便条写作
关于格式
便条(又称短笺)作为专业英语四级考试对英语应用文(practicalwriting)的考查点之一，是每年的固定题目。2005年专业四级考试大纲将便条的分值由5分增至10分。分值的增加应当引起我们对这道题目的重视。考试大纲对英语专业写作便条部分的测试要求是:"根据提示写大约50~60词的便条、通知、请帖等。要求做到格式正确，语言得体。考试时间为10分钟。"由此我们可以看出它所涉及的考点是格式和语言得体性。因此我们可以从格式、开篇结尾、表达是否清楚得当以及如何使用委婉语气和敬词这几方面着手进行复习和练习。
便条根据其用途可分成很多类，这里我们着重讲经常考的几类：邀请类便条、致歉类便条、通知类便条、致谢类便条和祝贺类便条。然后我们会以范文的形式解读其他类便条的写作步骤和内容重点。
便条写作是专四写作部分考试中得分很有灵活性的一道题目，既可能得满分，也可能得分很低。其得分高低的关键之一在于格式是否正确。考试大纲对英语专业写作测试要求中提到:"便条写作最主要的是注意格式正确"。因此我们首先要熟练掌握便条写作的格式。
称呼顶格、日期在右、首行缩进、署名签在后
英文书信由6个部分组成：信头、信内地址、称呼、正文、谦语和署名。而便条写作有别于普通的书信，属
于非正式书信。它的格式非常清晰简单。它的篇幅短小，无需写信内地址，有时也无需写祝词和谦语。如此
清晰的格式，我们可以将其简单地总结为:"称呼顶格、日期在右、首行缩进、署名签在后"。一篇便条作文格式
可用以下简图示意:
1?称呼要顶格，可根据亲疏关系冠以尊称或直呼姓名。可用Dear Sir or Madame，Dear Tom等正式称呼，也可直呼其名。在称呼后面一般用逗号(英国式)，有时也可以用冒号(美国式)。我们习惯上还是用逗号。写给亲人和关系密切的朋友时，用Dear或My Dear再加上表示关系的称呼或直呼其名。例如:My dear mother，Dear Alice等。商务信函用Dear Sir或Gentleman(Gentlemen)。请注意不能出现Dear Gentlemen这种称呼,Gentlemen前不能加Dear。我们也可用头衔或职位等再加姓名。例如:Dear Professor David Smith，Dear Dr.John Wells.
2?日期写在右上角。便条的日期既可写明具体年月日，也可只写星期几，若日期的准确性要求高也可
以写明具体时刻。日期可写成Mayll-9005(美国)、llMay，2005(英国)、Mayllth，2005;llthMay，2005等形式。Mayll,2005此种用法最为普遍。
3?正文首行第一个字母缩进四个字母。便条正文位置在称呼语下面隔一行。正文注意不要按汉语习惯问候"Hell0"。首行向右缩进，通常以缩进四个字母为宜，第二行从
左面顶格写起，这是缩进的格式。
4?署名签在最后，应在右下角。署名前可视情而定，写Yourssincerely，Yourver，RespectfuIlyyours等等以表恭敬之意，也可直接签名。注意一般不要按汉语写信习惯写"YourbeStfriend"，"Yourclassmate"等称谓。谦语位置低于结束语一至二行，从信纸中间偏右的地方开始写。
另外关于谦语我们还要掌握一定的规则:
(对地位高的人或长辈):Respectfullyyours，YourSrespectfully
(对不太熟悉或应表示客气的人):YOttrStruly，Trttthf,tllyyOtlrS
(亲密的朋友、亲属之间):Affectionatelyyours，Yourscordially
(最亲密的人之间):YOurs访vingly，DeVOt出的yOuYS
望梅止渴近义词下面是一则邀请类便条的示例:
9 a. m., May 11
Dear Mike,
I've got two tickets to a concert given by the famous pop band Nightingale. Yesterday I waited in a long queue in order to buy them becau I've been looking forward to listening to this concert. It is to begin at 7 p. m. tomorrow. I have no class tomorrow. Are you also free tomorrow? Would you like to come with me? When your class are over, plea phone me.
Yours,
Tom
邀请便条类
邀请类便条是非常实用的一类便条，无论是在正式的邀请函上还是朋友熟人间的邀请都有可能用到它。虽然近几年四级考试中只考过一次，我们对其还应该有相当的重视。
Write a note of about 50—60 words bad on the following situation:
You have got two tickets to a concert given by a famous pop band/orchestra. Write a note to your friend,Hilda/Mike, describing briefly what it is and inviting her/him to come with you.
