外贸函电写作技巧与规范

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。

外贸函电写作技巧之一 A. 文法上

1. 切忌主客不分或模糊. 例子: Deciding to rescind 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 decided not to audit the last ten contracts. Because of our previous objections about compliance. 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 alterations of the contract.

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

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.