1
2
大学英语实用写作讲义
二. 信函格式及常用便条写作
1. 书信的分类：
英文的书信大致可分为事务信件和私人信件两大类。前者指单位之间或单位与个人之间的公务往来信件；后者指亲朋好友之间的信件。由于英文书信的涉及面广，故根据不同的用途和作用还可细分为社交书信、商业书信、私人书信和其他书信。一般说来，事务信件或商务信函的文体、语言和格式都较正式(formal)，而私人信件和一般社交性的信件属非正式(informal)的信件。
值得注意的是，目前，社会事务和对外贸易方面的信函中，非正式的事务性信件越来越多，这是英文书信在行文风格和语言上的一大变化。
2. 英语信函的组成部分
1. 信端(Heading)，即信头。即寄信人的地址和日期，写在信笺的右上角。
2. 信内地址(1nsideAddress)，即收信人的姓名和地址，写在左上角，比右上角的日期约低两行。
3. 称呼(Salutation)，即对收信人的敬称或称谓，其位置在信内地址的下两行处，并与之平头。
4. 正文(Body)，即信函的内容。
5. 结束语(Complimentary Close)，即写信人表示自己对收信人的一种谦称。
6. 签名(Signature)，即写信人的姓名。
7. 附件(Enclosure)，缩写成Encl。
8. 再启或又及(Postscript)，缩写成P．S·，用于补叙信的正文中遗漏的话。
以上八项内容中，第一项至第六项是英语信函的主要组成部分，一般不可缺少。第七项和第八项是否需要，则视具体情况而定。
下面举一英语信函实例，以便能更清楚地展示英语信函的结构以及以上各项在信内的排列位置。
(1)信端(Heading)
Physics Department
Zhejiang University
Hangzhou，China
Sept．20，1980
(2)信内地址(Inside Address)
Chairman
Department of Physics and Astronomy
Northwestern University
Evanston，Illinois
U． S． A．
(3)称呼(Salutation)
Dear Chairman，
(4)正文(Body)
3
I am at present applying for admission and financial aid to your Department of Physics and Astronomy．I am now a student in the Physics Department of Zhejang University，Hangzhou，China．I expect to graduate at the end of this academic year with a specialty in low—temperature physics．
(5)结束语(Complimentary Close)
(6)签名(Signature)
(7)附件(Enclosure)
(8)又及(Postscript)
P．S．Please send all material by mail．
常用的结束语 (complimentary close)
Yours sincerely;
Yours respectfully;
Yours truly;
Yours affectionately;
Yours;
Yours ever;
Love;
Lovingly yours;
With love;
3. 信封的写法 （The layout of envelope）
要点（Key points）：
1. 收信人（addressee）的信息：
Put the name and the address of the addressee in the middle of the envelope.
2. 寄信人 （sender）的信息：
Put the name and address of the sender on the top left-hand corner.
并列式（Block form）和斜列式（Indented form）:
The name and the address can be laid out in block form or in indented form. In block form, the first word of each line forms a beeline on the left and no punctuations are used. In indented form, the lines after the first line should be indented by two letters against the line directly above it; punctuations can be used or omitted as well.
Example:
4
Or: indented form
5
注：
并列式或缩进式。
例子：（Page 63-64）
信函开头常用语：
（见Page 67）
信函结尾常用语：
（见 Page67）
练习：写英文信封
（Page 68）
4. 便函或备忘录(Informal Letters or Memos)
（说明：该知识点与下面第5条Messages内容有近似处）
便函和备忘录通常用于公司内部传递信息，将实情、信息、观察资料等进行传阅。便函或备忘录包括如下固定格式：
Date：(日期，如September 12, 2001)
To：(收文人，如All Faculty)
From：(发文人，如Jim B. Hardeman)
Subject：(事由，如Faculty Meeting)
写作特点：
1在date, to, from, subject字样后填上相应的内容。
6
2在上述字样下面空两行写正文。
3不用称呼和结尾礼词。
发文人的姓名首字母写在与正文末行空一行的地方。
【例】
TO: Henry Smith, Sales Manager
FROM: Jack Wong, Personnel Manager
DATE: May 4, 2000
SUBJECT: Applicants for Sales Post
Attached are the resumes and certificates of four applicants who have applied for your department position.
Please evaluate these applicants and then recommend people you want to interview to me. As soon as I have the names, I will make arrangement for the interviews. ......
5. 留言条Messages
Format of general messages
（一般留言格式）
Time and Date时间日期
Salutation称呼
………Message content
文…………………………………………………………….......
…………………………….. 正
Signature签名
Format of telephone messages
(电话留言格式)
Date: June 2, 2008
Time: 3:30 p.m.
To: Mr. William
From: John Smith
Taken by: Helen
Message:
John Smith called you to tell you something about tomorrow’s meeting, but you happened to be out. Please call him back at 136xxxxxxxx.
补充练习一
写一张留言条给同学,要求他为你的突然受伤向老师请假,并请他替你保存好所有各科老师发下来的资料,晚上电话告诉你今天的作业,并帮你将几本图书还回图书馆。
3:00 p.m., June 5
Xiao Ming,
Please tell the teacher that I could not go to school for I was wounded unexpectedly. Please take care of the data for me that the teachers hand out, and 7
please tell me by telephone tonight the homework that the teachers set out. And help
me to return some books to the library.
Thank you very much!
Yours,
Xiao Zhang
补充练习二
请翻译这篇留言并抄写一遍。
9：30 a.m., April 25
Dear Liu Ming,
Just now I came to your home, but you were out. I want to tell you an important
matter. An American Professor named Robinson will come to visit our school the day
after tomorrow and he will give us a talk on American Education. The talk will be
given in the school auditorium. Please bring your notebook to take notes so that we
can discuss it after the talk. By the way, the English-reading contest which was
planned on Wednesday afternoon will be put off till Saturday morning. Please be there
on time.
