Meaning & use
mail shots
Last updated
“mail shots” is a form of “mail shot”.
Meaning
nounplural
Letters or emails sent to many people at once to advertise something or ask for support.
Grammar: Plural noun; the singular is 'mail shot'. Use it with plural verbs: 'The mail shots were sent yesterday.'
Patterns
- send out mail shots
- a mail shot to someone
- receive mail shots
The charity sent mail shots to thousands of homes asking for donations.
We got three mail shots from the same store in one week.
Mail shots are cheaper than TV ads but often get thrown away.
Word forms
| singular | mail shot |
|---|
Common combinations
- send out mail shots
- They send out mail shots every spring to attract new customers.
- a mail shot to
- The company prepared a mail shot to all its former clients.
- receive mail shots
- I receive so many mail shots that I just recycle them.
- mass mail shot
- A mass mail shot can be effective if the list is well targeted.
Synonyms and how they differ
Word family
- mail shot noun
- The singular form: one mass mailing.
Commonly confused: mail shots or mailshot?
mail shots vs mailshot
Some people write it as one word; both are accepted, but 'mail shot' (two words) is more common in British English.
Practice
The charity sent _____ to local businesses asking for sponsorship.
Choose one answer.
'Mail shots' is the plural form used here because the charity sent many letters to many businesses. 'A mail shot' would be singular and would not match 'businesses' (plural).
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “mail shots”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.