1 寫信人的地址和寫信日期Heading
在英文信件中,常見的日期寫法有:
● 8th March, 2013 或者8 March, 2013(英式)
● March 8th, 2013 或者March 8, 2013(美式)
日期寫法宜遵循下列規則:
● 年份宜完全寫明為佳,盡量避免使用「13」代替「2013」。
● 月份需採用公認的簡寫
●日期可用序數詞(Ordinal Numbers), 例如1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 也可用基數詞(Cardinal Numbers),例如1, 2, 3, 4,但美式書信大多採用後者。
● 在年份與月日之間必須用逗號隔開。
●日期不可全部採用如7.12.2013 或7/12/2013 的阿拉伯數字書寫,否則會引起誤解。因為英美在這方面的習慣寫法不同。按照美國人習慣,上述日期為2013 年12 月7 日, 而按照英國習慣則是2013 年7 月12 日。
2 收信人的全名和地址Inside Address
這部分應置放在郵件的左上方。
3 稱呼Salutation
●對一般不熟的人,常用如下稱呼,但要注意的是, 這些稱呼不能單獨使用,後面一定要接具體的姓氏或人名。需要說明的是,這裡的Dear 只是一個客氣的稱謂,並非完全表示「親愛的」的意思。
● 對熟人則應寫明姓名,並冠以先生或女士的稱謂,如Dear Mr. Bill Smith(親愛的比爾史密斯先生)、Dear Mrs. Sally Smith(親愛的莎莉史密斯女士)。
● 對關係親密者,則不用先生或女士等稱謂,也不用姓,只用其名,如Dear Bill(親愛的比爾)、Dear Sally(親愛的莎莉)。
● 對親人,除只用其名以外,還要加上Darling 或Dearest(最親愛的)等詞語,如My Darling Mary 或My Dearest Mary(我最親愛的瑪麗)。
● 稱呼之後的標點符號可用冒號或逗號。
4 開頭語Opening Sentence
常見的開頭語可參考如下的寫法:
● Thank you for your letter dated June 20, 2013.
● I am writing to you ask about the conference to be held in New York next week.
● We learn from yours e-mail that you are interested in our products and would like to establish business relationship with us.
● In reply to your letter of May 16th and I want to say...
● We are pleased (glad) to inform you that...
● We have pleasure in sending you our catalog.
● May I take the liberty of mailing you and confirm some points?
● I regret for being unable to attend your banquet on Friday.
● I am very excited and delighted at your good news.
5 主要段落 Body of the Letter
可根據內容來決定寫一段或數段
6 祝福(結束)語 Concluding Sentence
如果想在信件結束後表達對收件人的祝福或是提醒,
可參考如下的寫法:
● We look forward to your reply at your earliest convenience.
● Your early reply will be highly appreciated.
● Please let me know if you want more information.
● Any other particulars wanted we shall be pleased to send you.
● I wish you every success in the coming year.
● I look forward to our next meeting there in LosAngeles.
● Hoping to receive to your early reply, we remain.
● The help you gave me is sincerely valued.
● With best regards to your family.
● I hope everything will be well with you.
7 表示敬意的稱呼 Complimentary Close
●對一般人,可用Sincerely yours,(你誠摯的)或Faithfully yours,(你誠實的)。
● 對友好者,可用Truly yours,(你忠實的)。
● 對親近者,可用Affectionately yours,(摯愛你的) 或Lovingly yours,(深愛你的)。
● 對上級、長輩,可用Respectfully yours,(敬重您的)。
注意:以上結束語以及表示敬意的結束稱呼中,第一個字母要大寫,結尾要有逗點。另外,結束稱呼中的兩個單字也可以倒過來用,如也可以寫成Yours sincerely、Yours lovingly、Yours respectfully 等。
8 簽名、署名 Signature
如在較正式的信件中,請務必標示全名。