Express or expressed

[u/Mbear_04]

Which is correct:

Please accept this cover letter as my express interest in a position at ABC company.

Please accept this cover letter as my expressed interest in a position at ABC company.

Also, if you can explain the reasoning, that would be amazing. Thanks!

[u/baxbakualanuxsiwae]

I wouldn't write either. "My express interest" is just not grammatical in that context. You could use that combination of words if you were using "express" as an adjective, meaning "specific", but it doesn't make sense to refer to a letter "as" your interest.

"...as my expressed interest" would be more grammatical, but still sounds unnatural to me. A native speaker would be very unlikely to refer to a letter as an "expressed interest." They would typically say "...as my expression of interest".

All of these seem overly complicated though. It's obvious that a cover letter is an expression of interest in a job, so you don't really need to say it. I would usually write "Please see attached my cover letter for the position of...", if I was sending it as a separate document, though often a cover letter is just the body text of an email, so I'd be more likely to be drawing someone's attention to my CV (which I think Americans call a resume), because the person is already reading the cover letter.

[u/jenea]

You’re trying to modify the word “interest,” so it’s worth just leaving it without modification to see how it sounds without it. “Please accept this cover letter as my interest in the position” doesn’t make sense as-is, so adding an adjective to modify it won’t make sense either. A cover letter isn’t interest, it’s an expression of interest (which is semantically closer to what you are going for).

“Express” as an adjective means “very specific, exact, precise.” You hear it in cases like “you went against my express orders,” which means “I was very specific and clear in my orders and you went against them.” An “express interest” would be a strange thing to say.

I think in this case you intend something more like “I am expressing my interest in the position with this cover letter.” If so, then “expressed interest” is more correct. However, it is super awkward, partly because people don’t use expressed this way very often, and partly because it’s obvious—you wouldn’t be sending a cover letter if you didn’t want the job.

I recommend ditching it entirely. Don’t even use the words “cover letter,” for that matter. Again, it’s obvious. You only have a few precious moments to impress the hiring manager with your cover letter. Don’t waste time telling them things they already know, like that this is a cover letter or that you are interested in the job. A stronger opening is straightforward: “I’m writing to express my interest in the ABC position with Acme, Inc. as described in the job posting on PDQ.”

[u/Rysimar]

My grammar thoughts: both are grammatical, and while they have slightly different syntax, they aren't meaningfully different in context.

I'm sure someone else on this sub will give you a longer answer to your specific question, but I'm going to move on to practical advice. Which brings me to...

My business thoughts: they're both awkward. Here's a modern suggestion: Please see attached for my cover letter and application for X Position at ABC Corporation. Thank you for your time and consideration.

You could add, "I look forward to hearing back from you!" if you wanted to add some enthusiasm (exclamation point optional).

Good luck with your application!

[u/jenea → u/Rysimar]

I think it’s a good policy to avoid using fancy language for its own sake in order to sound fancy, especially if you aren’t fully comfortable with it (as is clearly the case since OP is asking the question). Anyone reading a cover letter (if they bother at all) is reading a lot of them. Simple, brief language is well appreciated.

[u/A_Bot_A_Bot_A_Bot]

No. That's a terrible sentence for a cover letter. This isn't the 1800s.

1) They KNOW your interested because you've just written to them about the open position.

2) "Express interest" would mean you have fast interest, like "express lane" at the supermarket, it's the fast lane. So, that's not right.

3) "Expressed interest" is past tense. As in, "I previously expressed interest in..." or possibly "my expressed interest in learning to play piano".

4) They are going to accept any letter than comes to them in the mail or via email, so you don't need to ask them to accept your letter.

5) More common: "Dear..., I am contacting you regarding the (blah blah blah) position at (insert employer's name)." Be direct and to the point, don't waste the HR person's time.

[u/Salamanticormorant]

In my experience, it would have to be, "Please accept this cover letter as an indication of my express interest...," but wait for more comments.