INVITATION

As its name suggests, this is a document used to invite someone to an event (a talk, a ceremony, a lecture, etc.).

Format: large card (105 x 210 mm), or DIN A4 (210 x 297 mm).

 

GENERAL DRAFTING CRITERIA

An invitation is a document conforming to protocol whose content admits little variation. The most salient features in drawing up an invitation are:

  • Use a polite, formal tone, bearing in mind that it is an element of protocol.
  • Identify the person or body issuing the invitation in a single sentence, if possible, to ensure the unity of the invitation. Separate the different details within the phrase with comas. If the information you need to give is very extensive, put a full stop and use more than one sentence. If the information is extremely complex, you can set it out schematically.
  • If the invitation is in your own name, use the first person singular (I); if the invitation is on behalf of a body or organisation, use the third person singular: has pleasure in inviting you ..., etc.

 

USEFUL PHRASES

Invitation formulas:

- ... has pleasure in inviting you to ... 
- ... has the honour of inviting you to a ... 
- ... would like to invite you to ...

Formulas for giving the place, date and time: 

... which will be held / that will take place in ..., on ..., at ...

Formulas for giving other information: 

- ... the event will be chaired by ... 
- ... with ... in the chair ... 
- ... in the presence of ... 

- Please confirm whether you will be attending.
- RSVP. 
- You are requested to present this invitation.

 

1. Identification of the person or body issuing the invitation
This must include the post of the person and/or the unit issuing the invitation. Since an invitation is a protocol document, the person may be given their full title. In this case, the identification should include the person's title (Mr. / Ms.), name and surname(s) and post or office.

If the invitation is going out on behalf of various people belonging to the University, they should be listed in accordance with the hierarchical structure of the University's offices. If the persons issuing the invitation belong to different bodies, they should be listed in accordance with the administrative hierarchy.

 

2. Body of the invitation
This section contains the following information:
- The invitation formula: I have pleasure in inviting you to ... 
- Identification of the event for which the invitation is being issued.
- The day, time and place of the event.

Other supplementary information may be added if necessary: 
- The addressee's name and surname(s) (if the invitation needs to be personalised). 
- Who will be chairing or speaking, or which personalities will be attending.

 

3. Date
This must include:
- The place where the invitation is issued.
- Date: the day (in figures), the month (in letters) and the year (in figures and in full).

 

4. Additional information
- Request for confirmation of attendance. 
- The need to present the invitation (if admission to the event is to be strictly controlled).

Such additional information should be given after the date.

 

INVITATION

The Director of the Technology Department has the pleasure of inviting you to the presentation of the book Visualització de la informació, by Juan Carlos Dürsteler. The speaker will be Vladimir de Semir, Barcelona City councillor responsible for the Knowledge Society.   

This event will take place in the auditorium of the França building (Passeig de Circumval·lació, 8, Barcelona), on 30 January at 7 p.m.


Barcelona, January 2003