndererseitson-the-other-handmussmustmanonebedenken, …considerOn the other hand, one must consider …next (slot 2)
Opinion▶ Meiner Meinung nach ist …MY-nuh MY-noong NAHKH ISTMeiner Meinung nachin-my-opinionist …isIn my opinion, … is …next (slot 2)
Opinion▶ Ich bin der Ansicht, dass … sollte.ikh bin dair AN-zikht, das … ZOL-tuhIchIbinamder Ansicht,of-the-viewdass …thatsollte.shouldI am of the view that … should …to the end
Concluding▶ Zusammenfassend lässt sich sagen, …tsoo-ZAM-un-fas-unt LEST zikh ZAH-gunZusammenfassendin-summarylässt sichcan-besagen, …saidIn summary, it can be said …next (slot 2)
Concluding▶ Abschließend möchte ich betonen, …AP-shlee-sunt MÖKH-tuh ikh buh-TOH-nunAbschließendfinallymöchtewould-likeichIbetonen, …to-stressFinally, I would like to stress …next (slot 2)

Before you send: a self-check

0 of 8 checked. Reread your text with each point in mind.

Related guides

Next guideConnectorsThe three groups and their word orders. Next guideKonjunktiv IIKönnten, würde, hätte for polite requests. Next guideSubordinate clausesCommas and the verb at the end. Course mapGerman hubThe full course map from A1 to C2.