French email checks: references, dates and attachments

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Catch a wrong order number, an unclear item reference and a missing attachment in a French email. Compare a draft with the facts, then check your own message.

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In short

Match the subject, body and files to the same transaction. Je joins… says a file accompanies this email; Je peux vous envoyer… offers to send it. Open the attachments and check their contents before you send.

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A plain red notebook beside a camera, closed laptop and unmarked delivery box.
Check the pièces jointes before sending an email about the delivery. Illustration: Atelier
Your facts before the final check
DetailWhat is ready
Order referenceAB42
Item ordered / receivedBlue notebook / red notebook
Attachments selectedTwo photographs of the red notebook
InvoiceAvailable, but not attached

Brouillon à vérifier : Objet : Commande AB42. Bonjour, j’ai reçu le carnet rouge au lieu du carnet bleu pour ma commande AB24. Je joins la facture. Pourriez-vous m’indiquer comment le retourner ?

Draft to check: Subject: Order AB42. Hello, I received the red notebook instead of the blue one for my order AB24. I am attaching the invoice. Could you tell me how to return it?

Three repairs, each with a practical effect
CheckRepairWhy it helps
ReferenceLa référence de ma commande est AB42.The body now matches the subject and order record.
File claimJe joins deux photos du carnet rouge.The sentence matches the selected files.
Item referenceComment retourner le carnet rouge ?The reader can identify the item to return.

Name what you send

Read the corrected extract

Objet : Commande AB42 — erreur de couleur. Bonjour, j’ai commandé un carnet bleu, mais j’ai reçu un carnet rouge. La référence de ma commande est AB42. Je joins deux photos du carnet rouge. Je peux aussi vous envoyer la facture si nécessaire. Pourriez-vous m’indiquer comment retourner le carnet rouge ?

Subject: Order AB42 — colour error. Hello, I ordered a blue notebook but received a red one. My order reference is AB42. I am attaching two photos of the red notebook. I can also send you the invoice if necessary. Could you tell me how to return the red notebook?

The reference and the file claim now agree with the facts above. Repeating le carnet rouge also keeps the return request clear. For dates, compare the email with the earlier confirmation: le 14 juin à 10 heures identifies an appointment more clearly than demain matin when the reader opens the message later.

La facture ? Je ne l’ai pas encore envoyée. Les photos ? Je les joins à ce courriel.

The invoice? I haven’t sent it yet. The photos? I’m attaching them to this email.

Envoyée agrees with the preceding direct object l’, which refers to the feminine noun facture.

A final pass for the reader

A self-review aid, not a grade. Ticks are not saved.

Question 1No account needed
Only the two photos are attached. Which sentence fits?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Je joins deux photos. Je peux aussi vous envoyer la facture.. This attaches the two photos and offers the invoice separately. The other options claim an invoice has been sent.

Question 2No account needed
Which reference belongs in the body?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

AB42. The facts and subject identify order AB42. Checking both against the order record catches the transposed digits.

Question 3No account needed
Which request identifies the returned item most clearly?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Pourriez-vous m’indiquer comment retourner le carnet rouge ?. The red notebook is the received item. Naming it keeps the request separate from the blue notebook and the invoice.

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