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runnery
Senior Member
China,Chinese
- Oct 17, 2007
- #1
Hi all,
I am writing an email to my customer, we haven't contacted each other for a long time. So, at the beginning of this email, can I write this?
1) It has been a long time since we contacted each other. Or
2) Long time no see.Or
3) It has been a long time since we contacted last time.
I prefer the number 1, for number 2, maybe a little informal.
Please give me your advice. If you find any mistakes above, please help me correct.
I really appreciate your reply.
S
sunkitty
Senior Member
California
USA English
- Oct 17, 2007
- #2
runnery said:
1) It has been a long time since we contacted each other.
2) Long time no see. Too informal
3) It has been a long time since we contacted last time.
.
Although #1 is correct, I prefer:
It's been a long time since we've corresponded.
We haven't been in contact for a while.
panjandrum
Senior Member
Belfast, Ireland
English-Ireland (top end)
- Oct 17, 2007
- #3
Please don't use #2
I don't think using "... we contacted ..." in #1 and #3 sounds idiomatic.
There are many, many ways to say something like this, a lot depends on how informal you want to be. Here are some suggestions:
"It's a long time since we've been in touch ... ... "
"It's a while since we've spoken ... ... "
"It's some time since we were in contact ... ... "
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runnery
Senior Member
China,Chinese
- Oct 17, 2007
- #4
Thanks for your replies. How about " I havn't heard from you for a long time" ?
panjandrum
Senior Member
Belfast, Ireland
English-Ireland (top end)
- Oct 17, 2007
- #5
runnery said:
Thanks for your replies. How about " I havn't heard from you for a long time" ?
Fair enough, but look at sunkitty's and my other suggestions and note that we both go for something very neutral. "I haven't heard from you for a long time," suggests that this lack of communication is your customer's fault. You don't want to do that
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runnery
Senior Member
China,Chinese
- Oct 17, 2007
- #6
Panjandrum,
Thanks for your detailed explaination, it is really helpful.
It is late here. I'll leave.
Cheers,
Runnery
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runnery
Senior Member
China,Chinese
- Oct 18, 2007
- #7
Sorry, I still have two more questions:
1) I have come across both these two versions " it is a long time since", "it has been a long time since". Which is correct?
2) since+past tense or since+present perfect?
I am looking forward to your reply.
Thanks a lot.
F
Fenoxielo
Member
United States
United States - English
- Oct 18, 2007
- #8
It would be "it has been a long time since," not "it is a long time since."
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runnery
Senior Member
China,Chinese
- Oct 18, 2007
- #9
Fenoxielo said:
It would be "it has been a long time since," not "it is a long time since."
Thanks. The "been" was left out, I have corrected.
After I search the goole with "It has been a long time since", I find that most examples are this: it has been a long tiem since+past tense. Could you tell me what's the difference between "since +past tense" and "since+perfect sense"?
Thanks again.
panjandrum
Senior Member
Belfast, Ireland
English-Ireland (top end)
- Oct 18, 2007
- #10
There have been many previous threads on since with various combinations of tenses.
In the WR dictionary I found
a long time
and
since
There should be some useful information there.
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