芬哥，十年外企經驗，網易雲課堂認證講師，已經寫了70萬字關於職場和英語的文章。
文_芬哥
ID_stehouse
作為一名外企員工，這些年寫過的英文郵件沒有一萬封也有五千封了，看過的郵件沒有十萬也五萬封。我來說說實際美國人是怎麼寫郵件的。我舉的例子都是美國人寫的郵件原文，比書上寫的要清新脫俗得多。
先來一封我們CEO最近發的郵件，全篇沒有華麗的辭藻，但是就是顯得很「舒心」。
Happy New Year — I hope you and your family had a great holiday and enjoyed some well-deserved time off. Thank you again for a terrific effort and a strong result last year!
再來一封老美寫的開發客戶的郵件。這是以前有一次打電話給美國客戶，因為英語不好所以別人以為我是採購商，反而發一封郵件要和我做生意。這郵件也是寫得清新自然，沒有書上寫的套話。有人說寫得太長，我不是請你看內容，而是請你看表達。
Hello Steven,
It was my pleasure to talk with you earlier today – thank you for contacting XXXX.
I am writing to share more information with you about XXXX and our digital signage systems. The attached corporate brochure will provide you with an overview of our most popular system features – you can also learn more by visiting our website at XXXX.com.
As you will see, XXX has been providing industry-leading digital signage systems for the past 25 years and we are honored to have our systems in place with over 2,500 hotels, resorts and casinos around the world.
We would be very interested in exploring a relationship with XXXX in order to explore digital signage opportunities in China. As I』ve mentioned, our primary customer focus is with hotels, resorts and casinos. Our digital display systems are designed to meet the needs of the hospitality market.
We are fortunate to have earned preferred-vendor status with many of the leading hotel brands including: Hyatt, Hilton, Sheraton, Westin, Marriott, Four Seasons, Ritz Carlton, Renaissance and many more. Please let me know if you have relationships with any hotels and we can develop a plan to pursue the opportunity together.
Please review our information at your earliest convenience and let me know if you have any questions. I look forward to our next communication.
Regards,
xxxx
英文郵件的禮儀成千上萬條，大多其實都已經超出了「英文」的範疇，我就不贅述了。這裡只想分享印象最深及跟中文郵件有明顯區別的，那就是感謝和道歉。
1. 感謝
美國人寫郵件，哪怕是和熟悉的人，回郵件第一句話都要感謝。所以他們的郵件都是 thank來thank去的。感謝別人回復自己的郵件（也可以用thank you，用在稍微正式場合，比如和陌生人發郵件）可以用如下句式：
Thanks for the quick reply.
Thanks for the update on the situation.
Thanks for the updated information.
別人發郵件提供信息給你，英文郵件也習慣感謝，簡單回復一個：Thank you. / Well noted. / Noted. / Received with thanks.
2. 道歉
如果是回郵件回得晚了，先道歉。(以下sorry也可以替換成apologize，更正式一點，發給重要的人或者群發）
Sorry for the late reply.（老外用下面兩種更多）
Sorry I haven't got back to you sooner .
Sorry for the delay getting back to you.
如果是臨時通知別人是什麼事情，可以這樣表達：Apologies for the late/short notice.
如果是上一封郵件沒寫清楚導致收件人誤解了，可以這樣表達：I apologize if this was not made clear.
提前給別人預警如果自己的措辭過於強硬：
I apologize if this may make you feel uncomfortable/bad.
I apologize if this may sound a little harsh.
3. 收尾套路
最後收尾的套路，一般都是問別人意下如何。(不要用please tell me...這種句式，從來沒見過老外用的。）
Let me know if you have any questions or concerns. (最常見）
Looking forward to your input/insight. (用insight/input代替opinion)
That's my idea, what's your idea? (也有直接這樣說的）
Please review the lengthy e-mail and provide feedback on how we can proceed. (如果郵件太長了）
很多外貿人憑自己的想像力在創造一些表達，以下才是地道的用語。
1. 抄送別人怎麼說？
中國人喜歡說cc，美國人直接說copy。cc是 carbon copy（複寫紙）的簡稱，以前還沒有電子郵件時候，用複寫紙抄送，所以本質上還是copy.
I have put John on copy. (記住put on copy的固定搭配）
You can copy Steven going forward.
