Greetings

This blog was created by four undergraduating students in Secretarial Science to present methods to develop the learning process of a foreing language focusing the business world. The methods presented here are a gathering of the best material selected from books and internet, just to facilitate the life of those who need a fast access to this kind of subject. It is important to consider that the methods selected may not be efficient in specific cases, but it is expected they can help you anyway!

Greek and Latin Root Words

Root	Meaning	English Words
arch	chief, primary or first	archetype
archaeo	ancient/primitive	archaeology
aster/astra	star	astronomy
audi	hear	audible
bene	good/well	benefit
bio	life	biology
brev	short	abbreviation
chloro	green	chlorophyll
chrono	time	chronology
derm	skin	dermatologist
dic/dict	speak	dictionary
fer	carry	transfer
fix	fasten	affix
gen	birth	generate
geo	earth	geography
graph	write	graphic
hemo	blood	hemoglobin
herb	plants	herbaceous
hydro	water	hydrate
jur/just	law	jury
log/logue	word/thought	dialogue
luc	light	lucid
manu	hand	manual
meter/metr	measure	thermometer
neg	no	negate
ocu	eye	ocular
olig	few	oligarchy
op/oper	work	operation
osteo	bone	osteoporosis
path	feeling	sympathy
ped	child	pediatrics
phil	love	philosophy
phys	body/nature	physical
pod	foot	podiatrist
proto	first	prototype
pseudo	false	pseudonym
scrib/script	write	scribble
sect	cut	dissect
sol	alone	solitary
struct	build	construct
tact	touch	contact
tele	far off	telephone
ter/terr	earth	territory
vac	empty	vacant
ver	truth	verify
verb	word	verbal
vid/vis	see	video

 

 

Business Abbreviations

English Abbreviations
@	at
a/c	account
AGM	annual general meeting
a.m.	ante meridiem  (before noon)
a/o	account of  (on behalf of)
AOB	any other business
ASAP	as soon as possible
ATM	automated teller machine (cash dispenser)
attn	for the attention of
approx.	approximately
cc	copy to
CEO	chief executive officer
c/o	care of  (on letters : at the address of)
Co	company
cm	Centimetre
COD	cash on delivery
dept	Department
e.g.	exempli gratia (for example)
EGM	extraordinary general meeting
ETA	estimated time of arrival
etc	et caetera  (and so on)
GDP	gross domestic product
GNP	gross national product
GMT	Greenwich mean time  (time in London)
i.e.	id est (meaning : ‘that is’)
Inc	Incorporated
IOU	I owe you
IPO	initial public offer
Jr	Junior
K	Thousand
lb	pound (weight)
£	pound (money)
Ltd	limited company
mo.	Month
N/A	not applicable
NB	Nota Bene (it is important to note)
no.	Number
PA	personal assistant
p.a.	per annum  (per year)
Plc	public limited company
pls	Please
p.m.	post meridiem  (after noon)
p.p.	per pro  (used before signing in a person’s absence)
PR	public relations
p.s.	post scriptum
pto	please turn over
p.w.	per week
qty	Quantity
R & D	research and development
re	with reference to
ROI	return on investment
RSVP	repondez s‘il vous plait (please reply)
s.a.e.	stamped addressed envelope
VAT	value added tax
VIP	very important person

Cover Letter

Cover Letter

 

Your Street Address
City, State Zip Code
Telephone Number
Email Address

 

Month, Day, Year

 

Mr./Ms./Dr. FirstName LastName
Title
Name of Organization
Street or P. O. Box Address
City, State Zip Code

 

Dear Mr./Ms./Dr. LastName:

 

Opening paragraph: State why you are writing; how you learned of the organization or position, and basic information about yourself.

 

2nd paragraph: Tell why you are interested in the employer or type of work the employer does (Simply stating that you are interested does not tell why, and can sound like a form letter). Demonstrate that you know enough about the employer or position to relate your background to the employer or position. Mention specific qualifications which make you a good fit for the employer’s needs. This is an opportunity to explain in more detail relevant items in your resume. Refer to the fact that your resume is enclosed. Mention other enclosures if such are required to apply for a position.

 

3rd paragraph: Indicate that you would like the opportunity to interview for a position or to talk with the employer to learn more about their opportunities or hiring plans. State what you will do to follow up, such as telephone the employer within two weeks. If you will be in the employer’s location and could offer to schedule a visit, indicate when. State that you would be glad to provide the employer with any additional information needed. Thank the employer for her/his consideration.

 

Sincerely,

 

(Your handwritten signature)

 

Your name typed

 

Enclosure(s) (refers to resume, etc.)

