Success in BusinessCommuniquerpar e-mail
Succ
ess
in B
usin
ess
– Co
mm
uniq
uer p
ar e
-mai
l
Tout pour réussir vos e-mails professionnels en anglais !
Avec de nombreux
modèles
Communiquez sans complexe en anglais avec vos partenaires internationaux !
6,95 €
E-65
61-1
010
La meilleure méthode pour acquérir une réelle pratique de l’anglais professionnel :
• Des informations rédigées dans un anglais simple et abordable pour s’entraîner à écrire directement en anglais
Le guide pratique de l’anglais de la communication par e-mails :
• Rédigez vos e-mails professionnels dans un anglais fl uide et authentique, pour vous faire comprendre tout en respectant les usages internationaux
• 34 thèmes couvrant les principales situations professionnelles
• Plus de 30 e-mails type prêts à être réutilisés
• Plus de 300 expressions-clé, le vocabulaire essentiel traduit et de nombreux conseils pratiques
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ContentsSommaire
Introduction 5
An Email’s Anatomy 7Subject Lines That Work ■ 8Common Salutations and Openings 1 ■ 0Ending an Email 1 ■ 9Signatures and Disclaimers 2 ■ 4Email Techniques: ■ about CC and BCC 28
A Reader-friendly Approach 31When to Use Email and When Not? 3 ■ 2Structuring the Information 3 ■ 3Formal or Informal? 4 ■ 0Netiquette Guidelines 4 ■ 4How to Deal with Attachments 4 ■ 7
Common Business Situations 53Requesting Information or Favours 5 ■ 4Hotel or Conference Enquiries 5 ■ 9Giving Enquiries 6 ■ 3Change of Address 6 ■ 7Appointments 6 ■ 8
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Contents4
Invitations 7 ■ 2Sending Agendas and Minutes 8 ■ 1Refusing a Request 8 ■ 4Complaints 8 ■ 7Apologies 8 ■ 9Congratulations and Season’s Greetings 9 ■ 0Thanks 9 ■ 2Payments and Reminders 9 ■ 3Making Offers 9 ■ 7Delivery and Incoterms 9 ■ 8Numbers and Currency Symbols 9 ■ 9
Practical Reference 103Linguistic Characteristics 10 ■ 4Linguistic Differences: UK – USA ■ 109Useful Vocabulary and Key Terms 1 ■ 13Abbreviations and Acronyms 1 ■ 17False Friends 12 ■ 5Email Features ■ 127Electronic Guidelines on the Internet 14 ■ 5
Index 147
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Common Business Situations
Situations professionnelles courantes
Les situations professionnelles décrites ici présentent de nombreuses
interactions typiques de la correspondance internationale. Ce chapitre
constitue une sorte de glossaire non exhaustif d’expressions utiles.
Vous apprendrez à :
Demander des informations (page 54). ■
Soumettre une requête (page 63). ■
Prendre un rendez-vous (page 68). ■
Refuser une demande (page 84). ■
Émettre une réclamation et vous excuser (page 87). ■
Formuler une offre (page 97). ■
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Common Business Situations54
Requesting Information or Favours Demander des informations ou un service
Emails in which information is requested or given are among the most
common topics in inboxes. When requesting information, it is well-
advised to explain things clearly. Start for instance by explaining how
you obtained the addressee’s contact data and then write what particular
information you would like to have or are interested in.
Bear in mind that writing in a foreign language doesn’t mean simply
translating a text from French. Different cultures can use other ways
of asking for things. As mentioned, British English formulates requests
in a slightly more indirect way. For instance, by using modal auxiliaries,
or using the word ‘please’ more often. This is shown in the examples
below.
a topic un sujetwell-advised conseillécontact data des coordonnéesa modal auxiliary un auxiliaire modal
Examples
Formal: to an unknown addressee Discours formel : à un destinataire que l’on ne connaît pas encore
Dear Sir or Madam
During my last visit to the XYZ trade fair in
Northampton, I saw a sample of your products. Our
company specialises in the manufacture of
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Requesting Information or Favours 55
shoemaker’s machines and we are looking for a
reliable supplier.
May I ask you to send us full information and
details of your latest models? If possible quote
prices in euros please.
Yours faithfully
Catherine Rajeau
ExamplesFormal: to a known addressee
Discours formel : à un destinataire que l’on connaît déjàDear Mr Roll
I’m writing with regard to booking one of your
workshops.
