編按:你需要寫英文email和外國客戶溝通?一封商用email要花你多久時間呢?商用email寫法其實有些訣竅,本篇5大重點訣竅學會,你只需三、五分鐘就能完成簡易溝通的商用mail!
1.直指重點,先因後果
商業人士時間很寶貴,寫email講重點。先講原因,再說結果,時序邏輯清楚,一目瞭然。
●(有重點)"We've filled this position and are not accepting applications."(這項職務己經有適當人選,不再接受申請。) (因→果)
●(沒重點) "Unfortunately, the position you applied for has been filled and we are therefore no longer accepting applications."(很抱歉您應徵的職務目前己經有人選,因此我們不會再接受其他的應徵者)(果→因)
2.如何運用主動策略、被動策略
大部份時候用主動語態,主動句創造活力,比較一下這兩句:
●(主動→有活力)We like your ideas and will implement them next quarter.(我們喜歡你的想法,下一季前就會開始。)
●(被動→官樣)The ideas you proposed have been reviewed and found to be acceptable and appropriate. An implementation schedule has been developed with the goal of being completed by next month.(你提出來的想法已經被檢視過,我們發現它可行。會擬出執行計劃,以下一季開始執行為目標。)
想要淡化特定訊息時,策略性使用被動語態:
●(主動→自找麻煩)We haven’t repaired your car. 我們還沒有修您的車。
●(被動→淡化目標)Your car has not been repaired. 您的車還沒有修好。
3.讓句子和句子之間產生關連
組織關聯性,是指讓每一句話或每一訊息之間產生關係。有組織,不管是口語或書寫溝通,就不會東一句、西一句,讀起來很零散。
●(缺乏關聯性)I appreciated the opportunity to speak with you yesterday, and I have revised the proposal.
●(有關聯性)I appreciated the opportunity to speak with you yesterday. Based on your advice, I have revised the proposal.(很感謝昨日有機會與您談話。根據你的建議,我們做了一些修改。)
4.聽者導向,不要說者導向
很多人一開頭寫英文就是I、We或是my、our,感覺太本位,把I和We頭始的句子,改成you就對了。
●(說者導向)We know you’ll enjoy the many benefits of our new health care plan.
●(聽者導向)Your new health care plan will benefit you in many ways.(新的健保方案會帶給你很大幫助。)
5. 不要重複數字
數字出現在句首、或數字小於10,拼出來。數字大於10,用阿拉伯數字。但有人習慣既拼字又用阿拉伯數字,顯得冗贅,不需如此。
●(差)Thirteen (13) samples were collected. →不要重複數字。
●(好)We collected 13 samples.
●(差)There are approximately six hundred people working in this company.→超過10的數字用阿拉伯數字表現。
●(好)There are approximately 600 people working in this company.
●(差)500 people will show up in the conference. →句首的數字拼出來。
●(好)Five hundred people will show up in the conference.
本圖/文經授權轉載自世界公民文化中心(原篇名:5大秘訣:商業email怎麼寫最有效?(進階版)。)