Chapitre 10 - Business Writing
Emails, rapports et comptes rendus professionnels - rédiger avec clarté et efficacité en anglais.
Reading Comprehension
Based on the British Council article from Découvrir. Answer in English.
Email Writing Made Easy: A Guide to Writing Business Emails
Clear, professional email communication is essential in business to make sure your messages are clear and effective. This guide will help your team learn how to write an email that makes a strong impact, from crafting an effective subject line to using the correct email format and signing off properly.
How to write a good subject line. The subject line is the first thing your recipient sees, so it needs to be clear and to the point. A strong subject line should give a quick idea of the email content and encourage the recipient to open it.
How to start the email. Begin with a polite greeting and address the recipient appropriately. For professional emails, use formal greetings like "Dear [Name]" or "Dear Sir/Madam" if you're unsure of their name. After the greeting, briefly explain why you are writing.
How to write the body. The body of your email should be clear, concise, and focused. Avoid long, complicated sentences. If you need to include several points, break them up into short paragraphs.
How to end the email. Politely wrap up with a clear call to action if necessary. Use a formal closing like "Best regards", "Kind regards", or "Sincerely" followed by your email signature.
Strong email communication is key to your team's success. Ensuring they know how to write clear, professional emails boosts productivity, builds better relationships, and avoids misunderstandings.
Source : britishcouncil.my - Blog, 17 Jan 2025 · Level: B1
1 According to the article, what makes a subject line strong?
2 True or False - then justify in one sentence.
"According to the article, the body of a professional email should contain as much detail as possible, in one single long paragraph."
3 What should you do before sending a professional email, according to the article? (2-3 sentences)
4 Why does the article recommend ending an email with a clear call to action?
5 In your own words, explain why clear email writing matters for a company's success.
Grammar Spotlight - Reported Speech
Observe → Comprends → Applique.
Observe
These sentences report what business leaders actually said in real interviews. Compare the direct quote with the reported version.
The Rule
| Direct speech | Reported speech |
|---|---|
| Present simple | Past simple |
| Present continuous | Past continuous |
| Past simple | Past perfect |
| will | would |
| can | could |
Structure:
Pronouns and time/place expressions also change: my → his/her, now → then, today → that day, here → there.
Exercice A - Rewrite in reported speech
Direct: "The memo is supposed to create the context for a good discussion." - Jeff Bezos
Direct: "I'm writing to follow up on our recent conversation." - a colleague
Direct: "Most of my meetings are now Google doc-based." - Jack Dorsey
Exercice B - Gap-fill
Direct: "We will finalise everything by the end of this week." Reported: She said that they _______ finalise everything by the end of that week.
Direct: "I can send the report tomorrow." Reported: He said that he _______ send the report the next day.
Lexis in Action
Match, classify, and use the key vocabulary from this chapter.
A Matching - Term → Definition
B Gap-fill - Complete the sentences
1. Instead of slides, Amazon employees write a six-page __________ before every important meeting.
2. A well-written email is addressed correctly to its __________.
3. I need to write my first __________ before sending the final version to my manager.
4. After the meeting, someone should send out the __________ so everyone remembers what was decided.
Guided Writing Task
Mobilise everything you've learnt to write a short, clear professional email.
Your manager asked for a short update on a project. Write 80-100 words in English as a professional email: clear subject line, greeting, short body with a status update, and a call to action. Use reported speech at least once (e.g. to relay what a colleague or client said).
Sentence Starters
Word Bank
Your Writing
Self-evaluation Checklist
Subject: Update on Store Refit Project
Dear Claire,
I'm writing to give you a quick update on the store refit project. The design team has finished the first mock-ups, and during our last call, the contractor said that the work would be completed by the end of the month. One issue remains: the new lighting order has been delayed.
Could you confirm by Friday whether we should switch suppliers? I'm happy to discuss further if needed.
Best regards,
[Your name]