As we are organising an in-company conference at
our firm ‘Innovate Consulting’ this March, we’d
be interested in finding out whether you are able
to give a presentation of about 45 minutes? Our
focus is on creating value through a company-wide
branding approach. We would be grateful for some
information about your prices and availability.
Should you have any further questions, do not
hesitate to contact me.
Yours sincerely
Mr Julien Potier
Managing Director
Informal: to a colleague Discours informel : à un collègue
Dear Julien
Could you send me the latest material on Mahram
ketchup please? I will need it to prepare the
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Common Business Situations56
pitch in Milan next week. I’d appreciate your help
on this. Let’s talk next week and see how things
are going.
Best regards
Mark
a trade fair un salon commerciala shoemaker un cordonnierreliable fi ablea supplier un fournisseurto quote indiquerto book réserverin-company interne
to be (was, been) able to pouvoir, être capable decompany-wide à l’échelle d’une sociétéa branding une image de marqueto be (was, been) grateful être reconnaissanta pitch une présentation
Useful phrases
Formal: introductions Discours formel : introduction
I was interested to see your advertisement in the latest issue of France ■
magazine.
I understand you are manufacturers of … ■
We have read about your company in the trade press. ■
Mrs. Dolidier, we have not met; however, I would be grateful for your ■
advice.
an advertisement une publicitéan issue un numéroa manufacturer un fabricant
the trade press la presse com-merciale
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Requesting Information or Favours 57
Formal: request for information Discours formel : demander des informations
I wonder if you could …? ■
Do you think I could have …? ■
I’d be grateful if you could … ■
I would like to know … ■
We’re interested in fi nding out … ■
We would like to receive … ■
Could you perhaps attach your current catalogue and price list as a MS ■
Word or PDF fi le?
Please send us information about your product range and prices. ■
Please send full details of your prices, discounts, terms of payment and ■
delivery times.
to wonder se demandera product range une gamme de produitsa discount une remise
terms of payment des conditions générales de paiementa delivery time une échéance de livraison
Informal: request for information Discours informel : demander des informations
Can you tell me a little more about …? ■
Can I have …? ■
Please could you …? ■
Please send me … ■
Just a quick note to remind you to … ■
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Common Business Situations58
Your name and address were passed to me by … ■
We met last Thursday at the Brussels Trade Fair. ■
Scales of politeness Les niveaux de politesse
British English uses different scales of politeness depending on the
familiarity between people. The examples below are ascending:
Why don’t you send me the attachment? ■
Send me the attachment, won’t you? ■
Send me the attachment, will you? ■
Send me the attachment, would you? ■
Won’t you send me the attachment? ■
It isn’t really possible to make such distinctions in the French language
system. But when writing in English it nevertheless matters. It is therefore
advised to use the polite or indirect form when you’re not exactly sure
about which form to use. This means that you should use ‘might’ instead
of ‘may’, or ‘could’ instead of ‘can’.
a scale un niveau, un degréascending croissant
nevertheless néanmoinsto matter avoir de l’importance
En anglais, le « non » direct est rarement utilisé : il est pré-férable d’écrire : I wonder if this is the best solution (« Je me demande si c’est la meilleure solution ») pour traduire un « non » franc.
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Hotel or Conference Enquiries 59
Hotel or Conference EnquiriesSe renseigner sur les hôtels ou les conférences
Examples
Reservation: hotel and technical equipment Réserver un hôtel et l’équipement technique
Dear Sir or Madam
For our company Les Éditions de La Prairie from
Paris, I would like to make a group booking
for 10 guests. It concerns a three day meeting
including accommodation. The date of arrival is
Friday, June 13. We’ll need two double rooms and
six single rooms on a half board basis. There are
no special requests.
The rooms will be paid for by the participants,
and the meeting can be billed to the organiser:
Les Éditions de La Prairie, Paris.
For the conference, we’d like a meeting arrangement
of: coffee (10:30 a.m.) and lunch (1:00 p.m.). We
are looking for a medium-sized conference hall
with three separate meeting rooms.
Each equipped with WLAN, whiteboards and
flipcharts.
Could you please inform me on availability and
prices? Thanking you in advance.
Yours faithfully
Jules Fouquet
Éditions de La Prairie
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Common Business Situations60
Reservation: Restaurant Réserver un restaurant
Dear Sir or Madam
I would like to reserve a table for four people in
your non-smoking area, for tomorrow April 1st at
noon.
Please make the reservation in the name of Les
Éditions de La Prairie from Paris. Thanking you in
advance.