四级考试大纲的测试要求明确指出，"根据提示写大约50~60词的便条、通知、请帖等"。请帖即正式的邀请类便条。对于请帖的写作，我们应该特别注重语言得体。"语言得体"也是四级便条的考察点。四级便条的评分标准中就有"appropriacy"(适当、恰当)这一点。"适当、恰当"包括措辞和语气两方面。这要求我们根据情景和人物关系正确选择措辞和语气，做到措辞恰当、语气表达适当。考试中通常要求向熟悉的同事、同学、朋友写便条，用词比较通俗、口语化。
根据关系亲疏决定持辞和语气的正式程度
前面已经指出，便条分正式便条和非正式便条。我们应当首先分清楚写便条者和收便条者之间的关系和情景的正式程度，以决定是用对方的职称还是直接称呼姓名，确定所使用的措辞。通常情况下便条的形式和内容比较简洁。中心内容可以用几句话概括，语言尽量通俗，口语化，简单扼要，直截了当，无需使用客套语言。但向诸如教授等长辈留便条时要注意措辞，并且用的语气要尽可能得委婉。
试比较以下两则便条:
Dec. 29, 2004碧螺春茶叶
Dear Ms. Smith,
We will hold a party in our classroom to celebrate the mid-autumn fe
stival at 8 p. m. this Friday. Will it be possible that you come and join us in the celebration? We would be very delighted to have our dear teacher with us on this special occasion. If possible plea let us know whether you can come at your convenience.
Respectfully yours,
Hua
May 4, 2005
Dear Liu,
We will have a party at 8 p. m. to celebrate the mid-autumn festival in our classroom. Do you care to come to our party? I assure you there will be a lot of entertainment and joyful events. Don't hesitate. Come and e for yourlf!
医工院
请再看下面几组例子 :
1. I should appreciate it very much if you condescend to meet us.
2. Come and meet us at the school gate!
带符号网名3. We are looking forward to the opportunity to listen to your in-depth speech'.
4. I can't wait to listen to your speech!
四句话语气显然不同 ，第一和第三句客气 ，句式正规；二、四言简意赅，句子简短。我们应该在比较中理解语气的选择与使用 。
便条语气不要生硬 。 比如以下句子 :
安全生产检查记录表You have breakfast at eight, get your luggage downstairs at eight thirty and leave here for the airport at nine.
这句话尽管表达地非常清楚 ，信息量充足 ，但语气生硬 ，没有礼貌 。 试改成下面这句 :
Breakfast is at eight. Would you plea get your luggage downstairs at eight thirty? We are gomg to l
eave
here for the airport at nine.
经过改动 ，变陈述句为疑问句 ，就显得礼貌 、委婉。
我们可以多 了 解 一 些 表 达 "请"的 词 ，除 了 "plea"我 们 还 可 以 用be good enough; be kind
enough; have the kindness, have the peasure to do/of doing/in doing; to take (a) pleasure in doing (something); to take pleasure in doing (something); to be plead to(with) (by) ; to be delighted at (in) (with); to be glad to (of) (about) ; to be rejoiced in (at); to be extremely plead to等短语来表达 。
若要将句子变得更有礼貌 、更委婉 ，除了使用表达"请"的词 ，我们还可以利用 以下几种方式 :
1. 陈述句改为问句 ，而少用祈使句、感叹句等 。 比如，Would Is there any possibility that
. . . Why not. . . 等 。
2. 采用包含 would,should,might等情态动词的语句 。 提出劝告 、建议 :It would be /could be fine to do…, I mightbebetter to.. .. perhaps you might like to…; You might as do…等 ；提 出 请求 、询 问 意 向 :I would like to…; Could you…; Woul you… if I may,Ｉwill.. Could you possibly… would you mind…等。
3. 陈述看法时 ，用过去时代替现在时是客气委婉的表示 。 I believed/thought. . . ; I was I wondered if. . . :
I wonder (wondered) if you can (could) spare a few minutes.
追忆I want (wanted) to ask if I can (could) borrow your bike.
I hope (hoped) you can (could) give us some help.
4? 一般将来时和将来进行时虽然都表示将来，但后者听起来更委婉。 比如你要等一个人 ，
说"I shall be
waiting for you "比说"I shall wait for you"要委婉客气得多。 另外 ，在疑问句 中用将来进行时也比用现在进 行时更为客气。 例如 :
Are you staying in Beijing long? 你在北京住得久吗?
Will you be staying in Beijing long?你将在北京久居吗?
开篇结尾句型
The Smiths kindly request your prence at the banquet to be held. . .
