【正文】 in badnews business letters, where the basic need of being polite is far more important than the need of clarity. Leech’s politeness principleLeech (1983:250) thinks that politeness, as a phenomenon, exists in all language. Leech’s politeness principle can be stated as follows: other things being equal minimize the expression of beliefs which are favorable to the hearer (Leech，1983:251). Leech sums up six maxims of the politeness principle as follows: Tact Maxim, Generosity Maxim, Approbation Maxim, Modesty Maxim, Agreement Maxim, Sympathy Maxim. Tact Maxim is the most important one. Leech proposes politeness principle as a way of explaining how politeness operates in conversational exchanges. His politeness principle can be used to interpret the guidelines of business correspondence writing. Positive and negative politenessPositive politeness is the politeness shown for the addressee’s positive face, which let the addressee know that he or she is liked and approved of (胡俊琦，2003:100). When the reader is threatened by some acts, it is good to take pensating action to protect the addressee’s positive face, such as praising, agreeing and so on.Negative politeness is the politeness shown for the addressee’s negative face. When stating face threatening act, it is good to take pensating action to protect addressee’s negative face, such as apologizing, minimizing the imposition and so on (秦曉杰，2001:102).Writing international business munication without politeness is like fighting a battle, it is important to enhance positive politeness and maintain negative politeness. Brief introduction to English business correspondenceThe English business correspondence is quite important in international business munication. It is a vital factor in making international business run smoothly and effectively. Definition of business correspondenceGenerally speaking, business correspondence can be defined as the correspondence used in business transaction, in which the participants are monly described as the writer and the reader (司福成，2003:200). In fact, there exists a high level of trust and cooperation between the writer and the reader. Since doing business itself is a kind of cooperation, it will definitely be shown in business letter writing. Being one of the most popular ways of munication in business activities, business correspondence plays an irreplaceable role in business munication. Classification of English business correspondenceOwing to different criteria, business correspondence can be classified from different angles. For example, according to the different functions, business letters can be classified as letters for the establishment of business relations, letters for the enquiry of business, quotation letters, negotiating letters, letters answering requests, claim and adjustment letters, credit and collect letters, sales letters, employment letters and social business letters, etc. (Stewart, 1984:380381)The latter way of classification focuses on the function, according to the classification of illocutionary functions by Leech (1983:251), it can be divided into four categories as follows:1) Collaborative letters, they include inquiry letters, offer letters, conformation letters, notification letters and so on. The main purpose of the letter is to exchange information. Messages conveyed by this type of letter are neutralnews messages.2) Convivial letters, they include approval letters, letters of appreciation letters of invitation and so on. This kind of letter conveys favorable messages and is good for building friendly business relationship. 3) Competitive letters: including request letters, collection letters, sales letters and so on. This letter is to persuade the reader to take certain action, thus is impolite in nature. Skills of persuasion should be used as it is possible to change the letter from “impolite” to “polite”.4) Conflictive letters: including all types of refusal letters, claim and adjustment letters and so on. This letter may damage the business relation between the writer and the reader. Messages conveyed in this type of letter are called badnews messages.In terms of its effect on the reader’s needs, Stewart (1984:382) has summed up four different kinds of information: neutral news, good news, persuasion and bad news. Based on this classification, here es neutralnews letters, godnews letters, persuasive letters and badnews letters, which are separately equal to the abovementioned collaborative letters, convivial letters, petitive letters, and conflictive letters. The relationship between politeness principle and business correspondenceBasically speaking, a business letter is written for three purposes: to inform, . to convey large amount of information in order to plete the daytoday operations of the business。 Levinson in English business correspondence. 2. An overview of politeness and English business correspondence An overview of politenessPoliteness, as a social activity, attracts great attention from the linguists. Before the analysis of politeness in English business correspondence, some main theories of politeness should first be mentioned.Politeness can be perceived in almost every aspect of our daily life, it is still hard to define. Different linguists have different definitions for politeness.Brown and Levinson (1987:300) define politeness as a redressive action taken to counterbalance the disruptive effect of facethreatening acts. Lakoff (1973:298) holds that politeness is a device used in order to reduce friction in personal interaction. According to those definitions, politeness is not merely recognized as a means of conveying information, but also an important means that help to establish and maintain social relationships. Lakoff’s view on politenessLakoff (1973:298) refers to politeness as “a device used in order to reduce friction in personal interaction” and introduces two rules: (1) be cl