CHAPTER 1
Structure and layout of international business letter(介绍商务信函基础知识与外贸交易程序)
7原则7Cs:1.Correctness,正确2.Conciseness,简洁3.Clarity,清晰
4.Concreteness,具体5.Completeness,完整6.Courtesy礼貌7.Consideration.体谅
信函时间的正确的写法
February 2, 20132 February,2013February 2nd, 20132nd February,2013
Structure of Business letter:
1. The Letterhead(信头)2. The Date line(日期)
3. The Reference and Inside Address(编号和封内地址)5. The Salutation(称呼语) 7. The body of the Letter(正文)8. The Complimentary Close(结尾敬语) 9. The Signature(签名)10. The Enclosure(附件)
11. The Postscript(附言)12. The Reference Line 信件编号
13. The Attention Line主办人或经办人14. The Subject Heading 事由行 15. The Identification Marks备忘署名16. The Attention line(注意项) 17. The C.C. Line抄送(cc to XX)18. The subject line (事由) 信头(Letter Head) :
信头一般都是事先就印好的,它表示发信人公司行号名称及地址,使收信人一看就知道发自何方、何处、核实,也便于复信时参考。包括发信人的姓名、地址、网址、电子信箱、电报挂号、电话号码。有的信头还包含公司负责人的姓名和职务职称。
一般商号的信笺都印有信头,如果没有,也可以在信纸上端的中间,或者在信笺的右上方,如: Richard Thomas &Baldwins Ltd. 151 Gower Street
London, SCT 6DY, England Tel: 63216260 Fax: 63302700 注意:
1.一般说来,门牌号和街名之间不用逗号点开,但城市名和国名之间必须用逗号点开。城市名后面的字母或数字等是大城市的邮区号。注明邮区便于邮局分信。2.有时候不写门牌号,而是用邮箱号代替。如: P. O. Box No.1079 London, England
日期(Date): 应据信头右下角三至六行处。 注意:
① 日期可按“日、月、年”的次序排(英国),如15 Jan., 2012(国际通用) 也可按“月、日、年”的次序排(美国) ————如,Jan. 15, 2012 ② 年份应完全写出,不能用(00)来代表(2000)
③ 月份要写英文名称,不能用数字代替,例如,3/9/99不能用在正式的信函中。 ④ 月份名称可用缩写,如Aug.代替August; Oct.代替October,但May,June ,July本身很短,不再减缩。 ⑤日期可用基数词,也可用序数词。一般用基数词,较少使用序数词
基数:3 November, 2000(3 Nov., 2000) November 3,2000 (Nov.3,2000) 序数:3rd November, 2000 November 3rd, 2000
⑥月份和日期之间不要用标点点开,年份之前,必须用逗号点开.
例如,Oct.1,2000 (或October 1,2000) 30 Nov.,2000(或30 Novermber,2000) 日期的几种常见写法:
June 5,2000 (5th June,2000)30 Nov.,2000 ( 30 November,2000) 1st October,2000 (1st Oct.,2000或October 1,2000)
封内地址和行名(Inside Name and Address):这是指收信人的行号和地址。距日期两行,打在左边。 3.写封内地址时对公司行名的称呼: ①一般用公司全称
London Export CorporationChina Chemical Co.
②在公司的名称由人的姓名组成时可以使用Messrs表示客气 Messrs. John Smith& Co.Messrs. Black & White Co.
还有即使公司的名称由人名组成,也不应该加Messrs的情况,例如 a. 写给公司中某一个人的信,例如 Mr.Charles Snow
Robinson & Co.
b.公司名称中已包括其职衔c.公司名中有定冠词the
Dr. Haris& Co. The Grayson Electrical Co. 称呼( Salutation):写信人对收信人的一种称呼,其位置是在封内地址的下面空两行,并与之平头。
其形式取决于写信人与收信人的关系。
1.商业函件
①用“Dear Sirs, ” 不能单独用“Sirs,”③如果是女性公司,则用 “Dear Madams,” ②美国人用“Gentlemen:”,更加普遍(不能用单数),单数时称“Dear Sir” 2. 公事函件:
“ Dear Sir,”对一般机关团 体负责人适用。此外公事函件还可以用“To those who may be concerned,” 3. 半公半私函件,且给个人的信件
①给男士,用“Mr.” 或“Esq.”a) Dear Mr. Black,
b) Esq.=Esquire 。在英国,它是对一般男性的敬称,在美国Mr.是很通用的称呼,
Esq.则是对有声望的男性的尊称,如法官、地方长官等。注意:用在姓之后
Dear Black, Esq.
