Make a formal request polite without making it vague
Eine formelle Nachricht adressatengerecht überarbeiten
Revise tone and register while preserving the concrete request, dates and limits of what the sender knows.
Formal writing does not require inflated wording. A clear subject, a relevant factual opening and a specific request often work better than accusations or long nominal phrases. Could you confirm whether … is a real question; you must have deliberately … invents a motive. In a fictional course enquiry, the website lists a Wednesday session at 18:00 while a confirmation says 18:30. Neither source establishes which time is current. Ask for clarification and name both sources. Könnten Sie mir bitte bestätigen, welche Uhrzeit gilt? keeps the indirect-question verb at the end. Do not erase the discrepancy merely to sound polite, and do not add an apology admitting fault that has not been established.
Betreff: Rückfrage zur Uhrzeit des Mittwochskurses
Subject: Question about the time of the Wednesday course
Auf Ihrer Website wird achtzehn Uhr genannt.
Your website states six o’clock.
In meiner Bestätigung steht dagegen achtzehn Uhr dreißig.
My confirmation, however, says half past six.
Könnten Sie mir bitte mitteilen, welche Uhrzeit aktuell gilt?
Could you please tell me which time currently applies?
Für meine Anreise wäre eine kurze Klärung hilfreich.
A brief clarification would help me plan my journey.
Vielen Dank im Voraus für Ihre Rückmeldung.
Thank you in advance for your reply.
Formal writing does not require inflated wording. A clear subject, a relevant factual opening and a specific request often work better than accusations or long nominal phrases. Could you confirm whether … is a real question; you must have deliberately … invents a motive. In a fictional course enquiry, the website lists a Wednesday session at 18:00 while a confirmation says 18:30. Neither source establishes which time is current. Ask for clarification and name both sources. Könnten Sie mir bitte bestätigen, welche Uhrzeit gilt? keeps the indirect-question verb at the end. Do not erase the discrepancy merely to sound polite, and do not add an apology admitting fault that has not been established.
Revise tone and register while preserving the concrete request, dates and limits of what the sender knows.
Do not replace a precise clarification request with an accusation, an invented admission of fault or a vague sentence that hides the two conflicting times.
Keep the relevant facts, address the recipient appropriately and formulate one answerable request. Indirect questions use final verb position.
Write a 180–220-word formal German email to a course office. The website gives Wednesday 18:00; your confirmation gives 18:30; you do not know which is current. State both sources, explain briefly why arrival planning matters, ask which time applies and whether an updated confirmation is needed. Do not invent a booking number, a legal entitlement or intentional wrongdoing.