Yours faithfully
Jules Fouquet
a guest un invitéto bill facturerlunch le déjeunermedium-sized de taille moyenne
a whiteboard / a flipchart un tableau blanc / à feuillesa non-smoking area un espace non-fumeur
Useful phrasesPlease reserve a single room with bath for Mr James Robson during his ■
visit in Lilles from April 25th through May 2nd (date of departure).
Can you offer a discount for a group of twenty-fi ve? ■
May I ask you to please quote the inclusive price? ■
I attach a copy of my intended itinerary. ■
Laura Donateau will settle the bill on behalf of Cargill. ■
Unfortunately I have to cancel our reservation at your hotel. ■
I should like to reserve a conference hall for approximately thirty people. ■
Is it possible to have seating in a U-shape?
Please send us details of available conference equipment, as well as ■
simultaneous interpretation and translation services.
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Hotel or Conference Enquiries 61
Could you inform us how much the charge per half day is for a second ■
beamer, fl ipchart and whiteboard?
We would like to be picked up from the conference by coach. ■
a departure un départthe inclusive price le prix TTCunfortunately malheureusementto cancel annulerin a U-shape en forme de U
a halfday une demi-journéea beamer un vidéoprojecteurto pick s.o. up passer prendre qqna coach une voiture
Useful vocabulary
Hotel Hôtel
queen-size bed Am. lit queen size (1,5 m de large)
king-size bed Am. lit king size (2 m de large)
settle (the bill) régler (la note)
booking request demande de réservation
executive class classe affaires
double bed lit double
double room chambre double
single room chambre simple
half board demi-pension
high season haute saison
low / off season basse saison
B&B (Bed & Breakfast) chambre d’hôte (Bed and Breakfast)
full board pension complète
twin-bedded room chambre avec deux lits
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Common Business Situations62
Conference equipment Matériel de conférence
meeting room salle de réunion
stage estrade
fax service service de télécopie
Internet access accès Internet
air conditioning climatisation
conference room salle de conférence
laser pointer pointeur laser
integrated loudspeaker haut-parleur intégré
microphone facilities microphone
fl ip-over chevalet
lectern pupitre
reach 25 m. portée de 25 m
rows rangées
wireless presenter dispositif de présentation sans fi l
secretarial support service de secrétariat
room divider cloison
meeting and accommodation as fl at rate
forfait comprenant l’hébergement et les services de réunion
video conference vidéoconférence
wireless local area network, WLAN
WLAN
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Giving Enquiries 63
Giving Enquiries Soumettre une requête
FYI: for your information Pour information
One of the most commonly sent emails is the FYI. This acronym stands for
‘for your information’. FYI is commonly used in email or memo messages
to fl ag the message as an informational message that does not require
a response. This is typically indicated in the subject line: ‘FYI: annual
sales meeting’. Sending people an email without informing them you
are actually sending it as an FYI might trick them into opening a mail,
they didn’t want to open as generally an FYI doesn’t require someone’s
immediate attention. Because busy readers might not always read all
the subject lines, it is also recommendable to repeat the FYI again in the
fi rst line of the body of the text.
to stand (stood, stood) for signi-fi erto fl ag signalersales les ventes
to trick s.o. into doing sth amener qqn à faire qqch par la ruseto be (was, been) busy être occupé
Useful phrases
For your information … ■
This is to inform you … ■
Just so you know … ■
I wanted to let you know that … ■
This is just to tell you … ■
For your fi les I attach … ■
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Success in BusinessCommuniquerpar e-mail
Succ
ess
in B
usin
ess
– Co
mm
uniq
uer p
ar e
-mai
l
Tout pour réussir vos e-mails professionnels en anglais !
Avec de nombreux
modèles
Communiquez sans complexe en anglais avec vos partenaires internationaux !
6,95 €
E-65
61-1
010
La meilleure méthode pour acquérir une réelle pratique de l’anglais professionnel :
• Des informations rédigées dans un anglais simple et abordable pour s’entraîner à écrire directement en anglais
Le guide pratique de l’anglais de la communication par e-mails :
• Rédigez vos e-mails professionnels dans un anglais fl uide et authentique, pour vous faire comprendre tout en respectant les usages internationaux
• 34 thèmes couvrant les principales situations professionnelles
• Plus de 30 e-mails type prêts à être réutilisés
• Plus de 300 expressions-clé, le vocabulaire essentiel traduit et de nombreux conseils pratiques
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