一、邀請信及複信 ( Letters of Invitations and Acknowledgments)
 邀請信包括宴會邀請、午餐和晚餐邀請、聚會邀請、舞會邀請、婚禮邀請等。邀請信分為兩種：一種是正規的格式（formal correspondence）,也叫做請柬；一種是非正規的格式 （informal correspondence）, 也就是一般的邀請信。
 邀請信雖然看起來不象請柬那樣正規、莊重，但是，也是很講就的。寫好邀請信，需注意以下幾個問題：
 1.   邀請信一定要寫得明确、完整，不可給收信人留下任何疑問。如: “ I’d like you and Tom to come to dinner next Wednesday.” 這樣的寫法就不夠明确，需要加上具體的日期和時間。該句應寫成: “I’d like you and Tom to come to dinner on Wednesday, June 14, at seven o’clock .”
 2.  在歐美國家，夜晚的邀請，除了那些隻允許男人參加的社交活動之外，不論是正式的，還是非正式的，都應該邀請夫妻雙方參加。
 3.  别人對你的邀請是對你的尊重，因此，無論能否赴約，都應該給與及時的、有禮貌的答複。
 4.   對于邀請信，在複信時應該明确地說明是接受邀請, 還是不能接受邀請。不能使用模棱兩可的話。如: “ I’ll try my best to come.” “ I’ll come if I’m in town.” 等等，那樣會使邀請人感到十分不安，應該明确說明去還是不去，以便讓邀請人早做安排。
 5.  接受邀請時，在回信時要重複寫上邀請信中的某些内容，如: 幾月幾日、星期幾、幾點鐘等等。不應該這樣寫：“ I’ll be delighted to attend your luncheon…” ，而應該寫成： “ I’ll be delighted to attend your luncheon on Thursday, May tenth, at one o’clock.” 這樣寫，可以糾正你或邀請人可能弄錯了的日期和時間。
 （一）宴會邀請信及複信 ( Dinner Invitations and Acknowledgments)
邀請朋友赴宴 （Inviting a Friend to Dinner）
Dear Zhang Ning,
 Will you and Mr. Wang Yi have dinner with us on Tuesday, the fifth of May, at seven o’clock?
 It’s a long time since we have had the pleasure of seeing you and we do hope you can come.
                                                                                                 Sincerely yours,
                                                                                               Elizabeth K. Benton
[譯文]
親愛的張甯：
 請您和王義先生于五月五日（星期二）下午七時與我們共進晚餐，不知是否能來？
 自上次見面以來，又有很長時間未見面了，非常希望你們能夠光臨。
                                                                                              您真摯的
                                                                                              伊麗莎白·K·本頓
·接受邀請（Acceptance）
Dear Mrs. Benton,
 Wang Yi and I will be delighted to dine with you on Tuesday, the fifth of May, at seven o’clock. How nice of you to ask us!
 We are both looking forward with great pleasure to seeing you and Dr. Benton again.
                                  
                                                                                              Very sincerely yours,
                                                                                              Zhang Ning 

  [譯文]
親愛的本頓夫人，
 王義和我将在五月五日（星期二）下午七時愉快地與您們共進晚餐，承蒙您們邀請，非常高興！
 我們将以極其愉快的心情，盼望着再一次和您以及本頓醫生見面。
 您們非常真摯的
 張甯
不能赴約 （Regret）
Dear Mrs. Benton,
 I’ve been putting off this note until the last possible moment, hoping and hoping Wang Yi would get back from Shanghai in time for your dinner party. But now I must regretfully write that he’ll still be out of town on Tuesday, the fifth; and we therefore cannot accept your kind invitation for dinner on that day.
  It was sweet of you to ask us; and I know Wang Yi will be as sorry as I am to miss an evening with you and Dr. Benton. We know how delightful such evenings at your house usually are!
                                                                                                        Sincerely yours,
                                                                                                        Zhang Ning
[譯文]
親愛的本頓夫人，
 我一直盼望着王義能從上海及時趕回來參加您們的宴會，以緻遲遲未寫回信。據悉，在五日（星期二）以前，他不能返回本市，因此，我們不能參加您們的宴會。為此我們深表遺憾，特此告知。
 感謝您們的盛情邀請，我們不能同您及本頓醫生共度那個夜晚，我想王義一定和我一樣感到遺憾，因為在您家中度過這樣的夜晚總是令人十分愉快的。
 您真摯的
   張甯 
2. 邀請朋友赴宴和看電影 （Inviting a Friend to Dinner and the Movie ）
   現代人由于忙忙碌碌，邀請信總是寫得很簡短，邀請朋友赴宴和看電影，通常隻寫上幾行字，但是，他們認為這并不是草率和不恭敬的表現，隻是為了速度快些罷了。例如：
Dear Li Ming,
 We have four tickets for a new movie Brokeback Mountain this Friday, the tenth. Will you and He Yi join us here for dinner at six sharp; and then go on with us later to the movie? We’ll be looking for you Friday night, so don’t disappoint us! 
           
