英文好事多

為了寫封通順的英文 email 而煩惱的朋友，除非你的英文糟糕到你看了都會暈倒，真的可以不用補習。訣竅在於不停的模仿，但你必須同時兼顧下面幾點：

0. 先確定你要告訴讀者哪幾件事。
0. 用最簡單、最少的字表達每件事。
0. 每件事寫成一段(就算只有一句也算)，每段前後空行。
0. 收集並熟悉幾種寫作情況常用的字、片語、句型。
0. 可以的話，避免寒喧，以及反覆致謝或道歉。

我用下面這封email，說明上述這幾點。

Dear Liu andKuan,

 

Hello, how are you?

here are the changes we made so far after the meeting.

could you please review the changes and re-send the document (allpages to be sure) back to me by fax please?

this is very important so could you please send me the pagesas soon as possible.

Thank you very much for your help. (59 words)

1. 確定要提幾件事

    上面這封email告訴它的讀者兩件事：

a. Review the changes made to the document

b. Send it back by fax asap

2. 用最簡單、最少的字下筆

     原作者的確用常用字，但似乎可以在簡潔些。

3. 每件事寫成一段

   視覺上，足夠的空行較容易閱讀。

4. 常用的字、片語、句型

     回覆對方要求的句型：

a.  ”As (you) requested / discussed on the phone / suggested / mentioned in the meeting, I    have / am ….”

b.  “Following / per our discussion / meeting, I have / am….”

     附件常用的語句：

a.  “Please see the attached file / attachment for your review / reference.”

b.  “I have / am… and attached / attaching it for your viewing / comments.”

c.  “Attached please find….for your review.”

     表示迫切的語句：

a.  “Please / Kindly V + N asap.”

b.  “We are working on a tight schedule.”

c.  “As the deadline is fast approaching, I + V + …”

d.  “As we need to + <原因>, please + V +…”

     請對方協助、配合：

a.  “I would appreciate it if you could + V…”

b.  “Your help would be appreciated.”

c.  “Please / Kindly + V + N”

5. 避免寒喧、反覆致謝或道歉

     除非對方先以類似寒喧方式開頭，否則可以省去各種你熟悉的寒暄語。信尾不必要的致謝或道歉

     也是可以節制的地方。

按照以上的寫作要領，下面是我改寫的版本：

Dear Liu andKuan,

 

I’ve made the changes to the document following our discussion in the meeting and attached it for your review.

 

If it looks ok to you, please fax the whole thing back to me asap as we need to submit it to <whom> by <date>. (44 words)

在視覺、意思表達上，若你較喜歡改寫的版本，在你決定上補習班前，相信我，你可以自己做到。TC