Acknowledgements and Confirmation- How to say it

To make communication clear, here are suggestions for what to include in communications of acknowledgement or confirming:

• State precisely (reservation, amount, letter, order) what you are acknowledging or confirming.
• Refer to the date and occasion of your last contact (telephone conversation, previous letter or email, in-person discussion).
• Describe what action, if any, is being taken.
• Tell when the reader will hear further from you or someone else.
• If indicated, explain why you are not able to respond fully to the letter/request/gift at the moment.
• Express appreciation for the previous contact, for the kindness of the person in writing you, or for the business.
• Close with a courtesy or forward-looking statement.

Rerun from Dec 7, 2015