Yours truly,
Li Ming
课堂练习
（参见Page 58. ）
这里的两篇留言条练习可以安排学生现场习作，请两人到黑板上写，然后教
师指正。
I
你有两张音乐会的票，当你去朋友小陈的寝室时，他碰巧不在。给小陈写一
张留言条，约他晚上6点在音乐厅门口碰头。
9:00 a.m.,
April 5, 2008
Dear Xiao Chen,
I came to your dormitory to meet you, but you happened to be out. I have
two tickets for tonight’s concert. I will be waiting for you at the gate of the concert
hall.
X
iao Zhang
II
你儿子的同学打电话给他，告诉他明天的英语课取消了，可他正好不在。为
他写一张留言条。
7:00
p.m., June 6
Son,
8
Your classmate, David, called to tell you that tomorrow’s English class is called off/cancelled.
Dad
6. 请假条Notes Asking for Leave
请假条（Notes Asking for Leave）的要点：
? 1）收条人的姓名和头衔；
? 2）请假时间、原因、歉意；
? 3）表达准予请假的愿望；
? 4）落款/签名
例子：见Page 55
? 请假条开头常用语：（Page 55）
? 请假条结尾常用语：（Page 55）
很重要，请用心记忆。
其他格式的请假条（范例）
To: Peter Stone, Manager
From: Lynn Chen, Financial Department
Date: May 22nd, 2006
Subject: Casual Leave of Absence
Peter, I would like to know if I could ask for a casual leave of absence for one day on May 24th, this Wednesday.
This morning I received a telephone call from my dentist, urging me to come to his practice for immediate treatment of my teeth. I have been experiencing a stinging pain, depriving me of my sleep during the past fortnight. The situation could worsen, should infection occur.
Concerning my workload: As Wednesday is not as busy as the other weekdays, I think a one-day leave this Wednesday may be the best solution. I apologize for the inconvenience my absence from work may cause.
Thanks. I will call you at 1:30p.m. or you can call me at any time.
（改编自
《英语周
报》）
Ex. Page 56: I. A note for business leave
你的姐姐将于明日结婚，你要去参加婚礼，请给你的经理John Smith写一张请假条。
May 31, 2008
Mr. John Smith
9
Company Manager
Dear Mr. Smith,
Because my sister is getting married tomorrow, I shall be obliged if you can grant me my application for one day’s leave tomorrow.
Yours respectfully,
Zhang Hua
Ex. Page 56: II. A note for sick leave
你因发烧今天下午不能上课，给你的班主任李明老师写一张请假条，并附上医生的证明。
Wednesday, May 30, 2008
Mr. Li Ming
Head Teacher
Dear Mr. Li,
I am terribly sorry that I cannot attend classes this afternoon. I’ve got a high fever. To support my application, I submit the doctor’s certificate. I wish you would excuse my absence.
Yours respectfully,
Zhang Hua
补充范例一：Asking for Sick Leave-病假条
Apr. 10, 2003
Dear Mr. Fang,
Please excuse my absence from class today. I had a cold yesterday evening and could not fall asleep until late in the night. I’ll go and consult the doctor today, and will resume my study if I feel better tomorrow.
Truly yours, Lin Wei 补充范例二: Asking for Business Leave-事假条
Oct. 6,2003
Dear Director Wu,
A telegram has just come to hand, saying that my father is seriously ill and urging me to go home at once. Because of this, I should very much like to apply for one week's leave of absence from the 7th to the 13th. I hope that my request will be given due consideration.
Sincerely,
Wang Lin
7. Note of I.O.U./Receipt借条和收条
借条基本格式：
10
Time 时间
………………..…………………………………………………………………………………………….…………………………
.Signature 署名
例 1:无抬头借条（直接写明向谁借何物）
June 5, 2008
Borrowed from the library of Changzhou Institute of Engineering two books on American history.
Alan Wang
例 2: 有抬头借条
May 5, 2006
To Zhang Ming,
I.O.U. 40,000 yuan (RMB) for the initial payment of a new flat. Xiao Li
例 3：有抬头和偿还日期的借条
July 7, 2007
To Mrs. Lisa Green,
I.O.U. 1,000 dollars (USD) to be paid back within one year from this date with interest at six per cent (6%) per annum.
John Smith
例 4：向校财务处借款的借条
October 16, 2007
To the Finance Section of the College,
I.O.U. ten thousand yuan (RMB), to be paid back within one year from this date twelve thousand yuan (RMB) for value received.
Henry White
Chemical Engineering Department
11
练习1.
你与20xx年6月5日向你的朋友马涛借款20，000元人民币，自借款之日起，你将于两年后以年利率2%偿还借款。请你向他写一张借条。
参考答案：
June 5, 2008
To Ma Tao,
I.O.U. 20,000 yuan (RMB) to be paid back within two years from this date with interest at two per cent (2%) per annum.
Wang Xia
练习2、3
（参见Page 59.）
收条基本格式：不用写抬头
Date and year (日期年份)
Received from …………………………….....................
……………………………………………
Signature
练习 1
你代表财务处收到了王小明同学交来的学费3,500元人民币。请写一张收条。
参考答案：
October 10, 2007
Received from Wang Xiaoming three five thousand yuan (RMB) for tuition.
Zhao Gang
Finance Section
练习 2
你叫Black Smith, 你20xx年与3月6日从外文书店收到了10本《英汉词典》。请写一张收条。
March 6,
2008
12
Received from Foreign Language Bookstore ten copies of English-Chinese Dictionary.
Black
Smith
练习3、4
（参见Page 60.）
13