Page 56 - Perfect Phrases ESL Everyday Business

Chapter 7

Giving, Accepting, and

Refusing Invitations

In the United States, formal events (weddings, anniversaries, bridal
or baby showers, and other rites of passage) and, sometimes, less
formal events (luncheons, dinner parties, office parties, and birthday
parties) use printed or written invitations to invite people to attend.
Today, many people send informal invitations as e-mail attachments
or even within the e-mail itself.
Invitations are addressed to—and only to—the people the host
or hostess wants to attend the event. An invitation may be addressed
to you and your spouse or partner (if a person inviting you knows the
other person or it may be addressed to you and a guest). If an invita-
tion is not addressed to your family or your children, don’t assume
they are invited; they are not.
“R.S.V.P.” with a date is printed or written on most invitations. The
initials R.S.V.P. are for the French répondez s’il vous plait, which means
“respond if you please.” This is a polite way to say you must answer.
The date printed near the R.S.V.P. is the date by which you must reply.
Sometimes a small return card with a stamped, self-addressed return
envelope is enclosed in the invitation. This must be mailed back on
time. The host or hostess needs a headcount to inform caterers

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