La meilleure méthode pour acquérir une réelle pratique de€¦ · La meilleure méthode pour acquérir une réelle pratique de l’anglais professionnel : • Des informations

Success in BusinessCommuniquerpar e-mail

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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

BZ_B_Email_Couv.indd 1BZ_B_Email_Couv.indd 1 23/09/2010 16:44:0323/09/2010 16:44:03

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

BZ B EMails MEP indd 3BZ B EMails MEP indd 3 07/09/2010 11:56:5007/09/2010 11:56:50

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). ■


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


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



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


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 … ■



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.


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



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.


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



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


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 … ■


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

BZ_B_Email_Couv.indd 1BZ_B_Email_Couv.indd 1 23/09/2010 16:44:0323/09/2010 16:44:03

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La meilleure méthode pour acquérir une réelle pratique de€¦ · La meilleure méthode pour acquérir une réelle pratique de l’anglais professionnel : • Des informations