關於商務英語書信的格式和稱謂差異
商務英語書信是指交易時所使用的通信。在美國，常用Business writing，它包括書信、電報、電話、電傳、報告書、明信片等。英語和美語在書信體例方面存在着一定的差異，比如信頭和稱呼、書信格式、遣詞、結尾客套語等均有所不同。接下來，小編給大家準備了關於商務英語書信的格式和稱謂差異,歡迎大家參考與借鑑。
一般來說，英國書信較爲保守，許多英國人喜歡用老式書信體，用詞較爲正式刻板，而美國書信語言非常生氣、有活力，格式也較爲簡便。因此當我們寫信的對象是英國或其舊殖民地國家時，要使用標準式英語Queen's English;如果寫信的對象是美國或美國勢力範圍的地區時，就要用美國英語。當然，英國式的語言文化近年來也有變化，但總體來說，兩者間的差異是很明顯的。
商業英文書信，一般都要求用打字機或電腦整齊地打印，左邊各行開頭垂直的，稱爲垂直式或齊頭式(Block style)，美國常用這種格式;每段的第一個詞縮進去，稱爲縮進式或鋸齒式(indented style)，英國常用此格式。垂直式的職務及簽名都在左邊的邊欄界線，這種格式，在極度尊重工作效率的美國公司，已普遍採用。正式的商業英語書信要在稱呼的上方寫上收信公司名稱和地址或收信人的名字全稱、職務及地址，稱爲信內地址(Inside address)。信內地址的寫法也有垂直式和縮進式之分，垂直式和稱美國式將各行並列，縮進式或稱英國式將各行依次退縮。
不過，近來英國商業書信信內地址並未依次縮進，似乎與美國式相同。此外，在美國還流行一種普通收信人地址的寫法，就是在書信的Inside Address中，把門牌號和街名都省略掉。在英文書信中要使用敬語，最普遍的敬語是Mr, Mrs和Miss(用於未婚女性)。英國人常在男性的姓名之後用Esq. (Esquire的縮寫)，不過在商業上也在慢慢地改用Mr. Mmes. (Madam的複數形式)，用於二個女士以上。Messrs(Mr的複數形式)用於二個以上的男人，或用於二個以上的男人組成的公司或團體。
在英國式英文信裏，Mr，Mrs，Messrs，均不加縮寫句點，相反地趨向於進步自由的美語反而加縮寫句點如Mr.，Mrs.，Messrs.。在稱呼方面，商業上最普遍的有Gentlemen(美國式)與Dear Sirs(英國式)二種，相當於我國的“敬啓者”或“謹啓者”。如果信是寫給革個公司單位的，不是寫給某個具體人的，美語用Gentlemen(複數形式)，英語用Dear Sirs。如果對方公司只一人時，必須使用Sir/Dear Sir。稱呼後一般要使用標點符號，英國式採用逗號(comma)，美國式用分號(colon)。書信結尾客套語(complimentary1 close)有多種，相當於我國書信在結尾時使用的“敬禮”、“致敬”、“順安”等句。最爲典型的美國式寫法是Sincerely和Best regards，典型的英國式表達有Yours sincerely(熟人或知道對方姓名)，Best wishes, kind regards 和yours faithfully(不知姓名)。此外，英國式的客套語還有特別禮貌的格式，但除了特殊情況外，現在不再使用。
擴展：銷售人員常用電話用語
Using the Telephone
Making telephone calls is an important part a secretary''s work. When Mr Shelli wants to speak to someone on the telephone, Maria gets the call for him. Today Mr Shelli wants to talk to. Mr Kola of the National Bank. Here he is asking Maria to get the call for him.
MR SHELLI: I''d like to speak to Mr Kola of the National Bank, would you get him on the phone,please?
MARIA: Certainly, I''ll do it at once, Mr Shelli. (TO HERSELF) Now what''s Mr Kola''s number? Ah,here it is ... five, three, zero,double six. (LIFTS PHONE)
ROSE: Switchboard, can I help you?
MARIA: Good morning, Rose. Maria d I have an outside line,please?
Good morning, Rose. Maria d I have an outside line,please?
ROSE: Oh, hello, Maria. Hold the line a moment.
(DIALLING)There you are, you''ve an outside line now, you can hear the dialling tone1.
MARIA: Thank you. (TO HERSELF) Five, three, zero, six, six.
(RINGING)
Thank you. (TO HERSELF) Five, three, zero, six, six.
(RINGING)
2ND OPERATOR2: National morning,can I help you?
MARIA: Good morning, would you put me through to Mr Kola please?
Good morning, would you put me through to Mr Kola please?
2ND OPERATOR: MR Kola? Certainly. Who''s calling him?
MARIA:Mr Shelli of Modern Office Limited would like to speak to him.
2ND OPERATOR: Thank you. Hold the line, please.
(PHONE)
MR KOLA: Kola speaking.
2ND OPERATOR: Good morning, Mr Kola. I have a call for you from Mr Shelli of Modern Office Limited.
MR KOLA: Thank you, Operator, put him through, please.
MARIA: Mr Kola?
Mr Kola?
MR KOLA: Kola speaking.
MARIA:Oh, good morning, Mr Kola. Mr Shelli is calling you. Would you hold the line a moment please. I''ll hand you over. Mr Shelli?
MR SHELLI: Yes?
Yes?
MARIA: Mr Kola''s on the line now, Mr Shelli. Will you take it in here please?
Mr Kola''s on the line now, Mr Shelli. Will you take it in here please?
MR SHELLI:Thank you Maria. Hello, is that Mr Kola?
MR KOLA: Good morning, Mr Shelli.
MR SHELLI: Ah, good morning, Mr Kola, how are you?
Ah, good morning, Mr Kola, how are you?
MR KOLA: Fine, thanks, and you?
MR SHELLI: Very well, thank you.
Very well, thank you.
MR KOLA: I''m glad to hear it. Well, what can I do for you, Mr Shelli?
MR SHELLI: Well, I''m going to Europe next week and I''d like some travellers3 cheques. 7,000 dollars say…
Well, I''m going to Europe next week and I''d like some travellers cheques. 7,000 dollars say…
MR KOLA: 7,000 dollars. Yes certainly I can fix that for you. So you''re going to Europe, are you?
註釋：
☆switchboard 交換機、總機
☆an outside line 外線
☆dialling tone 電話的撥號音
☆travellers''cheques 旅行支票
☆to fix 辦理、解決
☆to book a call 預約電話
☆international operator 國際電話話務員
☆a personal call 受話人直接通話的電話
