ThisisanenglishwritinghowtoIcopiedfromsomewhere(namewithheld)sometimeago.hopefullyyoullfindithelpfultoo.
日常要处理许多信件电邮,因而运用英语上不得不留神,以下有一些个人意见,也参考了一些书本,希望大家有所得益。
A.文法上
1.切忌主客不分或模糊.例子:Decidingtorescindtheearlierestimate,ourreportwasupdatedtoinclude$40,000fornewequipment.”应改为Decidingtorescindourearlierestimate,wehaveupdatedourreporttoinclude$40,000fornewequipment.(We决定呀,不是report.)
2.句子不要凌碎.例子:Hedecidednottoauditthelasttencontracts.Becauseofourpreviousobjectionsaboutcompliance.应该连在一起.
3.结构对称,令人容易理解.例子:Theownerquestionedtheoccupantsleaseintentionsandthefactthatthecontracthadbeenalteredwithinkmarkings.应改为:Theownerquestionedtheoccupantsleaseintentionsandinkalterationsofthecontract.
4.单众数不要搞乱,不然会好刺眼,看不舒服.例如:Anauthorizedpersonmustshowthattheyhavesecurityclearance.
5.动词主词要呼应.想想这两个分别:1.Thisisoneofthepublic-relationsfunctionsthatisunderbudgeted.2.Thisisoneofthepublic-relationsfunctions,whichareunderbudgeted.
6.时态和语气不要转变太多.看商务英语已经是苦事,不要浪费人家的精力啊.
7.标点要准确.例如:Hedidnotmakerepairs,however,hecontinuedtomonitortheequipment.改为:Hedidnotmakerepairs;however,hecontinuedtomonitortheequipment.
8.选词正确.好像affect和effect,operative和operational等等就要弄清楚才好用啦.
9.拼字正确.有电脑拼字检查功能后,就更加不能偷懒.
10.大小写要注意.非必要不要整个字都是大写,除非要骂人,:,例如:MUSTchangetoOSimmediately.外国人就觉得不礼貌和喝令人一样.要强调的话,用底线,斜字,粗体就可以了.
B.文体
1.可读性.对象是大学程度的话,用高中的英文就行,不要以为人人都是语言大师.多用短句(15-20字吧),技术性的字,就更加要简单易明.
2.注意段落的开头.一般来说,重要或强调的事情都放在信件或段落的开头,而句子就放在最尾.例如:1.Becausehewasunabletoattendthemeetingpersonally,heforwardedhiscongratulationsoncassettetape.2.Heforwardedhiscongratulationsoncassettetapebecausehewasunabletoattendthemeetingpersonally.两者强调的事情就有分别了.
3.轻重有分.同等重要的用and来连接,较轻放在次要的句子里.
4.意思转接词要留神.例如:but(相反),therefore(结论),also(增添),forexample(阐明).分不清furthermore和moreover就不要用啦.
5.句子开头不要含糊不清的主词.例子:Thesedecisionshavebeenabigdisappointmenttothecommitteemembers.Theyhavedelayedfurtheraction.They是指什么呀????开头少用this,that,it,they,或which.
6.修饰词的位置要小心,例如:HecouldonlyreimbursethecostafterJuly15.应为HecouldreimbursethecostonlyafterJuly15.
7.用语要肯定准确.切忌含糊.例如:Thefiguresshowasignificantincrease.”怎样significant呀,大哥?改为:Thefiguresshowanincreaseof19%.
8.立场观点一致.少用被动语.例如:PartialdatashouldbesubmittedbyApril.改为:YoushouldsubmitpartialdatabyApril.就很好了.
C.格调
1.式样和句子长度不要太单调.千篇一律的subject-verb-object会闷死人的.有时短句跟着长句可以化解一下.
2.弱软的词(e.g.was,were,is,are...)可以加强一点.例如:Pruntonproductsarehighlyeffectivein...改为:Pruntonproductsexcelin...就有力很多了.
3.亲切,口语化是比较受欢迎!用宾词和主动的词,让人家受落.例如:1.Thisinformationwillbesincerelyappreciated.”2.Wesincerelyappreciateyourinformation.明显地,我们会喜欢第2句.
D.写信提示
1.人家的名字千万不要错.老一辈的看到名字错就干脆撵去垃圾桶.
同样,头衔都不要错.头衔或学位,任择其一吧.以下是一样的:
HowardE.Wyatt,D.D.SPhD.