如果是分別抄送給某些人，但是又不想讓他們互相知道對方的聯繫方式，可以用暗送(BCC 也就是blind cc)，比如同時發給幾個供應商，郵件開頭直接寫：BCC vendors。
2. 群發郵件增加聯繫人怎麼說？
我看到外貿人很多都是用 add xxx in the loop。從來沒見過美國人這樣說的。一般都是在郵件開頭，無稱呼，直接說：
Looping in Steven.
Adding/Added Steven.
甚至直接用 「+」都可以：+ Steven
把某個人刪除（涉及到保密的信息），用 remove來表達：Removed Mike from this email.
3. 轉發郵件怎麼說？
forward the email to someone (大部分中國只會用這種)
pass me the email (老外也經常用這種)
4. 回覆郵件怎麼說？
「get back」比「reply」常用。比如：
I will get back to you tomorrow.
5. 附件怎麼說？
附件的英文是attachment。但是如果你說「please find the attachment」實在是不地道。一般直接用動詞 attached，enclosed。比如：
Attached / Enclosed please find the report.
I attached the report and let me know what you think.
6. 文件怎麼說？
excel、pdf、word 如果你說 file也是不地道的，正確的說法是 document。（excel也可以說spreadsheet，ppt也可以說presentation。) 比如：
Attached please find the document.
不要說 This is xxx... 和 I am... 這種句式，開頭也不要太多客套話，老外開頭都是直接說My name is xxx... 比如：
My name is Steven Gates. I work in the R&D department and am in charge of ...
書上百分之一萬告訴你用 Dear all, Hi all 這種，實際上只有群發給整個公司的郵件，比如公司新聞之類的才用這種稱呼。
其他時候這樣表達：Team, (最常用）/ Gents, (如果全部是男的）。
本來你只是在cc列表裡作為旁觀者，但是你也想進來插一句話怎麼說？用chime in：
Just to chime in, xxxx
I'd like to chime in with my idea, xxxx
如果邀請別人發表意見怎麼說？我們這樣表達：
Please chime in here with your thoughts/comments/idea.
Steven, please chime in here with correct information.
1. 多用seem、appear、sound、look這樣的詞。
例如：
This is wrong. 改成 This seems to be wrong.
We don't have other option 改成 It seems we don't have other option.
反正在下結論的時候（哪怕明明是很確定的事情)，記得加一個seems、appears，語氣沒那麼生硬。此外，如果一個產品明明很好，硬要說 looks good、sounds good，而不是 It's good.
2. 問別人一個問題時，前面加個wondering。
wondering表示想知道，比直接問一個問題更加委婉。
I was wondering what your thoughts are changing this design.
I am wondering if you are using the same material.
3. 請求別人做一件事這樣表述，顯得更加禮貌。
If you could xxx, that would be great.
4. 請別人幫忙做一件事，在前面加(by) any chance。
By any chance 意思是如果有時間 /有機會，很委婉。比如：
By any chance, could you help check the data?
有時間可不可以幫忙看看數據？
5. 慎用please。
please有時候稍微帶一點要求或者命令的語氣，特別是在給客戶或者老闆寫郵件請求某件事，把please替換成疑問句。比較：
Please reply to me by today.
Could you reply to me by today?
而以下情況下用please就沒問題：Please let me know your feedback.
我就不說However、Nevertheless、on one hand、on the other hand、firstly這種老師教的老八股了。
很少看到郵件用說firstly的，一般有話就直說，但是lastly很常見。在說完前面一大堆之後，說最後一件事的時候，用lastly表示最後你想說什麼。
Lastly, could you confirm that there is no additional change?
最後一件事，你可不可以確認一下不會再改了？
原意是邊注，引申為補充說明某件事情，特別是你想提醒別人做某件事，這樣更加委婉，可以翻譯成「友情提示」。
Also, on a side note, can you xxxx?
As a side note, I'm beginning to think our current measurement method doesn't seem to be accurate enough .
類似的還有 on a related point（相關說明）
特別說明一件事時，用這個詞開頭，另寫一個自然段。
Specifically , we are interested in xxxx.
Specifically , we'd like to xxxx.
中文意思就是「說了那麼多」，用於總結。比如；
All said, I think we are in a enviable position going into the 2017 sales season with xxxx.
說了那麼多，我想我們處在一個令人羨慕的市場地位。
這裡的中文意思是「話雖如此」。比如：
That being said, we still need to ...
話雖如此，我們還是需要.
以上表達及例句你們平時工作中是否會用到呢？如果沒有，不妨用起來，或許會收到意想不到的效果！
（本文由焦點視界focusvision綜合轉載自《史蒂芬的專欄》，轉載請聯繫原作者）