Chapter 6 / Better Business Letters

Глава 6 / Пишем деловые письма

business correspondence is very important in any type of human activity. As with small talk and phone calls letter writing is ruled by formulas. This chapter provides a ready reference for business letters.

Once you have learned a standard way of organizing and wording a letter, you will be able to write any letter. What follows is a simplified approach to writing standard business letters: sales, introduction, follow-up, complaint, rejection, and prospecting.

Business letters are particularly important in international commerce too. Often it is the only representation of yourself and your company with a foreign counterpart. You make an impression by the tone of your letter, and by correct, tactful, and polite language.

We use standard greetings in letters in conformity with tradition, and it is essential to follow these. Whatever creativity you wish to express, do so in the body of the letter. Individualism is not appropriate in standard greetings of a formal business letter; tradition is accepted and expected.

Composition of Business Letter / Составление делового письма

Maison d’Antiquites адрес

29, rue Vavin отправителя

Paris, XIVeme / heading

France

July 1, 2010 дата / date

Mr. Jan Van der Reep адресат

Estate Specialist Associates и

Haarlem его адрес

The Netherlands / inside address

Dear Mr. Van der Reep: обращение / greeting

Содержание письма / Body of the letter

(Introduction – вступление)

I’m writing to introduce myself and my company. My name is Jean-Paul Richard and I with an antiques company in Paris.

(ПРЕДМЕТ ИЗЛОЖЕНИЯ – SUBJECT)

Our company would like to establish ties with you for a mutually beneficial relationship. We buy and sell antiques. It is our understanding that you, as estate appraisers and consultants, are involved in the disposition of antique furnishings.

(conclusion – заключение)

I am enclosing my card and our company brochure. It would be a great pleasure to meet with you personally. I will be calling you next week to see what we can arrange.

Yours truly, завершение / ending

Jean-Paul Richard подпись / signature

Executive Director

Enclosures: brochure, business card. приложение / Enclosure

Обратите внимание, что вы можете сделать отступ в начале каждого абзаца в 3-5 знаков, а можете не делать красной строки – оба способа являются грамотными.

Если вы хотите сократить написание даты, помните, что в США даты пишутся в последовательности месяц – день – год: 3/12/10 означает 12 марта 2010 года.