电邮英语的写作小技巧

This is an english writing howto I copied from somewhere (name withheld) some time ago. hopefully you'll find it helpful too.     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: Deciding to rescind¹ the earlier estimate, our report was updated to include $40,000 for new equipment.” 应改为 Deciding to rescind our earlier estimate, we have updated our report to include $40,000 for new equipment. (We决定呀, 不是report.)

2.句子不要凌碎. 例子: He decided² not to audit³ the last ten contracts. Because of our previous objections about compliance⁴. 应该连在一起.

3.结构对称,令人容易理解. 例子: The owner questioned the occupant's lease intentions and the fact that the contract had been altered with ink markings. 应改为: The owner questioned the occupant's lease intentions and ink alterations⁵ of the contract.

4.单众数不要搞乱,不然会好刺眼,看不舒服. 例如: An authorized⁶ person must show that they have security clearance⁷.

5.动词主词要呼应. 想想这两个分别: 1.This is one of the public-relations functions that is underbudgeted. 2. This is one of the public-relations functions, which are underbudgeted.

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: He did not make repairs, however, he continued to monitor the equipment. 改为: He did not make repairs; however, he continued to monitor the equipment.

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: MUST change to OS immediately. 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.Because he was unable to attend the meeting personally, he forwarded his congratulations on cassette tape. 2.He forwarded his congratulations on cassette tape because he was unable to attend the meeting personally. 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), for example (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: These decisions have been a big disappointment to the committee members. They have delayed further action. 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: He could only reimburse⁸ the cost after July 15. 应为 He could reimburse the cost only after July 15.

7.用语要肯定准确.切忌含糊. 例如:The figures show a significant increase.” 怎样significant呀,大哥? 改为: The figures show an increase of 19%.

8.立场观点一致. 少用被动语. 例如: Partial data should be submitted by April. 改为: You should submit partial data by April.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: Prunton products are highly effective in ... 改为: Prunton products excel in ...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. This information will be sincerely appreciated.” 2. We sincerely appreciate your information. 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:

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:

Ken⁹ Green, President

Ken Green

Vice¹⁰ 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 Plaza¹¹

556 - 91 Street

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,

1 rescind   

v.废除，取消

参考例句：

• They accepted his advice and rescinded the original plan.他们听从了他的劝告，撤销了原计划。
• Trade Union leaders have demanded the government rescind the price rise.工会领导已经要求政府阻止价格上涨。

2 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

3 audit   

v.审计；查帐；核对；旁听

参考例句：

• Each year they audit our accounts and certify them as being true and fair.他们每年对我们进行账务审核，以确保其真实无误。
• As usual,the yearly audit will take place in December.跟往常一样，年度审计将在十二月份进行。

4 compliance   

n.顺从；服从；附和；屈从

参考例句：

• I was surprised by his compliance with these terms.我对他竟然依从了这些条件而感到吃惊。
• She gave up the idea in compliance with his desire.她顺从他的愿望而放弃自己的主意。

5 alterations   

n.改动( alteration的名词复数 )；更改；变化；改变

参考例句：

• Any alterations should be written in neatly to the left side. 改动部分应书写清晰，插在正文的左侧。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Gene mutations are alterations in the DNA code. 基因突变是指DNA 密码的改变。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 authorized   

a.委任的，许可的

参考例句：

• An administrative order is valid if authorized by a statute.如果一个行政命令得到一个法规的认可那么这个命令就是有效的。

7 clearance   

n.净空；许可(证)；清算；清除，清理

参考例句：

• There was a clearance of only ten centimetres between the two walls.两堵墙之间只有十厘米的空隙。
• The ship sailed as soon as it got clearance. 那艘船一办好离港手续立刻启航了。

8 reimburse   

v.补偿，付还

参考例句：

• We'll reimburse you for your travelling expenses.我们将付还你旅费。
• The funds are supposed to reimburse policyholders in the event of insurer failure.这项基金将在保险公司不能偿付的情况下对投保人进行赔付。

9 ken   

n.视野，知识领域

参考例句：

• Such things are beyond my ken.我可不懂这些事。
• Abstract words are beyond the ken of children.抽象的言辞超出小孩所理解的范围.

10 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

11 plaza   

n.广场，市场

参考例句：

• They designated the new shopping centre York Plaza.他们给这个新购物中心定名为约克购物中心。
• The plaza is teeming with undercover policemen.这个广场上布满了便衣警察。