Foreign trade English correspondence refers to English letters, telegrams, telexes, faxes and e-mails used to exchange information in the process of foreign trade exchange. The following are the writing skills of foreign trade English letters and telegrams I shared. Welcome to read!

First, the characteristics of foreign trade English correspondence

1. With the increasing frequency of foreign trade, the language of foreign trade correspondence is becoming more and more standardized, which requires not only the standardization and habit of words, sentences, grammar, spelling and punctuation, but also the more explicit use of laws, regulations and practices used to restrict various business activities.

2. The content is concise. Foreign trade letters and telegrams should be vivid, specific and clear, especially letters that require the other party to make a clear reflection, or letters that answer the other party's requirements and questions, or letters that offer and promise, so that the recipient will not misunderstand what the writer wants to express after reading them, and express the meaning that needs to be expressed completely and clearly with as few words as possible.

3. Be polite. When writing a letter, be reasonable, be polite, don't be overbearing, and avoid command and rudeness. We should be modest, decent and exquisite, respect the habits of international trade and safeguard our own interests. At the same time, we should be considerate of each other, take into account each other's requirements, wishes and feelings, focus on positive conversations, and try to avoid negative conversations.

4. The format is "used to it". In the long-term development, foreign trade has gradually formed many established international practices. Foreign trade correspondence has formed a unique style with its unique format, common business vocabulary, rich trade terms, fixed sentence patterns and abbreviations, and has a strong commercial color. Its vitality lies in its connection with actual business activities, and its language form and language norms must serve specific businesses. These words and expressions are conventional, conform to international practice, and are recognized and accepted by business people all over the world.

Second, the writing skills of foreign trade English correspondence

As we all know, writing foreign trade English correspondence must follow four principles, namely, four C's: conciseness, clarity, accuracy and politeness. This is also in line with the characteristics of foreign trade correspondence, specifically:

1. Grasp the simple principle. In today's increasingly fierce international trade competition, brevity is particularly important in foreign trade correspondence writing. Use as few words as possible to express the complete meaning, and at the same time, the content should be complete, accurate and polite.

Use abbreviations appropriately. In the long-term development, many established professional abbreviations have gradually formed in the foreign trade industry. Accurate use of abbreviations can reduce the length of letters and save readers' reading time. For example:

A. abbreviation of international economic and trade organization. Such as: WTO (World Trade Organization), EEC (European Economic Community) and so on.

B. abbreviations commonly used in foreign trade English. Such as: A/S (see after or after the ticket), F.O.B (FOB), a/c (account), and so on.

C. Common letter abbreviations. Such as: Re (about), Enc (attached), etc.

(2) The sentence structure should be concise, and words should be used instead of phrases and attributive clauses. We need new furniture. We need new furniture. (2) concise sentences, and (1) complicated sentences.

(3) The content is concise, that is to say, the content of English correspondence should be concise and clear. The theme of the letter should come straight to the point, and there is no need to list some cumbersome procedures, which makes people feel roundabout. For example, if you send a letter to a foreign customer complaining about the shortage of goods, you can directly tell the other party the purpose of writing this letter, then list important facts and figures to prove it, and finally make it clear in the letter what you want the recipient to do for you.

2. Grasp the principle of accuracy. In economic and trade exchanges, the two sides of the transaction are in different countries and regions, and misunderstandings are easy to occur due to language and cultural differences. According to the international trade practices and regulations, the correspondence between the two parties to the transaction is a part of the transaction and has legal effect, so it needs to be carefully written and accurately used. When writing foreign trade correspondence, we should follow the principle of choosing words with relatively simple meanings rather than words with flexible and rich meanings. For example, use tariffs instead of taxes, use initiation instead of starting, use familiarity instead of familiarity, use composition instead of including, and so on.

3. The principle of propriety. Foreign trade English correspondence is a written language communication tool for international business. Besides accurate vocabulary and grammar, we should also pay attention to proper expression.

(1) Attach importance to cultural background. In cross-cultural practical business activities, people's business values, consumer psychology and business habits are very different due to the differences in political, economic environment and traditional customs in different countries. Business communication between different countries, different nationalities and different regions involves different cultural psychology and customs. Pay attention to these details when writing foreign trade English correspondence.

(2) pay attention to the object of writing. When writing foreign trade letters, we should not only pay attention to the cultural background of the other party, but also pay attention to whether the other party is a potential customer, a new customer or an old customer. According to the environment and goals, we should choose the most suitable speech style to create a harmonious speech atmosphere and achieve the best communication effect.

4. Politeness principle. A wise writer of foreign trade correspondence will respect his trading partner, look at the problem from the other side's point of view and understand the other side's difficulties. While respecting the feelings and interests of the other party, gain the goodwill of the other party and promote the success of the transaction. Even if the two sides have differences in trade and even lodge claims, they should be polite in foreign trade letters and telegrams to lay the foundation for future cooperation.

(1) Use as few negative sentences as possible. Negation often has negative consequences. In face-to-face business negotiations, there is still room for explanation. But when writing a letter, you must take it word for word and take it seriously. Therefore, in the process of writing letters, we should try our best to make the tone positive and avoid being negative. For example, your letter is not clear at all. I can't understand it. The negative tone of "I don't understand". It should be avoided, because "I don't understand" means blaming the other party for being unclear. It is better to change it to "If I understand your letter correctly ...", which not only saves the other party's face, but also takes the opportunity to show his point of view, killing two birds with one stone.

(2) Use imperative sentences and interrogative sentences to express polite tone. Writers often have three choices when expressing opinions or making suggestions to each other: declarative sentences, imperative sentences with invitations and interrogative sentences. Among them, the declarative sentence is too straightforward to use, and the imperative sentence with invitation is more polite. The tone of interrogative sentences is the most polite and tactful, leaving room for the other party. Therefore, in the use of tone, try to make the other party feel respected, so as to win the respect of the other party and create a good communication atmosphere.

To sum up, when writing foreign trade English correspondence, we must grasp the characteristics and laws of foreign trade correspondence and follow the writing principles of foreign trade English correspondence. Only in this way can we write perfect foreign trade English correspondence and promote the smooth progress of the transaction.

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