英文好事多

內容。所謂精簡，不是指所有郵件都用幾個字就打發。雖然，有時同事間的郵件往來只需幾個字就ok，例如：

Joe, - Got your report. Thanks. - Max

但若你的收件者是主管或公司以外的人，你回對方信附上他們要的檔案，而內容只寫斗大的三個字母：”FYI”，似乎不夠具體，也不得體。要內容精簡，起碼下筆前先思考：

• 要談幾件事？
• 對方需要知道過程、細節嗎？
• 能長話短說嗎?
• 一定要附檔嗎？
• 需要加上寒喧語嗎？

思考這幾個問題，也許會讓你下一封email更簡短。請看下面這封回信，你認為它簡潔扼要嗎？

Dear Ray,

How things go? I’m sure they keep you very busy this time of year.

I’m sorry about the delay in answering your request but I was on vacation and have just returned. However, now that I’m back, your question is easily answered. Yes, we do have a branch in southern China. The branch manager is David Huang. You can contact him by email at davidhuang@doetech.com.tw.

Hoping the information helps.

發信人似乎用過多的細節回答對方一個簡單的問題。參考下面另一種寫法：

Dear Ray,

We do have a branch in southern China. The branch manager is David Huang. You can contact him by email atdavidhuang@doetech.com.tw.

I’m sorry for the late reply as I’ve just returned from vacation. I hope the information helps.

省略不必要的說明，是不是更精簡、更好寫，自然更省時，同時兼具大家所關切的禮貌？更多關於email寫作問題和技巧，請來信 editor@EnglishLab.tw