英文电子邮件写作技巧(2)
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: Howard E. Wyatt, D.D.SPhD. Dr. Howard E. 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, and Fury 。女人呢? 用Mesdames, Mmes., or Mses. 同样不要跟名字. 例子: Mses. Farb, Lionel, and Gray 。男女一齐呢? 弄清楚称呼就行.例如: Dr. and Mrs. Harold Wright ;Mr. Harold Wright and Dr. Margaret Wright ;Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Adams-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. Sarah Gray
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:
Ken Green, President /Ken Green /Vice President of International Operations
但这个就显得有点。。。:
Ken Green /Vice President of Unicom China
正确应为:
Ken Green /Vice President, Unicom China
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:
Michael J. Smith, Jr. /Michael J. Smith Sr.
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:
127 Ninth Avenue, North
127 E. 15 Street
5 Park Avenue
One Wingren Plaza
556 - 91 Street
五、结尾部分
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. Very Formal非常正规的(例如给政府大老爷的)
Respectfully yours, Yours respectfully,
2. Formal正规的(例如客户公司之间啦)
Very truly yours, Yours very truly, Yours truly,
3. Less Formal不太正规的(例如客户)
Sincerely yours, Yours sincerely, Sincerely, Cordially yours, Yours cordially, Cordially,
4. Informal非正规的(例如猪朋狗友,同事之类)
Regards, Warm regards, With kindest regards, With my best regards, My best, Give my best to Mary, Fondly, Thanks, See you next week!
有时在we, I, and you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: We will reimburse you for these legal expenses. Sinopec will reimburse you for these legal expenses. 如果单纯说你自己,可以用: I found the brochure very informative. 有时可以一起用啦...: We are pleased to offer you the position of sales director, and I am looking forward to our Tuesday morning meeting.
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.
You will be pleased to learn that you have been selected to serve on our advisory board. Your prompt response will be appreciated. (好像欠你一样)
I’m pleased that our board has selected you as the best qualified candidate to serve on our advisory board. I hope you’ll agree to serve. (这就友善多了)
Your book was well written and comprehensive. (不用你来判断我呀~~)
I thoroughly enjoyed your book and found an answer to every one of my questions about performance appraisals. (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.
六、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:
Dear Committee Membe:r: Dear Meeting Planner: Dear Colleagues: To All Sales Reps: To Whom It May Concern: Dear Sir or Madam: Dear Madam or Sir: Dear Purchasing Agent:
如果是公司呢? Gentlemen or Ladies: Ladies or Gentlemen:
什么怪事都有,如果那公司是全男班或全女班呢? Dear Sirs: Dear Ladies: Dear Mesdames: Gentlemen: Ladies:
有时见到人家用冒号就说人家错,其实也未必啊,看: Dear Mr. Jones: (非常正规) Dear Joan:
Dear Jim, Jim, (非正规)
七、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Bill Gates啦.