一、信件格式
英文信件书写主要以能够让收信人*获得信件内容为主要目的,因此,邮件或书信的语言应该尽量言简意赅,简明扼要的表达出来主要意图。英文书信表达主要分为以下几类:请求信,建议信,道歉信,抱怨信,感谢信,求职信及咨询信等。尽管不同类型的信件中具体的诉求内容不同,每种书信类型的结构构架极其相似。书信写作通常包括三个部分:称呼、正文、落款。
1、称呼
称呼是信件开头对收信人的称谓,根据与收信人的关系使用恰当的表达。
(1)如收信人为未见过面的陌生人、机构或团体时,称呼通常为Dear Sir 或Dear Madam;如能知道对方职务,也可以按照Dear Professor或Director等开头一表示礼貌。
(2)如若收信人为日常一般交往或工作上有来往的人,称呼可以用Dear Mr./Ms.+收信人的姓氏。
(3)如若收信人为熟悉的人,则可以用Dear后加名字开头。
2、正文
在格式方面,英文书信一般采用齐头式,即每段开头顶格,段与段之间空行。齐头式会使得信件层次分明,条理清晰。
在内容方面,信件正文一般分为四个主旨段。根据信件功能和目的的不同,每段具体内容会有变化,每一段大概写作方向为:主旨段一简单的提出书信的目的,例如主要目的是建议还是感谢等;主旨段二写这封信件的原因;主旨段三进一步提出希望达到的效果;主旨段四表达想要尽快收到答复或对方能够给出相对的回应。
3、落款
落款一般为yours faithfully或yours sincerely加署名。其中,在写给机构,教授等正式书信中,署名建议为全名。在写给朋友的书信中,署名可以与称呼中朋友名字相呼应,如只称呼朋友的名如George,落款署名则相应的是名如Thomas。
二、书信常用表达
1、投诉信
主要内容:说明投诉原因及与收件人的关联性,表明写作意图;陈述投诉内容,具体还原事件内容;提出解决方案或特定要求以及时间期限等。
常用表达:
(1)I am writing to express my dissatisfaction about ...
(2)To be frank, in the first few weeks, I got on well with .... However, recently, I have discovered that
(3)I am totally upset with ... and can not tolerate anymore.
(4)Honestly, at the beginning. I was quite satisfied with your service. To my great disappointment, yesterday I found that
(5)It is inconceivable and out of my expectation that it recurred again.
(6)To my great regret, they become troublemakers and affect my life seriously.
(7)To solve this problem, some remedial actions should be taken before things get worse.
(8)I shall be grateful if you could consider my situation and improve it as soon as possible.
(9)I am writing to bring your attention the unprofessional attitude of one of the members of your staff.
(10)I am sorry to inform you that ...
(11)I wish to complain about a ...which I bought...days ago in..
(12)I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with...
2、询问信
主要内容:先简要陈述想要询问哪一方面的信息;*获得信息的相关信息,详细描述所要询问的事宜;提出想要尽快收到回复的希望及表示感谢。
常用表达:
(1) I want to know if it is possible for you to provide me with information regarding ...
(2) I take great interest in ...
(3) I would like to get more details of ...
(4) It would be highly appreciated if you could inform me what I have to do to ...
(5) I am also greatly concerned about
(6) Thank you for your time and consideration.
3、建议信
主要内容:简要表明写信意图;对某事物先提出值得肯定的优点,再对认为需要改善的地方进行分析及提出建议;总结或表明愿意协助。建议信的语气应礼貌和委婉。
常用表达:
(1) I am writing in reply to ...
(2) I would like to express my views concerning
(3) I would like to see more improvements in ...
(4) You may consider doing
(5) If I were you, I would
(6) I hope you will find these suggestions helpful.
(7) Please contact me if I can be of any assistance.
(8)It seems to me that you could
(9)I am very glad to hear that..., so I am writing this letter to offer my suggestions.
(10)I would like to suggest that..
