How to Write Business Letters in French

The format for a business letter in French is similar to one in English.

Writing business letters in French is very useful when dealing with international relations. The format for business letters in French is similar to that of the English language. The greetings and closings are different. Understanding the grammar and vocabulary of the French language will help you to write better business letters. Take a course in French, organize your thoughts, write the letter and proofread the letter.

Things You'll Need

• Pen
• Paper
• Computer
• French dictionary
• French verb book
• French grammar book

Instructions

1. Learn French. In order to write a business letter in French, you should take a course in the French language. Depending on your level of experience, you can either learn the language, or improve your writing ability. The course probably will review the process of writing business letters. You can take courses in French online or at a community college.

2. Purchase and study a French dictionary, verb book and grammar book. When writing business letters in French, you must be sure that you use the proper grammar and vocabulary. These books will provide you with a good reference. You can purchase the books at a store or online, or borrow them from the library.

3. Organize your information in the form of an outline. The business letter needs an introduction, a few body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Under the introduction heading, write notes about the current state of the business. Under the body paragraph headings, write notes about what you want from the business you are writing to. Under the conclusion heading, write notes about how you appreciate the time that this business has given you.

4. Write the heading of the letter. Write your current business location in the upper right corner, followed by a comma and the date. The date is written in the form of day, month and year. For example, if your business is in New York, and the date is January 12, 2011, write: "New York, le 12 janvier 2011. Skip a line, and write the address of the business that you are writing to.

5. Write the greeting. It should contain the title of the person. If the individual is a lawyer, the title is "Maitre." If the individual is a man, the title is "Monsieur"; if the individual is a woman, the title is "Madame." Write the title and place a comma after it. The title should be toward the left side of the letter.

6. Write the body of the letter. Be concise and state your objective clearly. Be sure to demonstrate appreciation. Use phrases such as "J'apprecie" ("I appreciate"). Use good transitions such as "neanmoins" ("nevertheless") and "cependant" ("however").

7. Write the closing statement. French business letters need a formal closing, such as "Sincerement" ("Sincerely"); or "Merci pour votre patience" ("Thank you for your patience"). Put a comma after this closing and write your name underneath.

8. Proofread the business letter. When writing business letters in French, you should proofread to make sure that you fix all of your errors. When you are finished, print the final version of the letter.

References

• Ask Oxford: Writing Letters in French
• Sample Letters: French Business Letter