evolang.
Browse
About
Spanish · Skills · A1–C2

Writing in Spanish: emails, register and connectors

Register means the level of formality in your language. Spanish marks it more clearly than English. Formal writing uses usted, fixed greetings and sign-offs, and longer sentences joined by connectors, words like “however” and “therefore” that show how ideas relate. Learn one model email for each register and you can adapt it to most situations.

Two model emails Openings and closings Connectors Punctuation Tasks by level
THE REGISTER SCALE ¡Hola! Querida Ana: Estimada señora: Muy señora mía: friendspeople you knowwork, strangersvery formal, dated most work emails
Spanish greetings end with a colon, not a comma: Estimada señora:. The adjective agrees with the reader: estimado for a man, estimada for a woman.

Two model emails, line by line

The same purpose, asking for information, in two registers. Switch between them to compare. Each line has a gloss and a note on why it is written that way. The same habits carry over from English; see our guide to writing skills.

Para: marta.ruiz@correo.esAsunto: Este finde
¡Hola,helloMarta!Marta
“Hi, Marta!”
Greeting: Informal emails open like a spoken greeting. Exclamation marks at both ends.
¿Quéwhattalsuchtodo?everything
“How’s everything?”
Opener: A quick friendly question before the purpose. Uses tú implicitly.
Teto-youescribo(I) writeporquebecausevoy(I) goatoValenciaValenciaelthesábado.Saturday
“I’m writing because I’m going to Valencia on Saturday.”
Purpose: Te escribo porque… is the standard way to state your reason.
¿Sabes(you) knowalgúnsomesitioplacebuenogoodparaforcomer?eating
“Do you know anywhere good to eat?”
Question: Algún shortens alguno before a masculine noun.
¡Unaabrazo!hug
“Hugs!”
Close: The most common friendly sign-off. Un beso (a kiss) is warmer still.
LauraLaura
“Laura”
Name: First name only.

Openings and closings

Writing to…GreetingFirst lineSign-off
A friend¡Hola, Marta! / Querida Marta:Hi Marta! / Dear Marta,¿Qué tal todo?How’s everything?Un abrazo / BesosHugs / Love
A colleague you knowHola, Daniel:Hi Daniel,Espero que estés bien.I hope you’re well.Saludos / Un saludoBest wishes
A named person, formallyEstimada Sra. López:Dear Ms López,Le escribo en relación con…I am writing regarding…Saludos cordialesKind regards
An organisationEstimados señores:Dear Sir or Madam,Me pongo en contacto con ustedes para…I am writing to…AtentamenteYours faithfully

Connectors that structure a paragraph

Connectors are what make writing sound mature. Choose a job to see the connectors that do it, from everyday to formal, with an example.

yandademásbesides, alsotambiénalsoasimismolikewise (formal)
Elthehotelhotelesisbarato.cheapAdemás,besidesestá(it) iseninelthecentro.centre
“The hotel is cheap. Also, it’s in the centre.” Además starts a new sentence and is followed by a comma.

Punctuation and capitals that differ from English

Greetings take a colon Querida Ana:English: Dear Ana, A colon after the greeting, then a new line with a capital letter.
Opening ¿ and ¡ ¿Vienes mañana?English: Are you coming tomorrow? Every question and exclamation opens with an upside-down mark.
No capitals for days, months, languages el lunes 3 de mayo, en inglésEnglish: Monday 3 May, in English Only names of people, places and the first word of a sentence take capitals.
Quotation marks «Ya voy», dijo.English: “Coming,” he said. Formal Spanish prefers « », called comillas latinas. The comma goes outside.
Dialogue uses a dash —¿Vienes? —preguntó.English: “Are you coming?” she asked. In novels and stories, a long dash (raya) opens each line of speech.
Decimal comma 3,5 % · 1.200 €English: 3.5% · €1,200 Spain uses a comma for decimals and a dot for thousands; Mexico follows the English style.

Question and exclamation marks are explained fully in stress and written accents, along with how to type them.

¿ AND ¡ GO WHERE THE QUESTION OR EXCLAMATION BEGINS Y tú, ¿qué opinas?And you, what do you think? Si puedes, ¡llámame!If you can, call me! Si llueve, ¿qué hacemos?If it rains, what shall we do?
The opening mark tells the reader how to read the sentence before it starts, which matters because Spanish questions often keep statement word order.

Writing tasks from A1 to C2

These match the task types in the DELE exam at each level. Write one, wait a day, then reread it aloud and correct what sounds wrong.

  1. A1 A postcard or short note20–30 words Say where you are, what the weather is like and what you are doing.
  2. A2 An informal email to a friend60–80 words Invite them, suggest a plan, and ask a question back.
  3. B1 A personal story or diary entry100–120 words Tell what happened on a memorable day, using both past tenses.
  4. B2 A formal letter of complaint150–180 words Explain the problem, what you expected and what you want done.
  5. C1 An opinion essay220–250 words Argue a position with reasons, a counter-argument and a conclusion.
  6. C2 A review or report350–400 words Assess a book, policy or service in a clear, formal register.

The exam format, timings and marking are on the DELE and SIELE page.

Where to go next

Next guideSpeaking practiceSay aloud what you have written. Next guideThe subjunctiveNeeded for polite requests: agradecería que… Next guideLiterature for learnersRead writers who use these connectors well. Next guideDELE and SIELE examsHow writing is tested.