18 - The email
Language for writing an email
Anna's having trouble with her emails. She's been trying to sort out the order of Imperial Lemons for Mr Lime. She sends an email but her choice of text-speak isn't appropriate and Paul, the boss, isn't impressed.
Intermediate · 161102 · 2016-11-02
Anna's having trouble with her emails. She's been trying to sort out the order of Imperial Lemons for Mr. Lime. She sends an email but her choice of text-speak isn't appropriate and Paul, the boss, isn't impressed. Anna needs some help from Tom who always has plenty of advice. Her email is rewritten and sent off, but will that be the end of the matter? Language for writing an email This episode focuses on the correct language to use in an email.
1. Dear Mr. Lime...
BBC UK: Dear Mr Lime...
2. I hope you are well.
BBC UK: I hope you are well.
3. I am writing regarding...
BBC UK: I am writing regarding...
4. Please could you confirm...
BBC UK: Please could you confirm...
5. Best wishes.
BBC UK: Best wishes.
1. Narrator
Hello, Anna's just arrived at her desk to start the day at Tip Top Trading. Paul is walking towards her, eating a cookie, he looks a bit bothered.
BBC UK: Hello, Anna's just arrived at her desk to start the day at Tip Top Trading. Paul is walking towards her, eating a biscuit, he looks a bit bothered.
2. Paul
Anna?
BBC UK: Anna?
3. Anna
Yes, Paul.
BBC UK: Yes, Paul.
4. Paul
Come and have a cookie in my office. Now Anna, about Mr. Lime.
BBC UK: Come and have a biscuit in my office. Now Anna, about Mr Lime.
5. Anna
I didn't say yes!
BBC UK: I didn't say yes!
6. Paul
Pardon? Yes to what?
BBC UK: Pardon? Yes to what?
7. Anna
Oh, nothing.
BBC UK: Oh, nothing.
8. Paul
You sent him an email yesterday and copied me in.
BBC UK: You sent him an email yesterday and copied me in.
9. Anna
Yes.
BBC UK: Yes.
10. Paul
Your email reads: boxes ok. pls c-d-u cfirm wnt 300 ta.
BBC UK: Your email reads: boxes ok. pls c-d-u cfirm wnt 300 ta.
11. Yes
please could you confirm you want 300.
BBC UK: please could you confirm you want 300.
12. Paul
Right. Now that's not really the best way of writing an email to a client, is it?
BBC UK: Right. Now that's not really the best way of writing an email to a client, is it?
13. Anna
Oh.
BBC UK: Oh.
14. Paul
Please could you re-send your message to Mr. Lime, using actual words that make sense.
BBC UK: Please could you re-send your message to Mr Lime, using actual words that make sense.
15. Anna
Okay.
BBC UK: Okay.
16. Paul
Thank you. Have a chocolate crunchy!
BBC UK: Thank you. Have a chocolate crunchy!
17. Anna
Thanks.
BBC UK: Thanks.
18. Tom
Morning Anna.
BBC UK: Morning Anna.
19. Anna
Hello.
BBC UK: Hello.
20. Tom
Let me guess, Paul just spoke to you about your email?
BBC UK: Let me guess, Paul just spoke to you about your email?
21. Anna
How do you know?
BBC UK: How do you know?
22. Tom
You copied me in remember, I just read it - or tried to.
BBC UK: You copied me in remember, I just read it – or tried to.
23. Anna
But what's the problem? Other people write like that!
BBC UK: But what's the problem? Other people write like that!
24. Tom
No, maybe some people write text messages like that in an SMS message on their phones, but that is completely the wrong style for an email to a client.
BBC UK: No, maybe some people write text messages like that in an SMS message on their phones, but that is completely the wrong style for an email to a client.
25. Narrator
Okay Anna, let's stop listening to Tom, he's a waste of space. These are the kinds of phrases you need in a business-related email: Dear Mr. Lime... I hope you are well. I am writing regarding... Please could you confirm... Yours sincerely, or Best wishes.
BBC UK: Okay Anna, let's stop listening to Tom, he's a waste of space. These are the kinds of phrases you need in a business-related email: Dear Mr Lime... I hope you are well. I am writing regarding... Please could you confirm... Yours sincerely, or Best wishes.
26. Anna
Thank you! I'll rewrite my message. There! I'd better get it checked before I send. Denise?
BBC UK: Thank you! I'll rewrite my message. There! I'd better get it checked before I send. Denise?
27. Denise
(On the phone) yes... the other problem with Stephanie is that her legs are just too long...
BBC UK: (On the phone) yes... the other problem with Stephanie is that her legs are just too long...
28. Anna
Oh, she's on the phone.
BBC UK: Oh, she's on the phone.
29. Denise
... yes, like trees...
BBC UK: ... yes, like trees...
30. Anna
I'll have to ask Tom. Tom?
BBC UK: I'll have to ask Tom. Tom?
31. Tom
Mm?
BBC UK: Mm?
32. Anna
Could you read this through before I send it?
BBC UK: Could you read this through before I send it?
33. Tom
Hang on, Anna, let me just finish this sentence. It’s really important. I’m ready, let’s have a look. Okay. (reading) Dear Mr. Lime, I hope you are well. I am writing regarding your request for luxury boxes for the Imperial Lemon Delivery. We will indeed be able to supply them. Please could you confirm that you want 300. Best wishes, Anna.
BBC UK: Hang on, Anna, let me just finish this sentence. It’s really important. I’m ready, let’s have a look. Okay. (reading) Dear Mr Lime, I hope you are well. I am writing regarding your request for luxury boxes for the Imperial Lemon Delivery. We will indeed be able to supply them. Please could you confirm that you want 300. Best wishes, Anna.
34. Anna
Well?
BBC UK: Well?
35. Tom
It’s good, it's much better. Send it. Hopefully Mr. Lime will think your last message was just someone sitting on your keyboard by mistake.
BBC UK: It’s good, it's much better. Send it. Hopefully Mr Lime will think your last message was just someone sitting on your keyboard by mistake.
36. Anna
Thanks.
BBC UK: Thanks.
37. Tom
You're not...
BBC UK: You're not...
38. Anna
What?
BBC UK: What?
39. Tom
Nothing. It's none of my business.
BBC UK: Nothing. It's none of my business.
40. Anna
What?
BBC UK: What?
41. Tom
You're not ever going to go to lunch with Mr. Lime are you? I mean, in a non-business way...
BBC UK: You're not ever going to go to lunch with Mr Lime are you? I mean, in a non-business way...
42. Anna
No of course not!
BBC UK: No of course not!
43. Tom
I mean I don’t care... it's just... important to... stay professional.
BBC UK: I mean I don’t care… it's just... important to... stay professional.
44. Anna
Yes.
BBC UK: Yes.
45. Narrator
Hmmm.... well, I had a feeling Anna's email was going to cause problems. But at least she won't make a mistake like that again. Here’s a reminder of the phrases she used in her new, improved email. Dear Mr. Lime... I hope you are well. I am writing regarding... Please could you confirm... Best wishes. Until next time, bye!
BBC UK: Hmmm.... well, I had a feeling Anna's email was going to cause problems. But at least she won't make a mistake like that again. Here’s a reminder of the phrases she used in her new, improved email. Dear Mr Lime... I hope you are well. I am writing regarding... Please could you confirm... Best wishes. Until next time, bye!
Question
What is Anna trying to confirm in her email?
Answer
That her company can provide 300 luxury boxes to Mr. Lime.