【正文】 ut forward some strategies which are connected with predecessor’ and innovation of the paper to improve the quality of business correspondence, such as grammar strategies, lexical strategies and “YouAttitude” strategy, which can realize the quality of correspondence. Through these analyses the paper aims at helping understand the importance of politeness in business field and use politeness strategies in more effective way and helps those who involved in business affair do business smoothly and successfully. 2. Politeness principle and the relevant theories Definition of politeness According to the Dictionary of Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics, politeness is defined as the bination of interpersonal consideration and linguistic choices affecting the form and function of linguistic interactions (Richard, 2000:352). Brown and Levinson (Brown and Levinson, 1987: 52) define politeness as a redressive action taken to counterbalance the disruptive effect of facethreatening acts (FTAs). Layoff (Layoff, 1973: 124) holds that politeness is a device used in order to reduce friction in personal interaction. In the foreword for the book Politeness: Some Universals in Language Usage by Brown and Levinson (Brown and Levinson, 1987: 76), Gumperz says that politeness is basic to the production of social order and a precondition of human cooperation. Watts (Watts, 1992:50) believes that polite behavior is “socialculturally determined behavior directed towards the goal of establishing and/or maintaining in a state of equilibrium the personal relationships between the individuals of a social group, whether open or closed, during the ongoing process or intention”. According to Sell, all languages operate within politeness parameters and politeness or sensitivity to politeness considerations is mankind’s patent, sleepless superego (Watts, 1992: 114). In addition, Holmes (Watts, 1992:285) points out that being linguistically polite is often a matter of selecting linguistic forms which express the appropriate degree of social distance or which recognize relevant status differences. The above mentioned definitions contribute to the essence of politeness. On the whole, politeness is not merely recognized as a means of conveying information, but also an equally important means that helps to establish and maintain social bonds with others in munication, whether an oral or written one. In another word, politeness is a set of patterns to show considerations for other and to create interpersonal harmony. Pragmatic scales of politeness Brown and Levinson’s Face TheoryThe face theory is developed by Brown amp。 Mackiewicz, 2003: 65) classify the business correspondence according to the effect of the business letters on the readers’ face. According to them, routine business letters are faceneutral, goodnews business letters are facebuilding, badnews business letters threaten the reader’s positive face, and persuasive business letters threaten the reader’s negative face. The detailed discussion of the face effects of the four types of business correspondence is as follows.Routine business letters threaten neither the positive nor the negative face of the reader, as most of the letters of this type aim at conveying information other than conducting the reader’s behavior or even criticizing the reader. Besides, most of the messages delivered in the letters are uncontroversial routine information and are presupposed to be necessary and helpful for the readers.Goodnews business letters convey favorable messages to the reader, which is intended to be beneficial to the reader, thus will attend to the reader’s both positive face and negative face. The following example is properly arranged in a goodnews business letter: Dear Mr. Jones,I am very pleased to enclose our check for RMB Yuan 5,000, which is our financial aid to your Earth Protection Program. I would appreciate your sending us a receipt for the money at your earliest convenience.This financial aid shows our increased support of your research. I believe that this aid, together with the financial support from your other benefactors, will do you some help in your future research for protecting our earth.We are always ready to help you when necessary. Sincerely yours, (Guan, 2006:19)This letter firstly presents the most important information in a positive way. Secondly, it specifies the who, what, where and how related to the action you are going to take. Thirdly, it ends the letter confidently and politely. These three points generally convey positive information to the reader. Thus it attends to the reader’s positive face. Badnews business letters threaten the positive face of the readers by showing some kind of disagreement on the reader or bringing some bad news that will do harm to the reader’s benefit. Most of the bad news letters, for example letters declining a counteroffer or letters of delaying delivery, fall into this type. Some badnews letters like plaints and claims threaten the reader’s positive face by posing explicit criticism on the reader. There are several aspects that should be paid more attention to when the badnews business letter is written.(1) Do not imply further problems. For example, don’t write the following sentences which may bring about more trouble:Should you have anything we assist with, please let us know.(2) Do not repeat or refer to the refusal. For example, the following repetition is unwise and unnecessary:We hope that you might understand why we have to refuse your request.(3) If possible, the writer may make some remendations for the solution of the problem. For example, suggesting some other ways to help the reader acplish his goals:We suggest, therefore, that you lodge a claim with the insurance pany。(4) One copy of Manufacturer’s Certificate of Qua