“簡潔”是有客觀標準的。雖然西方國家的作者之間在怎樣用詞才算“簡潔”方面還是有爭論的，不過他們的一些看法還是有一定參考價值的。
　　現在把他們所做的某些詞句的“不簡潔”的比較列在下面做參考：

不簡潔 簡潔
enclosed herewith enclosed
enclosed you will find enclosed is
please be advised that (four wasted words)
please don''t hesitate to call upon us please write us
please feel free to write prior to please write before
this is to advise you (five wasted words)
under separate cover separately
a long period of time a long time
continuous and uninterrupted continuous (or uninterrupted)
during the year of 1971 during 1971
endorse on the back of this check endorse this check
for a price of $300 for $300
grateful and appreciative grateful(or: appreciative)
immediately and at once immediately (or: at once)
in(for) the moment of $400 For $400
in the city of Chicago in Chicago
according to our records we find
at this time now
due to the fact that because
during the time that while
for the purpose of for, to
for the reason that since(or; because)

下面是某些作者認為“應該用”和“不應該用”的：

不應該用 應該用
Averting to your favor Referring to your letter
Re (your letter) or
The writer wishes to acknowledge Thank you for your letter

We are in receipt of We have received
We beg to acknowledge We are writing to inform you
We have to acknowledge
We beg to inform you

We beg to thank you We thank you
Your letter to hand We have received your letter
Yours to hand

　　怎樣才能使商業書信“簡潔”？ 西方國家作者有很多建議，先介紹如下：

　�。ㄒ唬┍苊馐褂藐惻f的商業術語

　　陳舊的與傳統的商業術語（Commercial jargon）對信的內容沒有什么作用，應該避免使用。

例一：

Wordy: We wish to acknowledge receipt of your letter of November 14 with the check for Stg.10 enclosed and wish to thank you for same.

Concise: We appreciate your letter of November 14 and the check for Stg. 10 you sent with it.

例二：

Wordy: We take liberty to approach you with the request that you would be kind enough to introduce to us some exporters of cotton textiles in your cities.
Would you please introduce to us some exporters of cotton textiles in your city?

Concise: (a) Please introduce to us some exporters of cotton textiles in your city.
(b)Would you please introduce to us some exporters of cotton textiles in your city.

　�。ǘ�）要長話短說，避免羅嗦

　　通常商業人士每天需要閱讀大量的書信，對開門見山，長話短說，直接切題的信特別歡迎。因此，寫信要力求長話短說，例如：

不要寫 應寫作
Please see that an enquiry is conducted to determine the reason. Please find out the reason.
We express our regret at being unable to fulfil your order on this occasion. We are sorry we cannot meet your present order.

　　要使用簡潔的語言，有可能的話，盡量使用單詞來代替某些嬌柔做作的短語如：
Will you be good enough to-----------------------------Please
Come to a decision----------------------------------------decide
Express a preference for---------------------------------prefer
For the reason that----------------------------------------because

　　刪去不必要的形容詞，如下列句子中的形容詞或副詞刪去后并不影響句子的原意：
The proposal is under (active) consideration.
The answer is (definitely) correct.
I would (rather) think the fare is too high.
The (true) facts are as stated

　　（三）要注意每句句子的長短
例如：
　　"We would like to know whether you would allow us to extend the time of shipment for twenty days, and if you would be so kind as to allow us to do so, kindly give us your reply by cable without delay."

　　這句話過分“客氣”，使句子過長而不清楚。內容要求對方同意延期交貨20天，一般情況下，應盡可能提出延期到那一天的具體日期。這句話可壓縮為：

　　"

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