新编剑桥商务英语第三版

Formal and informal emails

Writing styles

The style of a business email or letter depends on the occasion for writing and the relationship with the receiver.

1 They can be formal:

Please find attached our proposal. I would be grateful if you could check it and send us confirmation of your acceptance.

2 They can be more conversational:

Attached is our proposal. Please check it and confirm that you are happy with it.

3 English can sometimes be in a kind of shorthand.

Pls check the attached proposal and confirm.

1Highlight the differences between the formal and informal emails below. Discuss the differences with your partner.

Formal

Dear Mr Scott

Thank you very much for your letter introducing your company. Currently, we do not have any demand for marketing consultancy. However, this situation could change in the future and therefore I will certainly keep your details on file. In the meantime, I would be grateful if you could send us an up-to-date list of your fees.

Once again, thank you for your interest.

Yours sincerely

Monica Stuuf

Informal

Dear James

Thanks for the information about your company. At the moment, we're not really looking for any help with marketing consultancy, but we might be in the future, so I'll certainly hang on to your details. For now, please send us an up-to-date list of your fees.

Thanks again for your interest.

Kind regards

Monica Stuuf

2 For sentences 1-4 write the contracted forms in full and for 5-8 write the contracted form.

1 I'll let you know tomorrow.

2 I'd like an answer asap.

3 I won't know till Friday.

4 I can't help you, I'm afraid.

5 It has been ages since I have seen him.

6 I would have told you if I had known.

7 I should not be surprised if they are late.

8 You must not do anything until I say so.

3 Match each formal linking word on the left with its neutral equivalent on the right.

1 however so

2 nevertheless because of

3 consequently after

4 owing to because

5 moreover anyway

6 following but

7 since what's more

8 besides still

4 Rewrite the following informal email to a customer as a more formal one. Use the expressions in the box to help you.

I would be grateful if contact further to do not hesitate in agreement with

however strictly speaking please find attached Yours sincerely

Dear Mr Harris

Nice to speak to you earlier on the phone. I'm now sending you a draft contract. Please read it carefully and if you're OK with the terms, sign it and post it back to me. The deadline for the special offer we talked about is supposed to be tomorrow, but we'll keep it open for you until the end of the week. Do call me if you have any queries.

Best wishes

Laura

5 Welcome has supplied receptionists and doormen for your company's headquarters for over five years. Recently the standard of service they give has declined sharply. Visitors have complained about rudeness, being kept waiting and being misdirected. Write an email to the company:• emphasising the good relationship you have had in the past.

• describing the unacceptable behaviour of their staff recently.• insisting that changes are made immediately.

6 Send the email to your partner. When you have exchanged, read each other's emails and then write a reply.

Listening Test: Introduction and Part One