                                                                                                        Affectionately yours,
                                                                                                        Doris
[譯文]
親愛的李明，
 本月10号（星期五）我們買到了新電影《斷背山》的四張電影票，請您和何毅在六點整前來共進晚餐，然後我們同去看這部新電影，好嗎？盼望您們星期五晚上前來，别讓我們失望！
 您親愛的
 多麗絲
·接受邀請 (Acceptance)
Dear Doris,
 Delighted! We’ll be there Friday at six, and go with you afterward to the cinema. How wonderful of you and Frank to ask us! ….
                                                                                                           Affectionately yours,
                                                                                                           Li Ming
 

[譯文]
親愛的多麗絲，
 好極了！我們将在星期五下午六點到您那裡，然後一起去電影院。您和弗蘭克能邀請我們，真是太好了！
                                                          您親愛的
                                                          李明
·不能赴約 （Regret）
Dear Doris,
 I think you’d better ask some other couple for Friday. He Yi is in Shanghai and won’t be back for another week. Wait till he hears what a wonderful evening he missed with you and Frank! Thanks for asking us, Doris. I’m certainly sorry we can’t say “yes”!
                                                         
                                                                                                         Affectionately yours,
                                                                                                         Li Ming
[譯文]
親愛的多麗絲，
 我想最好您在星期五另行邀請一對夫婦。何毅去上海了，整個下星期都不能回來。事後他會因失去一個同您和弗蘭克一起歡聚的機會而感到遺憾的！感謝您對我們的邀請，多麗絲，我不能應邀前往，深感抱歉！
                                                          您親愛的
                                                          李明
3. 取消非正式宴會的短箋 ( Note to Recall an Informal Dinner Invitation)
有時候，由于生病或其他原因，需取消原定的宴請，如果時間緊，可以用電話通知已邀請的客人，如果有時間，應該寫一封短信表示歉意。
Dear Mrs. Jennings,
  I have just learned that my son, who is at school in Shanghai, was injured in a basketball game. Although the injury is not very serious, Lin Kai and I feel we must go to him at once; and we are leaving tomorrow morning.
  Under the circumstances, we must recall our dinner invitations for Tuesday, the fifth of May… and plan on a later date for our party.
  I’m sure that you and Mr. Jennings will understand our anxiety, and will forgive this last-minute change in plans.
                                                                                                        Sincerely yours,
                                                                                                        Li Li
[譯文]
親愛的詹甯斯夫人，
 獲悉我的兒子——他正在上海讀書——在打籃球時受了傷，雖然傷勢不算太嚴重，但是林凱和我都覺得我們應該去看望他。我們将于明天上午前往。
 因此，我們隻好取消五月五日的宴請了，改日再舉行。
 我深信您和詹甯斯先生一定能夠理解我們焦急的心情，并能原諒我們在這最後時刻改變了原計劃。
 您真誠的
 李麗
 4. 對于非正宴請的不能如期赴約的短箋 (Note to Break an Informal Dinner Engagement)
 按照英美人的習慣，應邀者因為生病或其他原因而不能如期赴約時，應該打個電話或寫一封短信告訴邀請人。當然，隻有在萬不得已時才能做出這樣的改變。
Dear Mrs. Benton,
 I’m very sorry to have to write you this letter! After accepting your kind invitation for dinner on Tuesday, May the fifth, I now find that we cannot be there after all.
 Li Yong has just been called to Shanghai on business; and although he tried very hard to postpone the trip until after the fifth, he was unable to do so.
 We had been looking forward with great pleasure to seeing you and Dr. Benton; and we both feel very badly about this unexpected development. We hope you understand, and that you will not be inconvenienced. 
                                              
