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The email

Narrator

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.

Paul

Anna?

Anna

Yes, Paul.

Paul

Come and have a biscuit in my office.

Now Anna, about Mr Lime.

Anna

I didn’t say yes!

Paul

Pardon? Yes to what?

Anna

Oh, nothing.

Paul

You sent him an email yesterday and copied me in.

Anna

Yes.

Paul

Your email reads: boxes ok. pls c-d-u cfirm wnt 300 ta.

Anna

Yes: please could you confirm you want 300.

Paul

Right. Now that’s not really the best way of writing an email to a client, is it?

Anna

Oh.

Paul

Please could you re-send your message to Mr Lime, using actual words that make sense.

Anna

Okay.

Paul

Thank you. Have a chocolate crunchy!

Anna

Thanks.

Tom

Morning Anna.

Anna

Hello.

Tom

Let me guess, Paul just spoke to you about your email?

Anna

How do you know?

Tom

You copied me in remember, I just read it – or tried to.

Anna

But what’s the problem? Other people write like that!

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.

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.

Anna

Thank you! I’ll rewrite my message. There! I’d better get it checked before I send. Denise?

Denise

(On the phone) yes… the other problem with Stephanie is that her legs are just too long…

Anna

Oh, she’s on the phone.

Denise

… yes, like trees…

Anna

I’ll have to ask Tom. Tom?

Tom

Mm?

Anna

Could you read this through before I send it?

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.

Anna

Well?

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.

Anna

Thanks.

Tom

You’re not…

Anna

What?

Tom

Nothing. It’s none of my business.

Anna

What?

Tom

You’re not ever going to go to lunch with Mr Lime are you? I mean, in a non-business way…

Anna

No of course not!

Tom

I mean I don’t care… it’s just… important to… stay professional.

Anna

Yes.

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!