Tracy: Melanie, can you help me with something? We need to finalize the account with the Mexican Embassy and, I need some advice on phrasing this letter correctly in English.

Melanie: Sure Tracy, let me just get my laptop all set.

Tracy: Okay, so... To Whom It May Concern, I am writing.

Melanie: Um, Tracy? I think that' s a little too formal. I know you want to be polite but you've already made contact with them, so in English you can be more relaxed in the opening...

Tracy: Okay, more relaxed. Got it. Hey, Sally, what' s up? It's Tracy here, just.

Melanie: Okay Tracy, now it's too relaxed! You've still got to show some respect. How about starting with "Dear Ms. Cooper, I'm writing to confirm...?

Tracy: Great, okay. "Dear Miss Cooper, I'm writing to confirm the final quotation for the full page back cover color advertisement you requested for the spring issue of Voila magazine".

Melanie: That's great...

Tracy: "The final costing, including advert design and production, comes to forty-five thousand six hundred RMB. We want payment ten working days before publication or we will cancel the ad. Thanks for..."

Melanie: Woo, okay, back up a second, Tracy. That's too direct. Can I suggest you say, please note that final payment is due two working weeks before publication? You don't want to offend her.

Tracy: Oops, okay. You are right. Then I can just end with "All the best, Tracy".

Melanie: Hmmmm, maybe, but I'd play it safe and just finish with "Yours Sincerely". That's more professional.

Tracy: Oh, Melanie, you are a life saver, thank you!\

finalize the account 确定帐户
embassy n. 大使馆，大使馆全体人员
phrase n.短语，习语，措辞，[音]乐句 vt.措词，将(乐曲)分成乐句
To Whom It May Concern信件的开头常用写法，特别是不知道对方称呼的条件下用
what' s up 怎么了，什么情况，接下来做什么
All the best/Yours Sincerely 信的结尾常用语

特蕾西：梅勒妮，能帮我做些事吗？我们要和墨西哥大使馆确定账户，然后我需要一些建议，就是有关用英语书写规范的问题。

梅勒妮：当然了，特蕾西，先让我准备好我的笔记本电脑。

特蕾西：好的，所以说，我要写给谁呢？

梅勒妮：呃，特蕾西，我想这样写有些太正式了。我知道你想表现得很有礼貌，但是我们已经来往过，所以信的开头可以超微轻松一些。

特蕾西：好的，要比较轻松。知道了。嗨，莎莉，怎么了？特蕾西也正好在这里。

梅勒妮：好的，特蕾西，现在放松多了吧！不过还是要表现出尊敬。以“亲爱的库伯小姐，我写信来是为了确认……”这样为开头行吗？

特蕾西：好，好的。“亲爱的库伯小姐，我写信给你是为了确认最后的定价，就是春季出版的Voila杂志封面全页的广告。

梅勒妮：这样写很好……

特蕾西：最后的花费，包括广告定价和生产，总共有45600。我们希望在杂志出版的十个工作日之前收到付款，没收到的话，我们会取消广告。谢谢……”

梅勒妮：哇，好的，在修改一下，特蕾西。这样太直接了。如果你不想冒犯的话，我可以这样说么：“请注意，最后的付款须要在杂志出版的两个工作周之前支付”。

特蕾西：哎呀，好的。你是对的。然后我只要以“一切都好，特蕾西”结尾就行了。

梅勒妮：嗯，也许吧。但是保险起见吧，用“你的真诚的”，会显得更专业些。

特蕾西：哦，梅勒妮，你真是我的救星，谢谢啦！