商务英语写作策略

商务邮件的目的在于传达信息或者说服对方，而不是参加作文竞赛评选，一定要让对方赞叹你的写作水平不可。下面介绍商务英语写作策略，希望可以帮助到大家。

1.用现代商务语言去替代过时或陈旧的表达

商务邮件的目的在于传达信息或者说服对方，而不是参加作文竞赛评选，一定要让对方赞叹你的写作水平不可。为了达到沟通的目的，商务写作做到简洁自然，不说空话套话，用现代商务语言去替换过时或陈旧的表达。

举个例子，对于上面提到的三个例子：

(1) Kindly furnish us with this information soon.

(2) Please find enclosed herewith a copy of our new catalogue for your reference and perusal.

(3) The above-mentioned goods will be dispatched to you today.

我们可以将其替换为更为自然的说法：

(1) Please let us have this information soon.

(2) I’m pleased to enclose our new catalogue, and I hope you find it interesting.

(3) These goods will be sent to you today.

2.使用自然、口语化的方式写作

商务邮件虽然是书面体，但它与一般的书面体(比如学术论文)不同。现代商务邮件写作提倡语言自然、流畅，就像面对面的口语交谈一样。我们可以在写作中融入一些自己的想法、个性和情感，让读者感觉到作者是一个活生生的人，而不是一台毫无感情的公文机器。

我们在日常商务邮件中可能经常会见到类似下面的句子：

(1) Appreciate if you could help to process this claim at your earliest.

(2) Kindly advise which course of action you would like to take and we will proceed accordingly.

(3) Could I please request your kind assistance in filling out the below survey for us.

这样的句子过于正式，读起来也很费解。这实际上会给读者造成距离感，影响商务沟通的效果，它们可以改为更加自然的说法：

(1) Please process this claim soon.

(2) Please let us know what you would like to do.

(3) I hope you will take a few minutes to complete this survey for us.

值得注意的一点是，虽然商务邮件写作提倡口语化的写作方式，但这并不意味着我们可以使用俚语和非正式的口头语。因为这些俚语和口头语只用于非正式的社交场合，不适合出现在商业场景中，例如：Keep your shirt on. 这样的非正式说法要改为 Please be patient.

同时我们也要避免在商务邮件中出现非正式的缩写(例如把you缩写成u，把are缩写成r，把because缩写成cuz)，因为这样会给人造成懒惰或者不够严谨认真的印象。

3.使用主动语态

一般情况下，在商务邮件中使用被动语态会显得语气生硬、官腔官调，使用主动语态则会更加有趣有力。试比较下面这几个例子：

(1) The new system was developed by our staff.

(2) Our staff developed the new system.

(3) These notes should be read carefully before completing the form.

(4) Please read these notes carefully before completing the form.

看得出来使用主动语态重点会更加突出，同时句子也会更为简洁。

当然，并不是所有的情形下都必须要使用主动语态。当动作发出的主语不明确或者不重要的情况下要使用被动语态。举个例子，某个岛上噪音很大，而我们要强调“噪音”本身，而不是“听到噪音的人”，这时候应该说：

The noise was heard all over the island.

而不是使用主动语态：

People all over the island heard the noise.

同时，由于在被动语态中看不出动作发出者是谁，有时候在商业中为了逃避责任或者含糊其辞，我们也会使用被动语态。例如：

An unfortunate mistake was made.

在这句话里面，错误是谁犯的并没有明说，但如果写成：

Our company made an unfortunate mistake.

这意味着责任都要由“我们公司”承担。

4.多使用动词而不是名词

动词名词化(例如将avoid写成the avoidance of)会拉长句子，而且会使写出来的句子不够生动，缺少人情味。我们在写作时要尽量使用动词而不是名词。类似下面的句子：

(1) His carelessness in driving caused a serious accident.

(2) We ensured the motivation of staff with the introduction of Learn at Lunch sessions.

要改为：

(1) His careless driving caused a serious accident.

(2) We motivated staff by introducing Learn at Lunch sessions.

5.多使用短句

研究表明，句子的长度与人们的理解程度有直接联系。当句子的长度在15至20个单词时，首次阅读就能理解的人所占的比例为75%，当句子单词长度在27个以上时，这一比例马上降到4%。由于商务邮件讲究沟通的效率和准确性，因此应该尽量使用短句。例如对于下面的长句：

Unfortunately, if we invest in new machinery, and the market falls again, as it has been predicted, we may possibly find ourselves with too much production capacity, and this may, therefore, result in even more serious problems.

我们可以将它拆分为几个短句，这样更加便于理解：

We must give serious consideration to the issue of investing in new machinery. If the market falls again, as has been predicted, we could find ourselves with increased production capacity. This may then result in even more difficulties.