Dr.HowardE.Hyatt
2.多过一个男人,用Messrs,就是Misters的意思,不过不要跟名字,跟姓就行啦.例如:
Messrs.Smith,Wyatt,andFury
女人呢?用Mesdames,Mmes.,orMses.同样不要跟名字.例子:
Mses.Farb,Lionel,andGray
男女一齐呢?弄清楚称呼就行.例如:
Dr.andMrs.HaroldWright
Mr.HaroldWrightandDr.MargaretWright
Mr.andMrs.HarveyAdams-Quinn
3.有人有自己头衔就要跟紧,例如有人有荣誉学位就不喜欢用一般的头衔啊~有时大头不知道对方头衔,干脆用Ms.算了.
Ms.SarahGray
4.地址要低日期至少两行.处名时,职衔短可以一行过,长就下一行吧.例如:
KenGreen,President
KenGreen
VicePresidentofInternationalOperations
但这个就显得有点。。。:
KenGreen
VicePresidentofUnicomChina
正确应为:
KenGreen
VicePresident,UnicomChina
5.老外的名字有时有Jr.或Sr.,之前的逗点是随你喜欢的,以下都是正确,不要笑人:
MichaelJ.Smith,Jr.
MichaelJ.SmithSr.
6.外国国名尽量用大写.是为尊重,也方便邮差叔叔.
7.地址上的数字直接用阿拉伯数字吧,除了One,例子:
127NinthAvenue,North
127E.15Street
5ParkAvenue
OneWingrenPlaza
556-91Street
书信的结尾致意要留意,弄清大家的关系才选择用词,例子:
1.VeryFormal非常正规的(例如给政府大老爷的)
Respectfullyyours,
Yoursrespectfully,
2.Formal正规的(例如客户公司之间啦)
Verytrulyyours,
Yoursverytruly,
Yourstruly,
3.LessFormal不太正规的(例如客户)
Sincerelyyours,
Yourssincerely,
Sincerely,
Cordiallyyours,
Yourscordially,
Cordially,
4.Informal非正规的(例如猪朋*,同事之类)
Regards,
Warmregards,
Withkindestregards,
Withmybestregards,
Mybest,
GivemybesttoMary,
Fondly,
Thanks,
Seeyounextweek!
有时在we,I,andyou之间选择是很烦的事--
如果是公司代表联络生意之类,可以用:
Wewillreimburseyoufortheselegalexpenses.
Sinopecwillreimburseyoufortheselegalexpenses.
如果单纯说你自己,可以用:
Ifoundthebrochureveryinformative.
有时可以一起用啦...:
Wearepleasedtoofferyouthepositionofsalesdirector,andIamlookingforwardtoourTuesdaymorningmeeting.
那么I和you呢?好烦好烦.一般来说,收信人的利益比较重要,名义上都要这样想.给人尊重的语气就一般不会错了.多用you有时会有隔阂的感觉.
Youwillbepleasedtolearnthatyouhavebeenselectedtoserveonouradvisoryboard.Yourpromptresponsewillbeappreciated.(好像欠你一样)
Impleasedthatourboardhasselectedyouasthebestqualifiedcandidatetoserveonouradvisoryboard.Ihopeyoullagreetoserve.(这就友善多了)
Yourbookwaswellwrittenandcomprehensive.(不用你来判断我呀~~)
Ithoroughlyenjoyedyourbookandfoundananswertoeveryoneofmyquestionsaboutperformanceappraisals.(客气一点,人家受落)
总之,语气和宾词的运用得当能决定你的礼貌程度.
开头致意
用人家的名字总好过人家的头衔称呼.如果没有名字,或者是好正规信的信件,可以考虑这些:
DearCommitteeMembe:r:
DearMeetingPlanner:
DearColleagues:
ToAllSalesReps:
ToWhomItMayConcern:
DearSirorMadam:
DearMadamorSir:
DearPurchasingAgent:
如果是公司呢?
GentlemenorLadies:
LadiesorGentlemen:
什么怪事都有,如果那公司是全男班或全女班呢?
DearSirs:
DearLadies:
DearMesdames:
Gentlemen:
Ladies:
有时见到人家用冒号就说人家错,其实也未必啊,看:
DearMr.Jones:(非常正规)
DearJoan:
DearJim,
Jim,(非正规)
签名
用笔亲自签名会比较受落,免到过都不要电脑贴图或盖章啦....不要把Mr.,Ms.,Mrs.,Dr.之类一起签,人家会笑你的...
签名也看信件的语气.给朋友或公司客户,签Bill也可以,给陌生人就最好用Gates或者BillGates啦