(11)I would really appreciate it if you take my proposals into serious consideration
4、求职信
主要内容:开头表明求职意图及招聘信息来源;详细介绍个人情况,如教育背景,工作经历及能力;希望对方考虑并表达谢意。
常用表达:
(1) I am writing in response to your advertisement in ...
(2) I would like to apply for the position of ...
(3) I graduated from .・・ with a ... degree in ...
(4) I have been working in ... since my graduation and have therefore attained a fair knowledge and experience in this field.
(5) I am a rational and diligent young man with good interpersonal skills.
(6) I am used to working under pressure.
(7) I am experienced in , which I believe qualifies me for the position of ...
(8) I hope you would consider my application favourably and grant me an interview.
(9) I have enclosed my resume that outlines in detail my qualifications and experiences.
(10) Your favorable consideration of my application will be highly appreciated.
5、致歉信
主要内容:开始说明为何时道歉及表达歉意;解释当时会对其他人造成麻烦或不便的情况;提出弥补措施及再次表达歉意。
常用表达:
(1)I am writing to show my sincere apology for
(2) Considering/Given sth./doing/that clause
(3) To remedy this unpleasant matter, I wish to ...
(4) The main reason for/why ... was that ...
(5) She did not realise how much noise would be made,
(6) I would also explain that ...
(7) A happened to be B
(8) Once again, please accept my apologies and I assure you that
6、感谢信
主要内容:表明需要感谢的事情及对象;详细描述事情的经过;再次强调感谢或*答谢方式。
常用表达:
(1) 1 sincerely appreciate your help during my stay.
(2) I am writing to thank you for your kind assistance/generous help.
(3) I must also mention the kind service provided by your staff.
(4) I am also very much grateful to Mr. Clark for taking good care of me when I was sick.
(5) We, in particular9 were satisfied with the food and the service.
(6) I was similarly impressed with the large variety of local and International wines available.
(7) If you hadn't pushed me, I would have been hit by the car.
(8) Once again, thank you so much for the best service.
(9)It was very enjoyable to speak with you about
(10)Thank you for all the help you have given men with
(11)Thank you for talking the time out of your busy schedule to
(12)I appreciate the time you took to
(13)I especially appreciate
(14)Your assistance has been invaluable to me during this process.
(15)Your help and support is greatly appreciated.
7、请求信
主要内容:简述写作目的及自己所处的境遇;详述所需要的帮助内容及对方可以如何帮助;表明希望对方可以帮助自己并感谢。
常用表达:
(1) 1 am writing to brief you about the main chores you will have to do in my absence.
(2) As you probably already know, I keep an aquarium at home.
(3) All that you need to do is to feed them and clean their water filter.
(4) As for the food, just fill up the feeder every other day.
(5) Other than that, there isn't much to do.
(6) It would be great if you could keep the place clean.
(7) They would pass their time watching TV or playing video games. So you should have no trouble keeping them busy throughout the day.
(8) In the morning, you could perhaps let him have a bowl of cereals.
(9) If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to contact.
(10) I will be available via email or phone.
8、邀请信
主要内容:简述表明邀请对方的原因;描述具体细节;确定行程安排及询问对方意愿。
常用表达:
(1)I am writing to invite you to
(2)We would feel really honored if you could come
(3)I would be more than happy if..
(4)I would very much like you to participate in the
(5)I hope all this eventually works out
9、友情信
主要内容:询问对方近况及介绍自己的情况;根据意图详述写信的目的;给出一定的建议及提醒。
常用表达:
(1) 1 am so happy to learn that you are coming to New York for the coming holiday.
(2) I regret to tell you that I will not be able to stay with you while you are here.
(3) I was wondering if you would need them urgently.
(4) In that case, we will have to arrange a time to meet.
(5) In case you are busy, we can send them to your place.
⑹ I suggest that ... should do ...
(7) Finally, a kind reminder — as the weather in Bombay is getting hotter, you had better bring your sunglasses and sunblock with you.