A business letter consists of 12 principal parts:
1.Letter head 信头
Letter head includes the sender’s name,postal address,telephone number,fax number and E-mail address,website etc.
信头包括发件人的姓名、邮政地址、电话号码、传真号码、电子邮件、网站等。
e.g.
Mr.White (or the name of an organization)
Tech Center,Suite 2001
24 West Fourth Street
New York,NY 10003
Fax:(036)867008
E-mail:xyz@wecontact.com
2.Reference and Date 参考号和日期
Reference may include a file number,departmental code or the initials of the signer followed by the typist of the letter.These are marked “our ref.” and “your ref.” to avoid confusion.They are typed immediately below the letter head.The forms of reference are as follows:
Our ref.:MTK/2389
Your ref.:YDE/1961
The date should always be typed in full and not abbreviated.The forms of dates are as follows:
U.K.:15 August,2020 (year should not be written as “20”)
U.S.:August 15,2020
参考号可以包括文件号、部门代码或签名者的首字母,后跟邮件的打字员。这些标记为“我方参考号:”和“你方参考号:”以避免混淆。参考号位于信头的正下方。如:
我方参考号:MTK/2389
你方参考号:YDE/1961
日期应填写完整,避免用缩写。如:
英式:15 August,2020 (年份不能写为“20”)
美式:August 15,2020
3.Inside Name and Address 封内姓名和地址
It contains the receiver’s name and address.It is typed at the left-hand margin,one or two line-spacing below the line of the date.It appears the same way as on the envelope.
封内姓名和地址包括收件人的名称和地址,位于日期下空一行或两行。封内姓名和地址与信封上的收信人地址完全相同。
e.g.
Mr.White (or the name of an organization)
Tech Center,Suite 2709
24 West Fourth Street
New York,NY 10003
4.Attention Line 经办人姓名(optional part可选部分)
Attention line is used when the writer of a letter wishes to direct the letter to a particular person or department of the firm.It generally follows the inside address.It is typed one or two line-spacing below the inside name and address.
e.g.
Attention:Mr.White
Attention:The Sales Manager
For the attention of Mr.White
如希望将信件直接交给特定的经办人或者经办部门的时候,可以选择在邮件中体现经办人姓名这一项。经办人姓名位于封内姓名和地址下空一行或两行。
5.Salutation 称呼
Salutation is the complimentary greeting of the sender to the addressee.It is usually typed one or two line-spacing below the attention line.
“Dear Sir” or “Dear Madam” is used for addressing one person,and “Dear Sirs” or “Gentlemen” or “Mesdames” for addressing two or more,as where a letter is addressed to a firm.
e.g.
Dear Sir(Sirs),
Dear Mr.White,
Gentlemen:
称呼是发件人对收件人的问候。通常位于经办人下面一行或者两行的地方。
“亲爱的先生”或“亲爱的女士”用于称呼个人,“亲爱的先生们”或“先生们”用于称呼两个或者两个以上的人士,写给公司的信件也这样称呼。
6.Subject Line 事由
Subject line is a short title stating the subject.It’s the general idea of the letter.It is often inserted between the salutation and the body of the letter to invite attention to the topic of the letter.
e.g.
Subject:Our Order No.123
Re:Your L/C No.456
事由是对邮件主题的简要概括,实际上也是邮件的中心思想。通常位于称呼和信件正文之间,以引起对邮件主题的关注。
7.Body of the Letter 正文
The body of the letter is the most important part of the letter.It expresses the writer’s idea,opinion,purpose and wishes,etc.The other parts all serve this part.The text can be divided into several paragraphs according to the central idea.
If there has been previous correspondence,the reply letter will refer to it in the first paragraph.The writer’s plans,hopes and expectations will be expressed in the last paragraph.
信的正文是信件最重要的部分,表达了写信者的想法、观点与愿望等。信函其他部分都是为这部分服务的。信的正文可以根据中心思想分成若干段落。
如果之前有过信件往来,信函的第一段可以提及之前的业务。在信函的最后一段可以表达写信者的计划与愿望。
8.Complimentary Close 结尾敬语
Complimentary close is merely a polite ending of body of the letter.It is often consistent with the salutation at the beginning of the letter.
结尾敬语标志着一封信函的正文结束,并通常与信函开头的称呼保持一致。
9.Signature 签名
The signature is the signed name or mark of the person writing the letter or that of the firm he represents.It is written by hand and in ink,below complimentary close.The name of the signer is usually typed below the signature and followed by his job title or position.Signature should be clear and neat,easy to identify.
签名是写信者的名字或印鉴,一般使用墨水手写,位于结尾谦辞的下方。手写签名的下方通常还有打印的写信者姓名、职务。签名应该字迹清晰、工整,易于辨认。
e.g.
Yours faithfully,
The MetroTech Co.,Ltd.
(Signature)
White
President
10.Enclosure 附件(optional part可选部分)
If something is enclosed,note it below the signature.
如果有资料随函附上,在签名下面可以提及这些附件的内容。
e.g.
Enclosure:Price list
Encl.Illustrated Catalogue
11.The Carbon Copy Notation 抄送(optional part可选部分)
When copies of the letter are sent to others,type “c.c.” below the signature at the left margin.In this way,the recipient can understand the whole situation.
将该信件的副本同时发送给其他人时,在签名的下面用“c.c.”表示,使收信人了解整个情况。
e.g.
c.c.Mr.White
c.c.The Sales Manager
12.Postscript 附言(optional part可选部分)
Try to avoid the use of postscripts as far as possible,since it may suggest the writer failed to plan his letter before he wrote it.
尽量避免使用附言,因为这意味着写信人在写信之前没有做好计划。
e.g.
P.S.The samples will be mailed to you tomorrow.