除了上面提到的这些原则之外，书中还对很多商务写作的细节进行了很详细的说明，包括邮件的组织逻辑、外观与格式、邮件的主题、开头与结尾等。同时，针对不同文书与商务信函的特点，书中还给出了大量相应的范本。如果你一开始不清楚如何写一封正确、得体的邮件，这些范本会是非常好的模仿案例。推荐对商务英语写作感兴趣或有需求的同学阅读。

在商务英语中，应用文可谓是占据了绝大部分。下面，我们就针对应用文写作中的私人和公务信函、备忘录、摘要、报告等几种应用文，谢大家介绍一下应用文的写作技巧。

一、私人和公务信函外语教育网

信函是很重要的一种应用文。私人和公务信函是用以交涉事宜、传达信息、交流思想、联络感情、增进了解的重要工具，与同学们的生活、学习比较密切，也是以后工作中用的最多的一种沟通方式。所谓私人信函就是给家人、朋友或者同学等写信，谈事情的同时又交流感情。所谓公务信函就是给亲朋好友之外的人写信，主要是为了办事，比方说给老板或是客户写信都属于公共信函。

信函一般都是由写信时间、信内地址、称呼、信的主要内容和信尾几个主要部分组成。收信人地址要写在左上角，寄信人地址要写在右上角，寄信人地址也可以不写，姓名写在地址上面，地址排列顺序依次为门牌号、街区名、城市和国名。在信的开头人名前一定要加Mr., Mrs., Dear 等比较尊敬的称呼，信的结尾注意使用常用的客套话如： sincerely yours, faithfully yours或者yours sincerely, yours faithfully.英文书信写作要遵循五个原则，即正确、清晰、简洁、礼貌和体贴。

正确是指信中所谈的事情要准确、具体，不用含糊抽象的词如：本月、明天等。清晰要求的是主题要明确，层次要清楚，让读者看后了然于心。简洁是现代英语发展的一大趋势。书信写作要做到行文简洁流畅，避免迂回冗长的长句，使书信尽可能写得明白清晰。书信交往，同样需要以礼待人，因而在写信过程中，要避免伤害对方感情，措辞上多多使用would, could, may, please等词，要自然得体，彬彬有礼。体谅对方也是写书信时要注意的一个原则，不能以自己为中心，要尊重对方的习俗爱好，即便是拒绝，也要委婉而不失去友谊。书信的写作也要注意格式，避免语法、拼写、标点错误，信中所引用的史料、数据等也应准确无误。

二、备忘录

备忘录是一种录以备忘的公文，主要用来提醒、督促对方，或就某个问题提出自己的意见或看法。包括书端、收文人的姓名、头衔、地址，称呼，事因，正文，结束语，和署名，备忘录上一定要说明什么时间，谁写的?写给谁?什么事?并且正文、结束语和署名等项与一般信件的格式相同。

三、摘要外语教育网

接着谈谈摘要。摘要分成两种，一种是文章摘要，一种是论文摘要。

文章摘要就是给一篇文章让写一个摘要，文章摘要是对文章主要内容的简练概括，内容上要涵盖全文，语言上要尽量简练。写摘要前一定要仔细阅读全文，弄懂文章大意;摘要涵盖原文的主要观点并与原文的观点保持一致;摘要应该简明扼要，字数在规定的字数范围内;摘要最好不要照搬原文，应该用自己的话概括原文的主要观点;并且注意千万不要照抄，也千万不要评论，只需要写出中心思想或者段落大意即可。

第二种摘要是论文摘要。比方说是大家写一篇学术论文，硕士博士论文需要写一个英文的摘要。写这种摘要时要注意时态和语态。叙述研究过程，多采用一般过去时;说明某课题现已取得的成果，宜采用现在完成时。摘要中多数情况下可采用被动语态。但在某些情况下，特别是表达作者或有关专家的观点时，又常用主动语态。英文摘要有一些常用句型，比如表示研究目的，可以用In order to……This paper describes……The purpose of this study is……，表示表示结论、观点或建议可以用The authors[suggest/conclude/consider] that……。

四、报告

最后一种是报告。报告其实也分为两种，第一种是读书报告。比如读一本书或者看一本小说写一个读书报告。读书报告中首先要交代背景知识，比如作者生平，时代简介等，接下来对书的内容做一个简单的概括，与摘要不同的是读书报告最后一段可以发表评论。与摘要相同，读书报告也要注意时态，比如像科普类的知识应该用现在式。另一种报告就是书面报告，书面报告考试的可行性和可能性更大一些。书面报告与备忘录的写法很类似，所不同的就是书面报告一般是下级写给上级，它也需要交代清楚四件事：什么时间?谁写的?写给谁?什么事?

当然，应用文写作能力的提高必须经过长期的实践锻炼。其次要背诵大量的优秀范文，要整段整段的背，不仅是背会而且要脱口而出，并且转换成自己的语言，写作时可以随心所欲支配。再次，是要多动手写作，要写出属于自己的文章，多动手写作才能快速写出好文章来。

1.主动跟新买家建立联糸

Dear Mr. Jones:

We understand from your information posted on Alibaba.com that you are in the market for textiles. We would like to take this opportunity to introduce our company and products, with the hope that we may work with Bright Ideas Imports in the future.

