邀請(qǐng)信包括宴會(huì)、舞會(huì)、晚餐、聚會(huì)、婚禮等各種邀請(qǐng)信件，形式上大體分為兩種:一種為正規(guī)的格式 (formal correspondence)，亦稱請(qǐng)柬；一種是非正式格式 (informal correspondence), 即一般的邀請(qǐng)信。邀請(qǐng)信是在形式上不如請(qǐng)柬那樣正規(guī)，但也是很考究。書寫時(shí)應(yīng)注意:
　　
    邀請(qǐng)信一定要將邀請(qǐng)的時(shí)間（年、月、日、鐘點(diǎn)）、地點(diǎn)、場(chǎng)合寫清楚，不能使接信人存在任何疑慮。例如:“I’d like you and Bob to come to Luncheon next Friday.”這句話中所指的是哪個(gè)星期五并不明確，所以應(yīng)加上具體日期, “I’d like you and Bob to come to luncheon next Friday, May the fifth.”

    1. 邀請(qǐng)朋友共進(jìn)午餐 Inviting a friend to informal luncheon

    Dear [Zhang Ying]:

    Will you come to luncheon on [Friday, May the fifth], at [twelve o’clock]?
My niece [Mary] is visiting us and I think you will enjoy meeting her. She is a charming, very pretty girl … and very good company! [John and Jane] will be here, and perhaps we can [give a dance] after luncheon. Do say you’ll come!
Affectionately yours,
Li Ming

    親愛的[張營(yíng)]:

    您能在[5月5日星期五中午12點(diǎn)鐘] 來(lái)吃午飯嗎？
我侄女[瑪麗]正在我們家中作客，我想您會(huì)樂于見到她的。她是個(gè)漂亮而聰明的女孩子，……同她在一起是很使人高興的！[約翰和簡(jiǎn)]也到這里來(lái)，也許在飯后我們能[開個(gè)舞會(huì)]，說好，一定得來(lái)呀！

    2. 邀請(qǐng)朋友同他們不認(rèn)識(shí)的人一起共進(jìn)晚餐 Inviting friends to supper with the strangers

    Dear [Susan]:

    I know you are interested in [oil painting], so I’m sure you’ll be interested in [Mr. and Mrs. Lin dun]! They are coming here to supper [next Sunday night, October the twelfth], and we’d like you and [Walter] to come, too.
[Mr. and Mrs. Lin Dun] are that very charming couple we met in [London] last summer. They have a wonderful collection of [oil paintings of various stages]; and I understand that Mr. Lin Dun is quite an authority on [oil painting]. I’m sure you and Walter will thoroughly enjoy and evening in their company.
We’re planning supper at six; that will give us a nice long evening to talk. If I don’t hear from you before then, I’ll be expecting you on the [twelfth]!
Affectionately yours,
Li Ming

    親愛的[蘇珊]:

    我知道您對(duì)[油畫]是有興趣的，所以我相信您對(duì)林頓夫婦也會(huì)感興趣。他們將在[10月12日（下星期日）]來(lái)吃飯，我們很希望您和瓦爾特也能同來(lái)。

    [林頓夫婦]是那么好的一對(duì)夫妻。我們是去年夏天在[倫敦]認(rèn)識(shí)的。他們集有[各個(gè)不同時(shí)期精美的油畫作品]。我知道，林頓先生在研究[油畫]方面是頗有權(quán)威的。我深信，那天晚上您和瓦爾特同他們?cè)谝黄�，一定�?huì)很愉快。
我們準(zhǔn)備在6點(diǎn)鐘吃晚飯，這樣就能有較長(zhǎng)的時(shí)間閑談。如果事前接不到您的回信，我就指望你們那天到來(lái)。

    3. 邀請(qǐng)參加新廠開工典禮  Invitation to opening ceremony of new factory

    Dear [Mr. Harrison]:

    Our new factory will be commencing production on [April 10] and we should like to invite [you and your wife] to be present at a celebration to mark the occasion.
As you will appreciate this is an important milestone for this organization, and is the result of continued demand for our products, both at home and overseas. We are inviting all those individuals and trust that you will pay us the compliments of accepting.
Please confirm that you will be able to attend by advising us of your time —— we can arrange for you to be met. All arrangements for your stay [overnight on April 10] will, of course, be made by us at our expense.
Yours faithfully,

    親愛的[哈里森先生]:

    本公司新廠將于[4月10日]開始投產(chǎn)，希望能邀請(qǐng)[賢伉儷]來(lái)參加新廠開工典禮。
如您所知，新廠的設(shè)立是本公司的一個(gè)里程碑，而這正是海內(nèi)外對(duì)本公司產(chǎn)品不斷需求的結(jié)果。我們邀請(qǐng)了所有對(duì)本公司的成功貢獻(xiàn)一切力量的個(gè)人，我們相信，您一定會(huì)賞光。

    如您確能參加，請(qǐng)來(lái)函告知您抵達(dá)的時(shí)間 —— 以便我們?yōu)槟�安排�?huì)晤。當(dāng)然，所有安排您在[10日晚間]夜宿的費(fèi)用，皆將由公司代您支付。

    4. 邀請(qǐng)來(lái)家中小住及周末聚會(huì)  An invitation for a house and weekend party