Abstract: Business English correspondence is an important and indispensable tool for business parties to exchange information in business affairs. Politeness is generally accepted as an important feature in human communication. Business English correspondence writing also should observe this guideline. In the present study, politeness principle and its six maxims are introduced. And it also analyses the application of the six maxims in business English correspondence writing with six business English correspondence as examples. It is hoped that the study can help to improve the writing skills of business English correspondence. Employing politeness principle in business English correspondence writing can help to enhance the mutual trust and to achieve more efficient business communication.

Key words: politeness principle; business communication; business correspondence writing

摘要：商务信函是商业伙伴相互交流的重要工具。礼貌原则是人类交际的一个重要原则，也是商务英语函电写作应遵循的一项重要原则。本文介绍了礼貌原则及其六个准则，并结合六篇商务英语信函具体分析了礼貌原则在英语商务信函中的运用和表现，希望能为商务英语函电写作提供积极参考。将礼貌原则运用于商务英语函电写作能增加沟通双方的信任度，获得更有效的沟通。

关键字：礼貌原则；商务交流；商务信函写作