2)给女士,用“Miss”,“Mrs.”,”Ms.”,最好用“Ms.”,例如,Dear Ms. Black, 注意:称呼后面的标点一般用逗号(,),,但美国和加拿大等地的来信中,Gentlemen 后面也用冒号(: ) Mr.和sir是常能碰到的词,意思都是“先生”表示对男性的尊称,但用法有较大的差异,需要认真区别。 一、Mr.的用法特点
Mr. 是mister的缩写形式,Mr.一般与姓氏或姓名全称连用,但不能与名字连用。还常与表示职位的名称连用 3. Mr.不能单独使用,单独使用需用sir 来代替Mr.。如不可说“Yes, Mr./ mister”,可说“Yes, sir”. 二、sir 的用法特点 1、不知姓名,或虽知姓名,但为表明对对方的尊敬,常常用sir,一般性的会话中和严肃的公函中都可使用, 2、sir一般单独使用,后面不可接姓氏,但写信时称呼对方可加dear. 如:可以说dear sir, 不可以说dear sir brown. 如果Sir(大写首字母)后面接姓氏,就不能理解为“先生”,而应理解为“爵士”。 3、sir常用于下级称呼上级,服务行业人员称呼顾客等。也有西方人在为别人服务时对所有的人都称呼sir. (五)信的正文(Body)
信的主要部分,表达发信人的意见。信的优劣完全要看正文写得好坏。大多数书信遵循三段原则:
第一段为引导段,自我介绍或说明来信已收到。第二段提供信息或说明事实。第三段设计将来的打算和行动。 注意事项:
① 段与段之间一般空一行②如果信的本文很长,一页纸不够用而需两张或数张联页,应在第一页的右下端打
“待续”(to be continued),并在联页上端注明收信人的名称、日期、页数,再继续打正文。这是为了避免第一页和第二页,第三页在发信时误置。
5)结尾语(The Closing Sentences): 一般用来总结本文所谈的事项,提示对受信人的要求。如希望来函或电报订货,答复询问或作必要的声明等,另外也附加一些略带客套的语气 。他在正文结束之后,另起一段。 A)用分词短语开始的:
Awaiting your good news, we are,
Looking forward to your early reply, we remain,
Looking forward to receiving your shipping advice, we remain, 注意:句末用逗号,不用句号。
B)用完整句子的:
We await your good news.We hope to receive your early reply. We look forward to your shipping advice. 8. The Complimentary Close 结尾敬语
结束语是一种客套用语它应与前面的称呼相呼应。 结束礼词(The Complementary Close)
① 商业函件用: Yours faithfully,Faithfully yours,Sincerely yours,Sincerely yours ② 公事函件用: Respectfully yours,Yours respectfully 注意:
① 结束礼词写在结尾语下隔一行,正中或略向右边写起 ②只有第一个字母大写,后面加逗号 ② 欧洲把Yours放前,美国则把副词放前④不能将其单独另页打印,万一出现该况则应重新打印全信。 ④用Yours而不用Your,与Yours连用的一定是带-ly的副词。
9. The Signature(placed two lines below the complimentary close.) 手签名往往难以辨认,签名一般由手签、打印名和职务三部分组成。 1)结束语的下面,一般应将公司的名称用大写打出。2)必须由负责人签名。 3)打上签名人的姓名。4)打上签名人的职位。
格式如下: Yours Faithfully, THE NATIONAL TRANSPORT CO. T.M.White T.M.White
Manager 5. The Enclosure Notation附件
When there is something enclosed with the letter, typed the word “Enclosure” or “Encl.” or Enc., in the bottom left-hand under the identification marks (if any).
如信中有附件时,应在签名下注明Encl.或Enc.如果附件不止一件,应注明2 Encls.或3 Encls.等.如: Encl / Enc: 2 Invoices
Enclosure: (1) A catalogue
(2) Invoice No. 2453 3 Encls. : 1 B/Lading (提单一张)
1 Photo (照片一张) 1 Certificate (证明书一张) Memo Style (备忘录式)
TO: All students in the business writing training seminar From: Helen Sharp, Professor of English Subject: Memo Style of Business Letters Date: March 5, 2010
Dear Students,
Influenced by the style of memo which is used for inner office communication, some business correspondences now adopt memo style even for formal and external communication.
E-mails often use this style.