 

(Note: the contents of your letter might best be arranged into four paragraphs. Consider what you need to say and use good writing style. See the following examples for variations in organization and layout.)

Meeting minutes

 Meeting minutes

 

Opening:

 

The regular meeting of (your company name) duly called and held on (date) at (address), commencing at (time).

 

Present were:

 

(List of attendees)

 

With the approval of the directors present (chairman name) acted as Chairman of the meeting and (secretary name) recorded the minutes.

 

1 – Approval of agenda

 

The agenda was unanimously approved as distributed.

 

2 – Approval of minutes

 

The minutes of the previous meeting were unanimously approved as distributed.

 

3 – Announcements

 

List all announcements made at the meeting.

 

4 – Open issues

 

Summarize the discution for each existing issue, state the outcome and assign any action item.

 

5 – New business

 

Summarize the discution for new issue, state the next steps and assign any action item.

 

6 – Agenda for next meeting

 

List the items to be discussed at the next meeting.

 

Adjournment:

 

Meeting was adjourned at (time) by (person). The next general meeting will be at (time) on (date) in (place).

 

Minutes submitted by: (name)

Approved by: (name)

Complaint about defective goods

June 20, 2008

 

Contact Name

Address

Address 2

City, State, Province

Zip/Postal Code

 

 

OBJECT: Complaint about defective goods

 

Dear Sir or Madam,

 

We took delivery of your consignment on… Upon examining it we discovered that … items were missing. We assume this is due to an error on the part of your dispatch department.

Please send on the missing items immediately without additional freight charges.

 

 

 

Yours faithfully,

 

 

 

 

 

(your name)

(your title)

(your phone number)

(your e-mail)

 

 

 

Individual reservation

June 20, 2008

 

Contact Name

Address

Address 2

City, State, Province

Zip/Postal Code

 

 

OBJECT: Individual reservation

Dear Sir or Madam,

 

Kindly reserve a single room, preferably on the side of the hotel facing the sea (ocean, lake), for our customer Mr (Ms)… coming from … for the period …. to ….

Mr (Ms) … will be on Flight No … from … and will be arriving at the hotel at aprox. …. o’clock.

Please forward the bill (accommodation and all extras) to us. (The guest will setlle his (her) own bill.

We look forward to receiving your confirmation.

 

Yours faithfully,

 

 

 

 

(your name)

(your title)

(your phone number)

(your e-mail)

 

 

 

Closing an account

June 20, 2008

 

Contact Name

Address

Address 2

City, State, Province

Zip/Postal Code

 

 

OBJECT: Closing an account

 

Dear Sir or Madam,

 

As our import/export business with your country has virtually ceased we no longer consider it necessary to maintain an account with your bank.

Please transfer the balance remaining in our account to a/c No… at (the)… Bank.

 

Thank you for the service you have provided us with up to now

 

 

Yours faithfully

 

 

 

 

 

(your name)

(your title)

(your phone number)

(your e-mail)

 

 

 

Payment order

June 20, 2008

 

Contact Name

Address

Address 2

City, State, Province

Zip/Postal Code

 

 

OBJECT: Payment order

 

Dear Sirs,

 

We would be grateful if you would instruct your branch in… as soon as possible to credit the sum of…. To a/c No.. Which…(firm) have with yourselves, with the rubric “In payment of Invoice No…of…

 

Please debit us with this sum plus transfer charges.

 

We trust our instructions will be followed at your earliest convenience and remain,

 

 

Yours faithfully,

 

 

 

 

 

(your name)

(your title)

(your phone number)

(your e-mail)

 

Request for reference

June 20, 2008

 

Contact Name

Address

Address 2

City, State, Province

Zip/Postal Code

 

OBJECT: Request for reference

 

Dear (contact name),

The above-named individual has applied for a position with our company and indicates precious employment with your firm. Could you please help us in evaluating the applicant by providing the information requested below? We will hold your comments in strict confidence.

We thank you for your time and cooperation.

Sincerely,

(your name)

(your title)

(your phone number)

(your e-mail)

 

Please indicate Department: _______________________________________________

Position within your firm: _________________________________________________

Employed from: ________________ Through: ___________________

Final Salary: $ ________ Social Insurance Number: _______________

Please rate the applicant (good/fair/poor), on the basis of his employment with you:

Ability:______________  Conduct:_____________ Attitude:____________

Efficiency:___________ Attendance:___________ Punctuality: __________

What was the reason for termination?________________________________________

Would you re-hire the applicant?__________ If not. Give reason:__________________

Signature and title