邀請信包括宴會、舞會、晚餐、聚會、婚禮等各種邀請信件，形式上大體分為兩種:一種為正規的格式 (formal correspondence)，亦稱請柬;一種是非正式格式 (informal correspondence), 即一般的邀請信。邀請信是在形式上不如請柬那樣正規，但也是很考究。書寫時應注意:
邀請信一定要將邀請的時間(年、月、日、鐘點)、地點、場合寫清楚，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星期五并不明確，所以應加上具體日期, “I’d like you and Bob to come to luncheon next Friday, May the fifth.”
1. 邀請朋友共進午餐 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,
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[油畫]是有興趣的，所以我相信您對林頓夫婦也會感興趣。他們將在[10月12日(下星期日)]來吃飯，我們很希望您和瓦爾特也能同來。
[林頓夫婦]是那么好的一對夫妻。我們是去年夏天在[倫敦]認識的。他們集有[各個不同時期精美的油畫作品]。我知道，林頓先生在研究[油畫]方面是頗有權威的。我深信，那天晚上您和瓦爾特同他們在一起，一定會很愉快。
我們準備在6點鐘吃晚飯，這樣就能有較長的時間閑談。如果事前接不到您的回信，我就指望你們那天到來。
3. 邀請參加新廠開工典禮 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，希望能邀請[賢伉儷]來參加新廠開工典禮。
如您所知，新廠的設立是本公司的一個里程碑，而這正是海內外對本公司產品不斷需求的結果。我們邀請了所有對本公司的成功貢獻一切力量的個人，我們相信，您一定會賞光。
如您確能參加，請來函告知您抵達的時間 —— 以便我們為您安排會晤。當然，所有安排您在[10日晚間]夜宿的費用，皆將由公司代您支付。
Li Ming
親愛的[張營]:
您能在[5月5日星期五中午12點鐘] 來吃午飯嗎?
我侄女[瑪麗]正在我們家中作客，我想您會樂于見到她的。她是個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]也到這里來，也許在飯后我們能[開個舞會]，說好，一定得來呀!
2. 邀請朋友同他們不認識的人一起共進晚餐 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.
4. 邀請來家中小住及周末聚會 An invitation for a house and weekend party
Dear [Jane]:
I hope [you and Fred] haven’t any plan for the weekend of [July twenty-fourth] as we’d like you to spend it with us at [Far Acres]. It’s simply beautiful here now, with everything in bloom!
I think we can promise [Fred] some good fishing this year. The fish are biting better than ever! So bring your fishing clothes; and be sure to bring your tennis things, too, because [the Owens] are coming and I’m sure you’ll want to get out on the courts with them.
There’s a very good train [Friday night]; I’ve marked it in red on the timetable. It gets you here about [seven-thirty] which is just in time for dinner. You can get a late train back [Sunday night], or there’s an early express that [Bob] usually takes on [Monday morning].
We hope nothing will prevent you from coming, as we’re looking forward to your visit … and I know [the Owens] are looking forward to seeing you again, too. Be sure to let us know what train you are taking so that [Bob] can meet you at the station.
Affectionately yours,
親愛的[簡]:
如果您[7月24日]沒有什么活動安排，我希望[您和弗雷德]能同我們一起在[遠莊園]共度周末，那里已經鮮花遍地，現正在最美麗的時節。
我想，今年我們能讓[弗雷德]釣魚釣得更快活。魚兒比過去任何時候都愛上釣魚。請把釣魚的服裝帶來，也別忘記帶上打網球的用具，因為我們還邀約了[歐文]夫婦，我想，你們是樂意同他們打網球的。
[星期五晚上]有一班舒適的火車，我已經在火車時刻表上做了紅色記號，火車大約在[7點半鐘]把你們送到這里，正是吃晚飯時間。[星期日晚上]你們可以乘晚車回來。或者，在[星期一早晨]也有一班快車，就是[鮑勃]常坐的那一班車。
我們希望沒有什么事情會阻礙你們，我們在等待著你們光臨……我知道[歐文夫婦]好盼望再次見到你們。準備乘哪一班火車，請一定告訴我們，好讓[鮑勃]到車站迎接你們。
5. 邀請參加招待會 An invitation for a reception
Dear [Mr. Smith]:
It would give [me/us] great pleasure to have your presence at a reception in honor of the Chinese delegation.
The reception will be held in the [the City Hall], on [Tuesday, October the fourth]. Cocktails will be served promptly at [six] to be followed b dinner at [eight].
[I/We] sincerely hope you can attend. Let [me/us] know.
Sincerely yours
親愛的[史密斯先生]:
如您能夠出席為[中國代表團]而舉行的招待會，[我(們)]將感到十分榮幸。
招待會定于[10月4日(星期二)]在[市政廳]舉行。[6點鐘]準時舉行[雞犬不寧尾酒會]， 隨之在[8點鐘]舉行[正式的晚宴]。
[我(們)]期待著您的光臨。請提前通知您能否出席。
6. 邀請演講 Inviting someone to address a meeting
Dear [Dr. Rodger]:
[The English Department of Nankai University] would like to extend to you an invitation to be our guest speaker at the [annual conference] to be held at the [meeting room] at [eight] o’clock, [Saturday morning, December the thirtieth, 1993].
As you know, the department is interested in [the 20th century English literature] Since you are familiar with the field, we know your views will be extremely interesting to us.
You will receive further details later, but we would appreciate having your acceptance soon so we may complete our agenda.
Cordially,
親愛的[羅杰博士]:
[南開大學外文系]特邀請您出席[1993年12月30日(星期六)早八點在(系會議室)]召開的[學術年會]并作演講。
正如您所了解的，[南大外文系]對[20世紀的英國文學頗感興趣]。您對此領域很熟悉，您的見解定會給我們帶來很大的興趣。
我們將隨后把有關細節通知您，但懇請您盡快予以答復，以便作出安排。(來源：世貿人才網)