Sincerely yours, Helen Sharp Helen Sharp
Professor of English
1. Name of the addressee;(收信人姓名)2. Number and street;(门牌号) 3. City, state and zip code;(城市、州、邮编)4. Country.(国家)
注意:1.注释:如系私人信件或密件,需收信人亲自开启而不要他人拆阅可在信封“Remarks”处,根据需要注明下列字样: Private 私人信Personal 个人信Confidential 机密信
1. Common used phrases:
sample 样品 with compliments赠品 printed matter印刷品photo only内有照片,请勿折叠 private 亲启personal私函 confidential密函 registered 挂号carbon copy(C.C.)抄送 urgent or immediate 急件forward (care of,c/o) 请转交introducing Mr.?.兹介绍??先生 kindness of Mr?or per favor of Mr?敬烦??先生转交 commercial papers商务文件 please readdress请转寄 poste restante留存邮件care postmaster留存邮局 2.If undelivered, please return to? 若无法投递,请退回原处。 3.After 10 days, please return to? 10天后请寄回。 4.Return postage guaranteed 回信邮资已付。
5. We have received your letter of May 18, 2010, for which we thank you.
收到你方2010年5月18日函,谢谢。
6. In accordance with the instructions given in your favour of the 10th May.
遵照贵公司5月10日来函指示。
7.Thank you for your letter dated August 12, informing us of the opening date of the fair. 感谢你方8月12日来函,告知交易会开幕日期:
8.Further to our letter yesterday, wenow have the pleasure of informing you that? 续谈我方昨日函,现欣告知??
9. We must apologize for the delay in replying to your letter of ? 迟复贵方??月??日函,甚歉。 10. In reply of your letter of... we are glad to... 兹复你方??的来函,我方很高兴?? 11. For your information we would like to add that?? 我方要补充说明??,仅供参考。
12. If you are interested in the article, please let us know as soon as possible.
如对该货感兴趣,请尽早告知。
13. We are pleased / glad to inform you that?. 兹欣告你方??
14.We would remind you that we have not had a reply yet from you to our question... 我们提醒你方,我方尚未收到你方对??问题的答复。
15. We are sending you herewith / under separate cover... 兹随函 / 另封寄上?? 16.Please accept our thanks for the trouble you have taken.有劳贵方,不胜感激。
17. We are obliged to thank you for your kind attention in this matter. 不胜感激贵方对此事的关照。 18. We tender you our sincere thanks for your generous treatment of us in this affair. 对贵方在此事中的慷慨之举,深表感谢。
19. Allow us to thank you for the kindness extended to us.对贵方之盛情,不胜感谢。
20. We thank you for the special care you have given to the matter.贵方对此悉心关照,不胜感激。 21. We should be grateful for your trial order.如承试订货,不胜感激
22.We should be grateful for your furnishing us details of your requirements.详述具体要求不胜感激。
23. It will be greatly appreciated if you will kindly send us your samples. 如承惠寄样品,不胜感激。 24. We shall appreciate it very much if you will give our bid your favorable consideration. 如承优惠考虑报价,不胜感激。
25. We are greatly obliged for your bulk order just received. 收到贵方大宗订货,不胜感激。 26. We assure you of our best services at all times.我方保证向贵方随时提供最佳服务。 27. If there is anything we can do to help you, we shall be more than pleased to do so. 贵公司若有所需求,我公司定尽力效劳。
28. It would give us a great pleasure to render you a similar service should an opportunity occur. 我方如有机会同样效劳贵方,将不胜欣慰。
29. We spare no efforts in endeavoring to be of service to you.我方将不遗余力为贵方效劳。
30. We take this opportunity to re-emphasize that we shall, at all times, do everything possible to give you whatever information you desire.我们借此机会再次强调,定会尽力随时提供贵方所需的信息。
例 China National Light Industrial Products Import & Export Corporation Shanghai Branch 128 Huchiu Road, Shanghai, China Cable address: INDUSTRY SHANGHAI Telex address: 33054 INDUS CN
March 23, 2010
H.G. Wilkinson Company, Limited 245 Lombart Street Lagos Nigeria Dear sirs,
Re: Sewing Machines
We thank you for your letter of March 16 enquiring for the captioned goods.
The enclosed booklet contains details of all our Sewing Machines will enable you to make a suitable selection.
we are waiting for your reply.
Yours faithfully,
China National Light Industrial Products Import & Export Corporation Shanghai Branch Wang Qiong Wang Qiong Manager
Enclosure: Price list(or catalugue)