Letter to the Editor
AdvancedOpinion + reasons + suggestions.
- Letter to the editor: Dear Editor, issue, evidence, empathy, suggestions, Yours faithfully.
- 'Dear Editor' means the name is unknown, so always close with 'Yours faithfully'.
- Evidence must be concrete: which station, how long, what you saw.
文體小知識：Opinion letter.
§Text Passage
1Dear Editor, I am writing to express my concern about the severe overcrowding on morning MTR trains. Every weekday before eight o'clock, platforms along the East Rail Line are packed with students and workers. Passengers are sometimes forced to let three or four trains pass before they can board. This not only causes stress but also makes many people late for school and work. We deserve a safe and comfortable journey, just like passengers in other cities.
2Last Tuesday I waited twenty minutes at Tai Po Market Station. When a train finally arrived, the doors could hardly close, and a girl almost fainted. Elderly passengers and pregnant women stand no chance in such a crowd. On that morning, I saw a man in a suit give up and take a taxi instead. Some students now leave home an hour early simply to avoid the worst crush. The situation becomes even worse on rainy days, when everyone carries an umbrella.
3I understand that train frequency cannot be increased overnight. However, the MTR Corporation could introduce more peak-hour services and stagger school starting times. It could also widen platforms and add more staff to guide passengers during rush hour. Schools in the same district might share a timetable so that students travel at different times. Even small improvements would show that the company cares about commuters.
4If these measures were taken, morning journeys would be far more pleasant for everyone. I hope the authorities will look into this matter before the situation gets worse. Thank you for giving space to this issue, which affects thousands of families every day. Yours faithfully, Chris Wong
§Sentence-by-sentence translation Sentence-by-sentence translation
Dear Editor,
編輯先生：
I am writing to express my concern about the severe overcrowding on morning MTR trains.
我寫信是為了表達我對早上港鐵嚴重擠迫的關注。
Every weekday before eight o'clock, platforms along the East Rail Line are packed with students and workers.
每個平日八點之前，東鐵綫沿線月台都擠滿學生與上班族。
Passengers are sometimes forced to let three or four trains pass before they can board.
乘客有時被迫看着三四班車開走，都上不了車。
This not only causes stress but also makes many people late for school and work.
這樣不僅造成壓力，還令許多人上學上班遲到。
We deserve a safe and comfortable journey, just like passengers in other cities.
我們值得有一個安全舒適的車程，與其他城市的乘客一樣。
Last Tuesday I waited twenty minutes at Tai Po Market Station.
上星期二，我在大埔墟站等了二十分鐘。
When a train finally arrived, the doors could hardly close, and a girl almost fainted.
終於有班車到站，車門幾乎關不上，有個女生還差點暈倒。
Elderly passengers and pregnant women stand no chance in such a crowd.
長者與孕婦在這樣的人潮裡面根本毫無機會。
On that morning, I saw a man in a suit give up and take a taxi instead.
那天早上我見到有位穿西裝的男士放棄了，改乘的士。
Some students now leave home an hour early simply to avoid the worst crush.
有些學生現在提早一小時出門，就是為了避開最擠迫的時段。
The situation becomes even worse on rainy days, when everyone carries an umbrella.
下雨的日子更糟，人人都拿着雨傘。
I understand that train frequency cannot be increased overnight.
我明白班次不可能一夜之間加密。
However, the MTR Corporation could introduce more peak-hour services and stagger school starting times.
不過，港鐵公司可以加開繁忙時段班次，學校亦可錯開上課時間。
It could also widen platforms and add more staff to guide passengers during rush hour.
他們亦可以擴闊月台，加派人手在繁忙時間疏導乘客。
Schools in the same district might share a timetable so that students travel at different times.
同區學校可以共用時間表，令學生在不同時段搭車。
Even small improvements would show that the company cares about commuters.
就算是小改善，都證明公司關心乘客。
If these measures were taken, morning journeys would be far more pleasant for everyone.