反七步诗May we have the honor to invite you to the concert. ..
Will you plea tell me what time will be convenient for us to get together. . .
We should be so happy to have you come to dinner with us next Friday.
I shall be grateful if you can come to my place at your earliest convenience.
We'd like to invite you to. . .
Would you like to come with us to. . .
Do you want to join us in. . .
Are you interested in. . .
Do you care to join us in. . .
Would it be possible for you to join us at. . .
We should be so happy to have you come to dinner with us tonight.
结尾
Plea reply as soon as possible.
Plea let us know your decision ASSP.
Plea let me know by calling me up at the office.
We would be very happy if you could join us.
We are awaiting/anxious to receive your early reply.
We should appreciate an early reply.
We thank you now for the courtesy of your early attention.
Kindly reply at your earliest convenience.
Plea favor us with your reply as early as possible.
Plea write to us by tonight's mail, without fail.
May we remind you that we are still awaiting your early reply?
Your prompt attention to this matter would be greatly esteemed.
A prompt reply will greatly oblige us.
Your prompt reply would be greatly appreciated.
A prompt reply would help us greatly.
May we request the favor of your early reply?
We look forward to receiving your early reply.
We thank you now for this anticipated courtesy.
As the matter is urgent, an early reply will oblige.
另附邀请函
Enclod plea find
Enclod we hand you
We enclo herewith
Herewith we have the pleasure to hand you
We have pleasure in enclosing herewith
1 Sep. 21, 2005
Dear Sir,
On May 21 we will host a party of celebration in honor of the retirement of Mr. Jones, President of our
company. You are cordially invited to attend the celebration at our guest hall. Mr. Jones has been the
President of our company since the year 2000. During this period, our company expanded its business greatly.
Now it's our opportunity to thank him for his years of exemplary leadership and wish him a happy retirement.
Plea join us to say Good-bye to him.
Jianghua Co. LTD
2 Oct. 11, 2005
Dear Sir/Madam,
We would very much like to have someone from your company speak at our conference on the topic of
leadership.
As you may be aware, the mission of our association is to promote communication. Many of o
ur members
are interested in the achievements your company has made.
国家教育政策
Enclod is our preliminary schedule for the conference that will be reviewed in weeks. I'll call you on
December 1st to e who from your company would be willing to speak to us. I can assure you that we'll make
everything convenient to the speaker.
Sincerely yours,
Liu
1. Write a note of about 50 words bad on the following situation.
You will hold a hou-warming party at you new hou tonight. You couldn't get your best friend Laur
a
on the phone. Write a note to her, describing what the party will be like and inviting her to it. Don't forget to
mention that Laura's friends are also welcome.
2. Write a note of about 50 words bad on the following situation.
Write a note to invite the Smiths to the buffet to be held in the guest room of your company. Time: 7
tonight.
Nov. 11, 2004
Dear Laura,
We will plan a hou-warming party at 7 p. m. at our new apartment tonight. I guess you want to e
what our new apartment looks like after delicate decoration. And there will be a lot of fun at the party. We can
dance till dawn if we like. Are you interested? Come and e for yourlf. By the way, I couldn't get you on
the phone. When you come back, give me a call and tell me your decision, OK?
Yours ever,
Tom
2. . June 6, 2000
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Smith,
There will be a buffet in the guest room of our company at 7 p. m. tonight. You are kindly invited to it.
Your prence will be whole-heartedly appreciated. If for certain reasons you can't come, plea let us know in
advance.
Sincerely yours,
Lin
道歉类
1. Write a note of about 60 words bad on the following situation.
You were suppod to hand in your book report for the Extensive Reading Cour on Monday, but you are
two days late. Now you are outside Professor Lin's office as you want to hand in your assignment, but he is
not in. Write a note to him, apologizing and explaining why you did not give him your work on time.
(1994TEM-4)
2. Write a note of about 50—60 words bad on the following situation:
You are Peter/Mary. You had a party at your home recently, but you unintentionally neglected to invite a
clo friend of yours—Victoria. Write her a note apologizing for this and explaining how the mistake came
about. (1997TEM-4)
3. Write on ANSWER SHEET ONE a note of about 50-60 words bad on the following situation:
Yesterday you failed to turn up for the appointment with your teacher. Professor Wang. Write him a note
of apology and make a request for another meeting. You should also suggest the time for the requested
meeting. (200 ITEM-4)
4. Write a note of about 50-60 words bad on the following situation:
Your friend Clare has invited you to her hou-warming party this weekend. However, you will be
away then. Write her a n
