Avoiding Overused Business Letter Phrases
AVOIDING OVERUSED BUSINESS LETTER PHRASES
Grammar Pattern
Warm-up
Talk about these questions with your teacher.
선생님과 이야기해 보세요.
- Have you ever used phrases like "please find enclosed" or "at your earliest convenience" in your business emails? Why do you think these phrases are so common?
비즈니스 이메일에서 "please find enclosed"나 "at your earliest convenience" 같은 표현을 써 본 적이 있나요? 이런 표현이 왜 그렇게 자주 쓰인다고 생각하세요? - Do you think a business letter sounds more professional when it uses formal clichés, or when it uses simple and clear language? Why?
비즈니스 레터가 격식 있는 상투적 표현을 쓸 때 더 전문적으로 보인다고 생각하세요, 아니면 간결하고 명확한 표현을 쓸 때 더 전문적으로 보인다고 생각하세요? 이유는 무엇인가요?
Vocabulary
Listen and repeat after your teacher.
선생님을 따라 읽어보세요.
Reading
Read the passage with your teacher.
선생님과 함께 지문을 읽어보세요.
Grammar Pattern
Avoiding overused business letter phrases:
Many business letters contain hackneyed phrases that detract from a clear, natural style. You need to look for them in your writing and use fresh, clear expression instead. Look at this list and see if you recognize any from your letters:
• according to our records • on receipt of
• after careful consideration • please do not hesitate to
• any further action • please find enclosed
• as you are aware • please forward
• at your earliest convenience • trust this is satisfactory
• detailed information • under separate cover
• enclosed for your information • upon receipt of
• for your convenience • urgent attention
• further to • we acknowledge receipt
• in receipt of • we regret to advise
Look at these examples from typical business letters and you’ll see how removing the business clichés changes the tone of the sentence. The originals have a formal and impersonal tone; the redrafts sound more personal and genuine.
Original:
We trust this is satisfactory, but should you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact us.
Redraft:
We hope you are happy with this arrangement but if you have any questions, please contact us.
Original:
Further to your recent communication. Please find enclosed the requested quotation…
Redraft:
Thank you for contacting us. I enclose the quotation you asked for…
Korean Trap! / 한국인 실수 교정
Common mistakes Korean speakers make.
한국인이 자주 하는 실수를 알아봅시다.
한국어 비즈니스 문서는 격식을 차리기 위해 길고 정중한 표현을 많이 사용합니다. 이 습관이 영어에도 그대로 옮겨져서, 한 문장에 "acknowledge receipt of," "please do not hesitate to," "at your earliest convenience" 같은 상투적 표현을 여러 개 쌓아 쓰는 경우가 많습니다. 영어 비즈니스 레터에서는 간결하고 자연스러운 표현이 오히려 더 전문적으로 보이므로, 진부한 표현을 줄이고 핵심만 명확하게 전달하세요.
Discussion
Share your thoughts with your teacher.
선생님과 의견을 나눠보세요.
- How would you apply what you learned today?
오늘 배운 것을 어떻게 활용하시겠어요? - What was the most useful part of this lesson?
이 수업에서 가장 유용한 부분은 무엇이었나요? - Can you think of a real situation where you would use this?
이것을 사용할 실제 상황을 생각해 볼 수 있나요? - What would you like to practice more?
더 연습하고 싶은 것은 무엇인가요?
Lesson Summary / 수업 요약
Today's Topic: AVOIDING OVERUSED BUSINESS LETTER PHRASES
Level: Business (BIZ)
Review this lesson before your next class! / 다음 수업 전에 복습하세요!