文书信格式称谓差异

商务英语书信(Business or Commercial English Correspondence)是指交易时所使用的通信。在美国，常用Business writing，它包括书信、电报、电话、电传、报告书、明信片等。英语和美语在书信体例方面存在着一定的差异，比如信头和称呼、书信格式、遣词、结尾客套语等均有所不同。 一般来说，英国书信较为保守，许多英国人喜欢用老式书信体，用词较为正式刻板，而美国书信语言非常生气、有活力，格式也较为简便。因此当我们写信的对象是英国或其旧殖民地国家时，要使用标准式英语Queen’s English；如果写信的对象是美国或美国势力范围的地区时，就要用美国英语。当然，英国式的语言文化近年来也有变化，但总体来说，两者间的差异是很明显的。

Business or commercial English correspondence refers to the communication used in the transaction. In the United States, business writing is commonly used, including letters, telegrams, telephones, telexes, reports, postcards, etc. There are some differences between English and American in the style of letter, such as the head and address, the form of letter, the choice of words, the formula of ending object and so on. Generally speaking, English letters are more conservative. Many Britons like to use the old style of letters, and the words are more formal and rigid. The American letter language is very angry, dynamic, and the format is relatively simple. Therefore, when we write to Britain or its old colonial countries, we should use standard English Queen's English; if we write to the United States or areas of American influence, we should use American English. Of course, British language and culture have changed in recent years, but on the whole, the difference between them is obvious.

商业英文书信，一般都要求用打字机或电脑整齐地打印，左边各行开头垂直的，称为垂直式或齐头式(Block style)，美国常用这种格式；每段的第一个词缩进去，称为缩进式或锯齿式(indented style)，英国常用此格式。垂直式的职务及签名都在左边的边栏界线，这种格式，在极度尊重工作效率的美国公司，已普遍采用。正式的商业英语书信要在称呼的上方写上收信公司名称和地址或收信人的名字全称、职务及地址，称为信内地址（Inside address）。信内地址的写法也有垂直式和缩进式之分，垂直式和称美国式将各行并列，缩进式或称英国式将各行依次退缩。

Business English letters generally require typewriters or computers to print neatly. The left lines start vertically, called vertical or block style, which is commonly used in the United States; the first word in each paragraph is called indented style, which is commonly used in the United Kingdom. Vertical positions and signatures are on the left side of the border, a format that has been widely used in U.S. companies that respect efficiency. In a formal business English letter, the name and address of the receiving company or the full name, title and address of the receiver shall be written above the address, which is called inside address. There are also vertical and indented ways to write the address in the letter. The vertical style and the American style will be side-by-side, and the indented or British style will be back in turn.

不过，近来英国商业书信信内地址并未依次缩进，似乎与美国式相同。此外，在美国还流行一种普通收信人地址的写法，就是在书信的Inside Address中，把门牌号和街名都省略掉。在英文书信中要使用敬语，最普遍的敬语是Mr， Mrs和Miss（用于未婚女性）。英国人常在男性的姓名之后用Esq。 (Esquire的缩写)，不过在商业上也在慢慢地改用Mr。 Mmes。 (Madam的复数形式)，用于二个女士以上。Messrs（Mr的复数形式）用于二个以上的男人，或用于二个以上的男人组成的公司或团体。在英国式英文信里，Mr， Mrs， Messrs，均不加缩写句点，相反地趋向于进步自由的美语反而加缩写句点如Mr。， Mrs。， Messrs。。在称呼方面，商业上最普遍的有Gentlemen（美国式）与Dear Sirs（英国式）二种，相当于我国的"敬启者"或"谨启者"。如果信是写给革个公司单位的，不是写给某个具体人的，美语用Gentlemen（复数形式），英语用Dear Sirs。如果对方公司只一人时，必须使用Sir/Dear Sir。称呼后一般要使用标点符号，英国式采用逗号(comma)，美国式用分号(colon)。书信结尾客套语(complimentary close)有多种，相当于我国书信在结尾时使用的"敬礼"、"致敬"、"顺安"等句。最为典型的美国式写法是Sincerely和Best regards，典型的英国式表达有Yours sincerely（熟人或知道对方姓名），Best wishes， kind regards 和yours faithfully（不知姓名）。此外，英国式的客套语还有特别礼貌的格式，但除了特殊情况外，现在不再使用。

Recently, however, the addresses of business letters in the UK have not been indented in turn, which seems to be the same as those in the US. In addition, in the United States, there is a popular way to write the address of the ordinary addressee, which is to omit the house number and street name in the inside address of the letter. Honorifics should be used in English letters. The most common honorifics are Mr, Mrs and miss (for unmarried women). English people often use ESQ after a man's name. (short for Esquire), but Mr is also slowly being used in business. Mmes. (plural of madam) for more than two ladies. Messrs (plural of MR) is used for more than two men, or for companies or groups of more than two men. In English letters, Mr, Mrs and Messrs do not add abbreviations. Instead, American English, which tends to be progressive and free, adds abbreviations such as Mr. Mrs. ， Messrs。。 In terms of address, there are two most common types in business, namely, gentlemen (American style) and Dear Sirs (British style), which are equivalent to our country's & quot; Honorary & quot; or & quot; cautionary & quot;. If the letter is written to a company, not to a specific person, it is written in gentlemen in American English and bear SIRS in English. If the opposite company has only one person, sir / Dear Sir must be used. Generally, punctuation is used after address, comma is used in British style, and semicolon is used in American style. There are many kinds of completive close, which are equivalent to the sentences of "salute", "salute", "Shun'an". The most typical American way of writing is "sincerely" and "best regards". The typical British way of writing is "you sincerely" (acquaintances or know each other's names), best wishes, kind regards and your faithfully (unknown names). In addition, there are also special politeness forms in English style, but they are no longer used except in special circumstances.