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Writing a formal email in Italian
Italian emails between people who are not close follow conventions older than email itself. The opening is usually Gentile (or Gentilissimo/a) + title or name; Caro/a is warmer and implies familiarity. The body often starts with Le scrivo per … and uses the Lei form throughout; very formal or official correspondence capitalizes the courtesy pronouns (La, Le, Suo), a habit that can feel stiff between people who already know each other. Common closings range from the bureaucratic (Resto in attesa di un Suo cortese riscontro) through the neutral (Cordiali saluti) to the warm (A presto, Un caro saluto). Indirect questions are a good place to show care. In written Italian, se + congiuntivo after a verb of asking, wondering or not knowing (non so se sia, mi chiedo se possa) reads as attentive and correct, whereas the indicative is perfectly normal in conversation. Educated readers do notice the difference. Francesca's advice about the delicate question is a translator's tactic too: rather than admit you don't understand, set out the two readings you see and ask which the author intended. It shows close reading and invites the author into the decision.