CSEET · Business Communication · Business Correspondence
Which revision of the sentence 'We are in receipt of your letter dated 5 May and wish to advise that the goods will be dispatched at an early date' best applies the principle of conciseness while keeping courtesy?
The best revision is 'We have your letter of 5 May and will dispatch the goods shortly.' It cuts wordy stock phrases while staying polite and complete. The curt version sacrifices courtesy, and the other versions keep the unnecessary padding the concise principle aims to remove.
- ALetter received. Goods will go soon.
- BWe have your letter of 5 May and will dispatch the goods shortly.Correct
- CThank you for your letter of 5 May; we are hereby in a position to inform you that dispatch of the goods shall be effected shortly.
- DYour letter dated 5 May has been received by us, and we wish to state that the goods will be dispatched at an early date.
Explanation
Option 2 removes stock phrases such as 'in receipt of' and 'wish to advise' yet remains polite and complete. Option 1 is concise but curt and lacks courtesy. Options 3 and 4 remain wordy.
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