                                                      
                                                                                                         Sincerely yours,
                                                                                                          Wang Shanshan
[譯文]
親愛的本頓夫人，
 在我不得不給您寫這封的時候，内心深感不安！我本已接受您五月五日的盛情邀請，現在發現實在不能赴約了。
 李詠剛才接到通知，要他去上海辦件公務。他曾盡力設法把行期延至五号以後。但沒有成功。
 我們一直十分愉快的期待着去看望您和本頓醫生，對于這意外的變化，我們兩人都覺得非常失望。望您諒解，并希望這不會使您感到不便。
 您真誠的
 王珊珊
Writing Assignment 2：
1． 用你的姓名、現地址或家庭地址給下面這位教授寫一個信封。
 Prof. Henry Hurst , Dept. of Information Engineering, East Caroline University, Greenville,
 NC 27858, USA
寫一封邀請信，要請你的好朋友Elizabeth K. Benton 本周六晚7點到你家赴宴, 然後一起去電影院看新電影《金剛》（KING KONG） (The Eighth Wonder of the World.)。
以Elizabeth K. Benton的身份給你寫一封表示接受邀請的回信。
4.  以Elizabeth K. Benton的身份給你寫一封表示不能接受邀請的回信。
 5. 因為生病或因有其它原因而不能如期舉行你主辦的宴會，給你的好朋友Elizabeth K. Benton寫一封取消非正式宴會的短箋。
 6.  因為生病或因有其它原因而不能如期出席你已經答應參加的宴會，給你的好朋友Elizabeth K. Benton寫一封表示歉意的不能按時赴約的短箋。
 （二）聚會邀請信及複信 ( Party Invitations and Acknowledgments)
非正式酒會的邀請信( An Invitation for an Informal Cocktail Party)
在邀請參加酒會的短箋上，應該寫明酒會開始和結束的确切的時間。否則，客人會擔心呆的時間太長，影響晚上的活動計劃。
                                                                                                              June 1, 2005
Dear Ruth,
  We’re having some friends in for cocktails on Friday afternoon, June the eighth, from four to six. Can you and Bill come?
  Wang Dong and I are looking forward to seeing you, so don’t disappoint us!
                                                                                                           Cordially yours, 
                                                                                                            Li Ping
[譯文]
親愛的露絲：
 我們将于六月八日（星期五）下午四至六時邀請幾位朋友來參加酒會。您和比爾能來嗎？
 王東和我盼望你們來，千萬不要使我們失望！
                                                         您真誠的
                                                           李萍
 2005年6月1日
非正式茶會的邀請信( An Invitation for an Informal Tea Party)
 茶會也是一種招待聚會，然而，比其他任何午後招待更為嚴格，更有“社交性”。因此，即便是小型的、非正式的茶會，也要寫邀請信。用電話邀請客人是不恰當的。
                                                                                                              April. 2, 2005
Dear Mrs. North,
  I have asked some friends to come for tea on Tuesday, April 8th, at four o’clock. Will you join us?
  I know you have just returned from Shanghai but I hope you’re not too busy to come. I’m looking forward to seeing you.
                                       
                                                                                                             Cordially yours,
                                                                                                             Zhang Ying
[譯文]
親愛的諾思夫人：
 我邀請了幾位朋友在四月八日（星期二）下午四時來參加茶會，您能來參加嗎？
 我知道您剛從上海回來，但是我想，您會在百忙中光臨的。期待您的到來。
 您真誠的
                                              張英
                                              2005年4月2日
 （三）舞會邀請信(Dance Invitation)
 1. 邀請朋友參加慶祝國慶節的舞會 (An Invitation for an Informal Dance Celebrating the National Day）
                                                                                                                    Sept. 25, 2005 
Dear Ruth,     
 Next Friday, October the first, is our National Day — and we thought it would be pleasant to have some of our friends here to celebrate it.
 Will you and Bill come? We’ll have dancing from eight until eleven.
 We are very eager to have you here, so don’t disappoint us!
                                                                                                                  Students of the 
                                                                                                                Foreign Language Department
[譯文]
親愛的露絲：
 下星期五（十月一日）是我國國慶節，我們想邀請幾位朋友來慶祝一下，這一定是件愉快的事情。您和比爾能來嗎？ 舞會從八點開始，十一點結束。
 我們都急切地盼望你們的光臨。請不要使我們失望！
                                              外語系學生
 20005年9月25日
2. 邀請朋友參加化裝舞會 (An Invitation for a Masquerade)
 在西方，化裝舞會一般都是青少年們慶祝新年或節日舉辦的舞會，在這種邀請信中，你要求客人穿什麼衣服，或扮演什麼角色，都應該寫明确。
對于這種邀請，無論應邀還是婉言謝絕，都應及時回信，語氣也應該像邀請信那樣熱情而友好。
                                                                                                                 Dec.28, 20005 
Dear Julie,
 If you meet a witch or a ghost on the way here in New Year’s Eve, don’t be alarmed! They’ll just be guests on their way to our masquerade.
 I’d like you and your brother Bob to come. You can dress here if you like, or you can come all dressed and masked so that nobody recognizes you. I think that’s more fun!
 Come at seven, Julie. There’ll be dancing until eleven, and a buffet supper afterward. I hope that both you and Bob can make it.
                                                                                                                   With Love,
                                                                                                                   Anita
[譯文]
親愛的朱麗娅：
 如果元旦晚上在來這裡的途中遇到一個“巫婆”，或一個“鬼怪”，請别驚慌，那一定是前來參加我們化裝舞會的客人。
 希望您和您弟弟鮑勃同來參加。如果你願意，可以在這裡更衣，也可以來時穿好化裝的衣服，戴好假面具，這樣，誰也認不出你們了。我想，那樣會更有趣。
 朱麗娅，請你在七點鐘到達。舞會在十一點結束，然後吃自助夜餐。希望您和鮑勃光臨。
                                                       您親愛的
                                                       安妮塔
                                                                 2005年12月28日