如果採取這些措施，大家的早上車程會舒服得多。
I hope the authorities will look into this matter before the situation gets worse.
希望當局在情況惡化之前跟進這件事。
Thank you for giving space to this issue, which affects thousands of families every day.
感謝你給篇幅關注這個每日影響幾千個家庭的問題。
Yours faithfully, Chris Wong
讀者黃志明敬上
1Summary 重點摘要
Opinion + reasons + suggestions.
2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary
Editor.
View.
Topic.
Suggestion.
Worry.
Dear Editor.
Yours.
Print.
3Step by step Steps
- StartThe opening formula: Dear Editor, plus one positioning sentence. The model starts “I am writing to express my concern about the severe overcrowding on morning MTR trains” — issue and effects (stress, lateness) in a single line.
- BodyThe body runs evidence → understanding → suggestions. Evidence must be concrete: twenty minutes at Tai Po Market Station, doors that hardly close, a girl who almost fainted; one understanding line — “I understand that train frequency cannot be increased overnight” — makes the suggestions sound practical.
- EndClose by expecting action and widening the view: “I hope the authorities will look into this matter”, then “affects thousands of families every day” — a personal complaint becomes a public issue. Dear Editor hides the name, so always sign Yours faithfully.
- ToneStay polite but firm: no insults (never disgusting or stupid); use concern, suggest and hope — yet keep your position clear; do not end up agreeing with everything.
- Layered suggestionsLayer the suggestions: more peak-hour services, staggered school starting times, wider platforms with more staff, shared timetables for schools in the same district — every one is something the MTR or schools can actually do, not a slogan.
- The other sideComplaints alone score low: mention the other side's difficulty (extra trains cost money, nothing changes overnight) and answer it — showing you see the whole picture makes your suggestions easier to accept.
- Format checkFour format items: Dear Editor, clear paragraphs, Yours faithfully, your full name (Chris Wong) — each missing item costs marks; tick them one by one before you hand in.
5Worked example Example
The model letter complains about overcrowded morning MTR trains. Analyse its problem-evidence-empathy-suggestions structure, and explain why it ends 'Yours faithfully'.
- Step 1: The opening names the issue and its costs at once — overcrowding on the East Rail Line, stress, lateness.
- Step 2: Evidence is personal and visual: twenty minutes at Tai Po Market, doors that could hardly close, a girl almost fainting, worse in the rain.
- Step 3: Empathy disarms the opposition: 'I understand that train frequency cannot be increased overnight'.
- Step 4: Suggestions are concrete and tiered: peak-hour services, staggered school times, wider platforms, shared timetables for nearby schools.
- Step 5: 'Dear Editor' hides the name, so the sign-off must be 'Yours faithfully', and the close widens the issue to thousands of families.
- Answer: The letter is a model of persuasive structure. Paragraph one states the issue and its costs — packed East Rail Line platforms, stress and lateness. Paragraph two supplies visual evidence: twenty minutes waiting at Tai Po Market Station, doors that could hardly close, a girl who almost fainted, umbrellas making everything worse. Paragraph three shows empathy — admitting that frequency cannot rise overnight — which makes the four practical suggestions sound reasonable: more peak-hour trains, staggered school start times, wider platforms with more staff, and shared timetables. The closing line widens the issue to thousands of families. Because the salutation 'Dear Editor' means the name is unknown, the letter correctly signs off 'Yours faithfully' rather than 'Yours sincerely'.
6Common mistakes Mistakes
7Quick check Quick check
Q1Start?
Q2Content?
Q3Tone?
Q4End?
Q5Length?
Q6Purpose?
8Recap Recap
- Letter to the editor: Dear Editor, issue, evidence, empathy, suggestions, Yours faithfully.
- 'Dear Editor' means the name is unknown, so always close with 'Yours faithfully'.
- Evidence must be concrete: which station, how long, what you saw.
- One sentence of empathy ('it cannot change overnight') makes suggestions easier to accept.
- End by widening the stakes: how many families the issue touches.