We are a joint venture specializing in the manufacture and export of textiles. We have enclosed our catalog, which introduces our company in detail and covers the main products we supply at present. You may also visit our online company introduction at Http://www.xxx.com which includes our latest product line. Should any of these items be of interest to you, please let us know. We will be happy to give you a quotation upon receipt of your detailed requirements.

We look forward to receiving your enquires soon.

Sincerely,

John Roberts

2.对新买家要求建立业务联糸的回复

Dear Mr. Jones:

We have received your letter of 9th April showing your interest in our complete product information.

Our product lines mainly include high quality textile products. To give you a general idea of the various kinds of textiles now available for export, we have enclosed a catalogue and a price list. You may also visit our online company introduction at Http://www.xxx.com which includes our latest product line.

We look forward to your specific enquiries and hope to have the opportunity to work together with you in the future.

Sincerely,

3.向老客户介绍公司新的产品信息

Dear Mr. Jones:

We have refreshed our online catalog athttp://www.howseek.com, and now it covers the latest new products, which are now available from stock.

We believe that you will find some attractive additions to our product line. Once you have had time to study the supplement, please let us know if you would like to take the matter further. We would be very happy to send samples to you for close inspection.

We will keep you informed on our progress and look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

4.回复对某个产品的查询

Dear Mr. Jones:

Thank you for your inquiry of 16 March. We are pleased to hear that you are interested in our product "toaster".

We've enclosed the photo and detailed information of the product for your reference:

Product: toaster

Specification: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Package: 1pcs/box

Price: 10usd/pcs

Payment: L/C

For purchase quantities over 1,000pcs of individual items we would allow you a discount of 1%. Payment is to be made by irrevocable L.C at sight.

We look forward to receiving your first order.

Sincerely,

5.无法提供对方查询中所要求的产品时

Dear Mr. Jones:

Thank you for your enquiry of 12 March cate 9 cable.

We appreciate your efforts in marketing our products and regret very much that we are unable to supply the desired goods due to excessive demand.

We would, however, like to take this opportunity to offer the following material as a close substitute: Cate 5, US$__ per meter FOB Shanghai, including your commission 2%.

If you find the product acceptable, please email us as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

6.查询对方公司的产品

Dear Sir or Madam:

We know that you are exporters of textile fabrics. We would like you to send us details of your various ranges, including colors and prices, and also samples of the different qualities of material used.

We are volume dealers in textiles and believe there is a promising market in our area for moderately priced goods of this kind mentioned. When quoting, please state your terms of payment and discount you would allow on purchases of quantities of not less than 1000 meters of individual items. Prices quoted should include insurance and freight to San Francisco.

Sincerely,

(a.)

Dear Mr. Jones:

We thank you for your email enquiry for both groundnuts and Walnutmeat CNF Copenhagen dated February, 21.

In reply, we offer firm, subject to your reply reaching us on or before February 26 for 250 metric tons of groundnuts, handpicked,shelled and ungraded at RMB2000 net per metric ton CNF Copenhagen and any other European Main Ports. Shipment to be made within two months after receipt of your order payment by L/C payable by sight draft.

Please note that we have quoted our most favorable price and are unable to entertain any counter offer.

As you are aware that there has lately been a large demand for the above commodities. Such growing demand will likely result inincreased prices. However you can secure these prices if you send us an immediate

reply.

Sincerely,

(b.)

Dear Mr. Jones:

We thank you for your letter dated April 8 inquiring about our leather handbags. As requested, we take pleasure in offering you, ubject to our final confirmation, 300 dozen deerskin handbags style No.MS190 at $124.00 per dozen CIF Hamburg.

Shipment will be effected within 20 days after receipt of the relevant L/C issued by your first class bank in our favor upon signing Sales Contract.

We are manufacturing various kinds of leather purses and waist belts for exportation, and enclosed a brochure of products for your reference. We hope some of them meet your taste and needs.

If we can be of any further help, please feel free to let us know. Customers' inquiries are always meet with our careful attention.

Sincerely,

(c.)

Re: SWC Sugar

Dear Sirs,

We are in receipt of your letter of July 17, 2002 asking us to offer 10,000 metric tons of the subject sugar for shipment to Japan and appreciate very much your interest in our product.

To comply with your request, we are offering you the following:

1. Commodity: Qingdao Superior White Crystal Sugar.

2. Packing: To be packed in new gunny bag of 100kgs. each.

3. Quantity: Ten thousand (10000) metric tons.

4. Price: US dollars one hundred and five (US$105.00) per metric ton, Fob Qingdao.

5. Payment: 100% by irrevocable and confirmed letter of credit to be opened in our favor through A1 bank in Qingdao and to be drawn at sight.

6. Shipment: Three or four weeks after receipt of letter of credit by the first available boat sailing to Yokohama direct.

Please note that we do not have much ready stock on hand. Therefore, it is important that, in order to enable us to effect early shipment, your letter of credit should be opened in time if our price meets with your approval.

We are awaiting your reply.

Sincerely,