4Th January (,) 1995

4 January (,) 1995

January 4th 1995

January 4, 1995

Such abbreviations as 4/1/1995 are not generally adopted since they lead to confusion. It is preferable not to abbreviate the names of months.

The inside address consists of the name and the address of the addressee and is written on the lefthand side of the page.

Title. When a letter is addressed to a woman, the title is «Mrs» if she is married and «Miss» if she is unmarried. The plural form in both cases is «Mmes» (= Medames).

Titles such as «Doctor», «Professor», «Colonel», «Sir» always precede the name of a person.

University degrees and honours gained in the armed forces are put after the name.

Examples: Mr. Henry A. Williams

Colonel James B. Adams

Professor (Prof) James B. Adams

Mr. J.B. Turner, M.A. (= Master of Arts)

Titles indicating positions, such as Treasurer, Secretary, Manager, President usually follow the name.

Examples: Mr. Charles Simpson, Secretary

Mr. John Smith, President

VII. Memorize the following possible forms of greetings used in business letters.

Degree of formality	Men	Women
Formal	Dear Sir, (= G.B.: Dear sirs, USA: Dear Gentlemen)	Dear Madam, (= G.B.: Dear Madames)
less formal and friendly	Dear Mr. Smith	Dear Mrs. Jackson

VIII. Memorize the following Complimentary Close:

yours faithfully

faithfully yours

yours truely

yours sincerely

sincerely yours

cordially yours (USA)

Note: It is always quite sufficient to use «Yours faithfully» in business letters, «Yours truly» in personal letters to a stranger, and «Yours sincerely» to a friend or acquaintance. The Americans, on the whole, prefer «Yours truly» in business and «Cordially yours», when writing to a friend.

IX. Read Тext b and memorize the right commercial phrases used in business letters.

Text B. English of Commerce

The language of commerce is not a different language. It is standard English adopted to the needs of commerce and business in general. It is characterized by highly specialized terminology, by commercial phrases used in business letters, by a different style and other minor difference. The commercial phrases used in business letters must be adjusted to the needs of the individual letter and joined into a smoothly flowing whole. Business letter writers often make a mistake expressing themselves in a «business-like» way by copying doubtful phrases found in letters received, or using cliches or worn-out expressions (клише или устаревшие выражения) such as some given below:

Wrong right

------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------

to above order the above-mentioned order

enclosed please we are enclosing

we beg to offer you we are pleased to offer you

(to send you, (to send you,

to inform you) to inform you)

reffering to with reference to

replying to in reply to

complying with in compliance with

thanking you thank you

In business letters nowadays it is not recommended to use «to advise» in the sense «to inform».

/to advise – советовать; рекомендовать; advice – совет/