便條也是書信的一種形式。它的特點是內容簡短，主要有臨時性的詢問、留言、通知、要求等。跟正規書信相比，便條的語言比較口頭化，比如要通知某事只需這樣開頭：Just a line to tell you that ……而無須像正規書信那樣This is to inform you that …開頭。另外，在便條中常出現省略現象，例如：“key to back door is under mat.”或者“key to back door under mat.”(后門鑰匙在墊子下面)代之以“The key to the back door is under the mat.”。
結束時也無需結尾禮詞，只需寫上寫便條者姓名。如果是關系比較近的人，則只需寫上姓或名。
便條的日期通常寫在右上角。一般只寫上星期幾或者星期幾上午或下午，也可寫上午、下午的具體時刻。日常應用中，寫上幾月幾日的也很普遍。但一般不寫年份，因為便條的內容多半是當日或近日內要辦的事情。
1)請假(Asking for Leave)
例1.Directions: You are about to write a Business Leave Note of about 100 words. Please describe these information clearly.
1) the reason you ask for the leave
2) the time and how long you will leave
例文：
Class 4, Grade 3
Aug. 22nd
To Department Office
Secretary Li,
I’m sorry to apply for ten day’s leave from the Aug. 23rd to sept, 3rd instant. As I have to leave with the time is urgent. My father now in the hospital is badly ill. I have to go to see him and take care of him for a few days. You know I’m the only child in my family. Of course I will show you the telegram about my fathers illness which is received from my mother to support my application.
As concern as the missed lessons during my absence, I promise I will do my best to catch them on after I come back to the campus. Wish for your allowance.
Yours respectfully
Li Ming
本文是一封請假條，一般我們要向上級或老師請假，通常用的是ack for leave這個短語，請三天假可寫作：ask for three days’ leave;因病請假則是ask for sick leave.leave在這里是名詞用法，文中用的短語是apply for意為“申請”，含有更加鄭重的意味，常用于下級對上級或晚輩對長輩的書面語中，“Only child”意為“獨生子女”相應的，“獨生女”譯作“only daughter”而“獨生子”譯作“only son”. As concern as。后面跟名詞性結構，意為“涉及到，至于”與Concerning同意，兩者可以互換。
例2. Directions: Your father is seriously ill, and you want to go back home. Write a note to the secretary and it should include.
1) the cause for leaving;
2) the days: from 16th to 21 st;
3) Catch on the lesson after returning school.
例文：
July 5th
Dear Miss Huang,
My sister called me last night, and she said that my father is dangerously ill. I beg to apply for seven days’ leave of absence from 16th to 21st instant, in order that I can see my beloved father.
I should be much obliged if you would grant me my application. As regards the lessons to be missed during my absence, I will do my best to make up for them as soon as I get back from home.
Sincerely yours,
×××
本格式采用The Semi-indented Form(半縮進式)，以前比較流行，現在人們也繼續采用。I should be much obliged if you would……是一種客套語，表示“結果……，我當不勝感激。”“補課”的英文是to make up for the lessons.as soon as意思是盡快。
2)收據和借條：
收據(Receipt)：既收到錢物之后，給交錢或送物人寫張字據，說明已經收到某物，起書面證據作用。收條上需寫明錢物名稱和數量、立據人及日期。不得涂改。英文的寫法一般包括時間、正文、署名等幾個部分。商務英文收據還包括收據編號和單位名稱并加蓋公章。常用套語為：Received from… (茲收到……)。
借條(I.O.U.)：
借條是熟人間的便箋形式。留下字據，表示欠某人某物。與收據一樣，借條需寫明借錢物名稱和數量、立據人及日期。具體寫法是：將時間寫在正文的右上角，在正文的右下角署名，正文中須指明向借用人借用何物，文字要求簡潔，其中所涉及的數字，須用英文拼出，相當于漢語的“人民幣大寫”，若是定期償還的借據，還須注目償還時間。常用的短語如： “Borrowed from…”，“I.O.U。(I owe you)”意思是”茲借到……”。
借條：
例1. Directions:You are going to write a note for borrowing sth. please deseribe these information clearly.
1) the thing you ask.
2) detailed what you are going to do with it.
3) how long will you take it.
例文：
Tuesday
Dear Xiao Wang:
I wonder if I could borrow your electronic dictionary for a few days. Now I am translating some important articles. There are many new words which I have to look up the dictionary usually. I just have a paper dictionary but of course it’s not as convenient as the electronic one, which has a bad effect upon my velocity of my translating. So I think your electonic dictionary is more suitable for me to complete my work. I promise that I must be very careful of your dictionary and make no damage done on it. Thank you very much!
Yours ever
Sam
字典是我們日常生活中常用的學習工具，但是千萬不能直接從字面上認為“查字典”就是“check the dictionary”，而應該用“look up”這個固定短語來表達。
“影響……”有一個很地道的短語。“have effect upon/on”，后面接受影響的人或物，如果是積極影響就在have和effect之間加a good ，反之，就加“a bad”其他的形容詞例如great， remarkable也可以用來修飾effect，此詞在這里是名詞。
例2.根據所給信息寫一張借條和一張收據。
1、借條
時間：2009年3月26日
內容：學生會張龍向外語系辦公室借手提電腦一部和錄音機 一臺。言明一個星期后歸還。
2、收據
時間：2009年3月26日
內容：外語系辦公室收到學生會歸還的手提電腦一部和錄音機一臺。
參考例文：
I. O. U。
March 20, 2009
Borrowed from the office of the Foreign Languages Department a laptop computer and a tape recorder, which is to be returned within one week from this date.
Zhang Long
The Students'Union
Receipt
March 27, 2009
Received from the Students’Union the following things:
One laptop computer
One tape recorder
The Foreign Languages Department Office
注意：
在寫借據、收據時，寫字據的日期寫于右上角，然后寫明是“借”還是“收到”，向誰借的，收到誰的，以及“借”、“還”錢或物的名稱和數量。立據人寫于右下角。文字要求簡練。
非正式的收條借條寫法：
Jan.23rd,2003, Received from Student, Wang Zihao one hundred yuan only for this months tuition fee.
Li Man For the Finance Office ofForeign Language Institute
Sept. 16th, 2002, Borrowed from the Foreign Language Department Reference Library three books as follows:A copy of History and Anthology of English Literature by Wu Weiren, A copy of A Survey of American Literature by Chang Yaoxin, A copy of World Literature by Jiang Chengen
Wu Zhuo
For the Office of Social Science Department
非正式假條寫法：
Jan. 10th, Dear Ms. Jiang, I am terribly sorry that I shall be unable to attend this mornings two periods of English Class due to a bad cold and high fever. Enclosed is a certificate from the doctor who said I must stay in bed for a few days. I will go back to school as soon as I recover.
Yours respectfully,
Tian Ye
