每次打開電子信箱，準備寫英文e-mail時，腦袋會不會一片空白？英文溝通已經成為全球化社會的必備工具，英文書信往來即是很重要的一環。但是，常常有人覺得自己的英文信，不是辭不達意，就是又臭又長。其實，只要善用一些訣竅，就會讓一切不一樣。學會以下幾種小技巧，讓你的英文信件看起來專業又漂亮！
揭開英文E-mail6大原則
原則1：可以用We 就不要用YOU
每一封e-mail往來，都是你和與收信人之間的交流。很多人以為寫商業email就應該用「生意腔」，於是把本來有感情基礎的email寫得官樣。
每次e-mail往來不就是跟對方進行了一次交談嗎？只不過是把交談的介面放在email上而已。多用一些簡單明瞭的句子，用我／我們做主詞，這樣才能讓email讀起來熱情、友善，像朋友交談那樣簡單、自然，親切又人性化。
|
官樣e-mail |
親切e-mail |
|
Your mail has been received. |
I have received your mail. |
|
Your complaint is being looked into. |
We are looking into your complaint. |
|
You will receive your computer by next week. |
We are happy to have your order. We shipped it by July 21. |
原則2：一針見血：可以清楚就不要模糊
寫email最忌諱文縐縐，要打電話給人就用call，要去拜訪人就說visit，不要用模模糊糊的contact。
|
模糊 |
明確 |
|
contac |
call／write／visit |
|
soon t |
by March 15 |
原則3：可以1個字就不要2個字
大部份商業人士跟你一樣，每天都要閱讀大量e-mail。所以e-mail一定要寫得簡明扼要。與主題無關或者無助於e-mail的目的內容，請毫不留情的捨棄。
|
冗長 |
精簡 |
|
The paper jam had the effect of a destructive force on the copy machine. (12) |
The paper jam destroyed the copy machine. (5) |
|
We have enclosed a brochure which shows further details of manufacture. (11) |
The enclosed brochure shows further manufacture details. (7) |
原則4：用對方看得懂的關鍵字
每個行業都有自己的行話，e-mail溝通時候要確定別人懂不懂你的行話，也儘量不用華麗詞藻。西方的語言習慣，他們更願意使用簡練而樸實的語言；比如"We look forward to a bright and glorious future of cooperation"，就不如直接寫成"We hope to have the opportunity to work with you in the future."，這樣才更加符合西方人的語言習慣。
|
迂迴 |
直接 |
|
We look forward to a bright and glorious future of cooperation. |
We hope to have the opportunity to work with you in the future. |
|
The choice of exogenous variables in relation to multi-collinearity is contingent upon the derivations of certain multiple correlation coefficients. |
Supply determines demand. |
原則5：有技巧的表達 永遠讓人覺得you're helpful
同樣一件事說法不同，得到的回應就不同，有技巧的說法讓人樂於為你效勞。
|
拙劣說法 |
漂亮說法 |
|
Obviously, if you'd read your policy carefully, you'd be able to answer these questions yourself. |
I'm glad to clear up these questions for you. |
|
In order to complete the claim you made, simply. . . |
To complete your transaction, |
|
We want to get our check. |
To keep your account in the preferred customer class, send our check for NT$200,000 today. |
原則6：標題就能透露專業性
也許很多人都沒有意識到，e-mail的標題是很重要的一個部分，你的郵件給對方的第一個印象就是透過標題來完成的。如果標題沒有內容，看起來像群組垃圾郵件，命運就是直接進入垃圾桶。
|
不專業標題 |
專業標題 |
|
How are you? |
Introduction: Our Product Offerings for Bright Ideas Imports |
|
Can we work together? |
Proposal: Bright Ideas Imports—ABC‘s Partnership Opportunity |
職場英文e-mail 5種萬用金句 複製貼上好好用
你寫一封英文e-mail要多久? 英文e-mail寫作其實有一些共通格式（format），把以下一些經典句型記熟，寫一封詢問意見、安排行程的信，只要3、5分鐘就夠了。
|
情境類型 |
句子 |
|
問候 |
• How have you been? 最近好嗎？ • How is your new project going on? 你案子進行還順利嗎？ • Hope you have a good trip back. 希望你旅途愉快。 |
|
行動 |
• I suggest we have a con-call tonight at 9:30pm. Please let me know if the time is okay for you and Ben. 我建議我們今晚九點半電話會議，你和Ben有沒有空？ • I would like to call a meeting in the afternoon about our annual plan. 今天下午我想就年度計劃開會討論一下。 • I want to talk to you over the phone regarding the new project. 我想跟你電話討論新專案。 |
|
諮詢資訊/回饋/建議 |
• Shall you have any problem accessing the folders, please let me know. 如果開啟文件有問題請和我聯繫。 • Thank you and look forward to having your opinion on budget. 謝謝你，希望能聽到更多你對預算建議。 • Feel free to give your comments. 請隨時提出您的建議。 • Please call me if you have any questions. 有任何問題，歡迎打電話給我。 • Your comments and suggestions are welcome! 歡迎您提供建議！ • It would be nice if you could provide a bit more information on the user's behavior. 您若是能夠就用戶行為方面提供更多的資訊就太好了！ • At your convenience, I would really appreciate you looking into this matter/issue. 如果可以，我希望你能仔細審查這件事。 |
|
Give feedback 意見回饋 |
• Please see comments below. 請看以下的評論。 • My answers are in blue below. 我的回答已用藍字表示。 • I add some comments to the document for your reference. 我在文件上添加了一些備註，僅供參考。 |
|
Attachment 附件 |
• I attach the evaluation report for your reference. 我附加了評估報告供您閱讀。 • Attached please find today's meeting notes. 今天的會議記錄在附件裡。 • For other known issues related to individual features, please see attached release notes. 其他個人特徵方面的資訊詳見附件。 |
避開肚臍眼英文 讓英文進化一下
一種作家，寫起文章來每一句的開口都是「我」，文章讀起來，就是「我我我我我」，有人笑稱這些人「肚臍眼作家」。講英文的時候，假如每一句話不是”I”就是”we”或”my”開頭，講一段自我介紹，超過10個”I”，這就表示英文程度就還停在「肚臍眼階段」。
讓英文進化一下吧。避開肚臍眼英文，方法很多，以下有5種句型，可以讓你少用”I”，用熟了就不必耽心你自己講的是肚臍眼英文，這一關，很快就過。
|
肚臍眼句型 |
替代句型 |
|
We can’t deny that the qualities of our living have gone from bad to worse.
|
à用there is/are開頭 There is no denying that the qualities of our living have gone from bad to worse. 我們不可否認，生活品質已經每況愈下。 |
|
We can’t ignore the value of knowledge.
|
à用倒裝句 On no account can we ignore the value of knowledge. 我們絕對不能忽略知識的價值。 |
|
We should always help others.
|
à用it虛主詞 It pays to help others. 我們應該常幫助別人。 |
|
I can’t remember her name.
|
à用特別的動詞改變句型 Her name, for some reason or other, escapes me for the moment. 不知怎麼地，我一時想不起她的名字了。 |
|
I need to work overtime to fix so many problems.
|
à用with開一個句子 With so many problems to fix out there, I need to work overtime tomorrow. 有這麼多問題要處理，我明天得加班。 |
