Email and Commercial Correspondence

A Guide to Professional English

If you write emails and letters as part of your work, then this book is for you. By applying the suggested guidelines, you will stand a much greater chance of getting the desired reply to your emails in the shortest time possible.

Some of the key guidelines covered include:

• Write meaningful subject lines - otherwise recipients may not even open your mail.
• Always put the most important point in the first line - otherwise the reader may not read it.
• Be concise and only mention what is truly relevant. Write the minimum amount possible - you will also make fewer mistakes!
• Be a little too formal than too informal - you don’t want to offend anyone.
• If you have two long important things to say, say them in separate emails.
• Give clear instructions and reasonable deadlines.
• If you need people to cooperate with you, it is essential to highlight the benefits for them of cooperating with you.
• Empathize with your recipient's busy workload.
• Never translate typical phrases literally - learn equivalent phrases.

The book concludes with a chapter of useful phrases. There is also a brief introduction for trainers on how to teach Business / Commercial English.