一、概述
便條也是書信的一種形式。它的特點是內容簡短，主要有臨時性的詢問、留言、通知、要求等。跟正規(guī)書信相比，便條的語言比較口頭化，比如要通知某事只需這樣開頭：Just a line to tell you that ...而無須像正規(guī)書信那樣This is to inform you that ...開頭。另外，在便條中常出現(xiàn)省略現(xiàn)象，例如：“key to back door is under mat.”或者“key to back door under mat .”(后門鑰匙在墊子下面)代之以“The key to the back door is under the mat.”。
結束時也無需結尾禮詞，只需寫上寫便條者姓名。如果是關系比較近的人，則只需寫上姓或名。
便條的日期通常寫在右上角。一般只寫上星期幾或者星期幾上午或下午，也可寫上午、下午的具體時刻。日常應用中，寫上幾月幾日的也很普遍。但一般不寫年份，因為便條的內容多半是當日或近日內要辦的事情。寫便條時，不得事先準備，因此無固定格式，大多用手寫。
二、注意事項
1.詞句簡潔，盡量避免應酬語和各種敬詞
2.切忌內容空洞、言不達意。
三、分類舉例
1）請假（Asking for Leave）
例1
Directions:You are about to write a Business Leave Note of about 100 words. Please describe these information clearly.
1) the reason you ask for the leave
2) the time and how long you will leave
Class 4, Grade 3
Aug. 22nd
To Department Office
Secretary Li,
I’m sorry to apply for ten day’s leave from the Aug. 23rd to sept, 3rd instant. As I have to leave with the time is urgent. My father now in the hospital is badly ill. I have to go to see him and take care of him for a few days. You know I’m the only child in my family. Of course I will show you the telegram about my fathers illness which is recieved from my mother to support my application.
As concern as the missed lessons during my absence, I promise I will do my best to catch them on after I come back to the campus. Wish for your allowance.
Yours respectfully
×××
*本文是一封請假條，一般我們要向上級或老師請假，通常用的是ack for leave這個短語，請三天假可寫作：ask for three days’ leave;因病請假則是ask for sick leave.leave在這里是名詞用法，文中用的短語是apply for意為“申請”，含有更加鄭重的意味，常用于下級對上級或晚輩對長輩的書面語中，“Only child”意為“獨生子女”相應的，“獨生女”譯作“only daughter”而“獨生子”譯作“only son”. As concern as.后面跟名詞性結構，意為“涉及到，至于”與Concerning同意，兩者可以互換。
2)約請(Invitation)
例
Directions:You have a ticket to the Russian National Ballet Troupe, which is visiting and you want to give it to your friend Alice. Write a note to her and say:
1) the time of the show,
2) the place where you will wait for her
You should write about 100 words.
Sunday
Dear Alice,
Here is a piece of good news for you. The Russian National Ballet Troupe, which is now on a visit in Beijing, will give a performance in the Beijing Grand Theater tomorrow evening. I am sure that you will be happy to watch it. Here I leave you an admission card. The performance will begin at seven o’clock sharp. I will wait for you at the theater entrance. Please let me know whether you are prevented from coming or not.
×××
* 約朋友一起去看戲，可是朋友不在家，只好留下票子和一張便條，但又怕朋友來不了，所以在便條最后特地寫上“如果你來不了，告訴我一聲”（Please let me know whether you are prevented from coming）此文的wait for也可以用expect 代替。
3)道歉（Apology）
人非圣賢，孰能無過。在社會交往中，人們常常會出現(xiàn)一些疏忽、過失等。如果發(fā)生此類事情，就會給對方帶來麻煩和不便。為了避免誤解，不影響感情，在這種情況下，應寫信給對方予以解釋，以請求諒解。
此類信要寫得及時，態(tài)度要誠懇，用詞需謙遜。一般在信一開始就向對方表示歉意或內疚，然后說明原因并提出補救的辦法。
本文來自：逍遙右腦記憶 http://yy-art.cn/waiyu/yingyuxuexi/20726.html
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