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General Training Task 1 — suggestion letter: Incorrect information in a book about your city. This page gives the exam question and a band 9 model answer, with the tone, opening and closing lines that suit the letter. Aim for at least 150 words in about 20 minutes.
You have recently read a book about a city you know well and found some incorrect information. Write a letter to the author.
In your letter:
• Tell him/her of the incorrect information
• Give him/her the correct information
• Explain why they should correct it
| Letter type | Suggestion |
| Tone | Formal |
| Opening | Dear [Author's Name], |
| Closing | Yours sincerely, |
Dear Ms. Hartley,
I am writing as a long-term resident of Bristol and a great admirer of your recent publication, Hidden Histories of English Cities. However, I felt compelled to bring to your attention a factual inaccuracy that I discovered while reading the chapter on Bristol, which I believe warrants correction in any future edition.
On page 142, you state that the Clifton Suspension Bridge was completed in 1831 and opened to the public in the same year. In fact, while construction began in that period, the bridge was not completed until 1864, following a lengthy interruption in building work after the original designer's death.
The correct completion date is significant because 1864 marked a major milestone in Victorian engineering in the region, and the earlier date may mislead readers researching the city's industrial heritage. I would respectfully suggest amending this detail in subsequent printings and, if appropriate, issuing a brief correction note on your publisher's website. As someone who values accurate local history, I felt it was important to share this information with you directly.
Yours sincerely,
Strategy
Polite formal correction letter. Establish your authority first (I am a resident / historian / expert). Be specific about what page /
chapter the error appears on. Suggest correction diplomatically.
Common trap
Never say "your book is wrong" — say "I respectfully draw your attention to a factual inaccuracy I encountered."
The polite register is essential for this letter type.
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