商业信函有其自身的特点。下面是商务书信写作中的几点注意事项。
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.句子不要零碎。
例子: He decided not to audit the last ten contracts. Because of our previous objections about compliance. 两个句子应该连在一起:He decided not to audit the last ten contracts because of our previous objections about compliance.
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.单复数不要搞乱,不然会好刺眼,看着不舒服。
例如: An authorized person must show that they have security clearance. 应改为 Authorized persons must show that they have security clearance.
5.动词和主语要呼应。
想想这两个句子的分别: 1. This is one of the public-relations functions that is under-budgeted. 2. This is one of the public-relations functions, which are under-budgeted.
6.时态和语气不要转换太多。
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. 应改为: He did not make repairs; however, he continued to monitor the equipment.
8.选词正确。
像affect和effect,operative和operational等等就要弄清楚才好用啦。affect用作动词的时候,意为“影响”,相当于have an effect on,并且,这个影响一般是指不好的影响,如:The climate affected his health.(气候影响了他的健康。)至于effect,一般用作名词,若用作动词,其意为“招致,引起”。总之,要多多积累同义词的辨析,注意词义及表达色彩。
9.拼写正确。
犯单词拼写等低级错误很容易给人造成一种不好的感觉,觉得你写信的时候不够认真,态度不够诚恳。
10.大小写要注意。
除非必要不要整个词都大写,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。
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