商业书信必须写得正确，因为它涉及到买卖双方的权利、义务和厉害关系，是各种商业单据的依据。广义的说，商业书信的正确性表现在：

（一）运用正确的语言水平
（二）叙述得正确
（三）数字要正确
（四）正确理解和运用商业术语
（五）合适的写作技巧或方法，以及正确运用其他的六个"C"。

（一）正确的语言水平

  (1)、正式的和非正式的语言水平所用词汇比较：　

formal informal
terminate
domicile
deem
transpire
conflagration
edifice
endeavor
obtain; procure
peruse
remunerate
utilize
subsequent
ascertain
contingent upon
anticipate
interrogate end
home
think(or: believe)
happen
fire
building
try
get
read or study
pay
use
next or following
find out
depending on
expect
ask

 (2)、正式的和非正式的语言比较

formal informal
Will attain the age of 18 years. Will be 18 years old
Render us more detail
We will institute a mail search Send us more information
We will ask the post office to send out a tracer.
We thank you in anticipation of this courtesy and assure you that it will be a pleasure to serve you in a similar manner We shall appreciate your helping us. Let us know when we can return the favor.
Inform me of your intentions as to the liquidation of this balance Let me know when you can settle this account.
Give consideration to a plan. Consider a plan
This plan will effect a saving of $10,000. This plan will save $10,000.
To effect certain modifications in a procedure contingent upon the concurrence of management To make certain changes if management agrees.
The conclusions ascertaind from a perusal of the pertinent data is that a lucrative market exists for the product in this vicinity.

The data studied show that the product is in good demand in this area.

 (3)、避免使用不标准的语言

不要说　 应该说
ain''t
hadn''t ought
irregardless
nohow
in regard to
can''t hardly
between you and I
where ….at isn''t, aren''t
shoudn''t
regardless
anyway
regarding
can hardly
between you and me
where

下面的内容是用三种不同语言水平的比较参考：

Formal: Although Item 12 is enumerated in the report, the writer has ascertained that it is currently not in the organization''s inventory or in the writer''s possession.

Informal: Although Item 12 is listed in the report, it''s not in our stock now and I don''t have it either.

Standard: Irregardless of the report that item ain''t on our shelves now, and I haven''t got it either.

（二）叙述得正确

　　商业书信的内容要叙述得正确，既不能说得不够(Understatement)，更不能说得过头(Overstatement)。

例一： This stove is absolutely the best (or: the very best) on the market.
　（这种炉子是市场上绝对最好的炉子。）

　　这句话是用来介绍商品的，但没有具体介绍商品的性能，而是抽象地断定这种炉子是“市场上最好的”。这样介绍商品，不但不能达到推销的目的，反而使人对写信人有“卖狗皮膏药”的感觉。

改写：
　　Our model A195 is designed on modern lines and gives, without any increase in fuel consumption, 25% more heat than the older models. So you will agree that it is the outstanding stove for economy of fuel.

　　(我们的A195型炉子是按近代样式设计的，在不增加燃料消耗的情况下，比其他各种旧式炉子温度高25%。所以，你会同意，这是个优良的节约燃料的炉子。)

（三）字要正确

　　做对外贸易离不开数字。对商业书信中的数字的正确性要特别加以注意，有时“失之毫厘，差之千里”。甚至引起不同的理解。

（a）“以上”，“以下”，“以前”，“以后”，“从……到……”等的表达法。

$2 or (and) above(over) 　　　　　　　　　　 二美元和二美元以上
60dozen or (and) up (upward, upwards)　　　　60打和60打以上
2% or (and) more　　　　　　　　　　　　　2%和2%以上
an order for 50 gross or upward　　　　　　　50罗或50罗以上的定单
an order for not less than 50 gross　　　　　    不少于50罗的定单
5% up to 10% inclusive　　　　　　　　　　   5%到10%
over 5% up to 10% inclusive　　　　　　

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