英文合同按繁简不同，尽管可以采取不同书面形式，如正式合同(Contract)、协议书(Agreement)、确认书(Confirmation)、备忘录(Memorandum)、订单(Order)等等，但是一般都包含如下几个部分：
一、 合同名称(Title)
二、前文(Preamble)
1. 订约日期和地点
Date and place of signing
2. 合同当事人及其国籍、主营业所或住所
Signing parties and their nationalities, principal place of business or residence addresses
3. 当事人合法依据
Each party\'s authority，比如，该公司是“按当地法律正式组织而存在的”(a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of XXX)
4. 订约缘由/说明条款
Recitals or WHEREAS clause
三、本文(Body)
1. 定义条款(Definition clause)
2. 基本条款(Basic conditions)
3. 一般条款(General terms and conditions)
a. 合同有效期(Duration)
b. 合同的终止(Termination)
c. 不可抗力(Force Majeure)
d. 合同的让与(Assignment)
e. 仲裁(Arbitration)
f. 适用的法律(Governing law)
g. 诉讼管辖(Jurisdiction)
h. 通知手续(Notice)
i. 合同修改(Amendment)
j. 其它(Others)
四、结尾条款(WITNESS clause)
1. 结尾语，包括份数、使用的文字和效力等(Concluding sentence)
2. 签名(Signature)
3. 盖印(Seal)
以上的格式和内容并非一成不变，当事人可以根据各自交易情况做出调整或增删。
如何起草涉外合同：用语方面
一、力求严谨，明白无误：
The following documents shall be deemed to form and be read and construed as an integral part of this Contract.
下列文件应被认为、读作、解释为本合同的组成部分;
This Contract can only be altered, amended or supplemented in accordance with documents signed and sealed by authorized representatives of both parties.
本合同只能按照双方授权代表签名盖章的文件进行修改或增补;
All activities of ABC Co. shall be governed by the laws, decrees and pertinent rules and regulations of China.
ABC公司的一切活动必须受中国的法律、法令和有关规章条例的管辖。
二、多用主动语态，少用被动语态：
Party B is hereby appointed by Party A as its exclusive sales agent in Singapore. (不宜)
乙方被甲方委托为在新加坡的独家销售代理商;
Party A hereby appoints Party B as its exclusive sales agent in Singapore. (适宜)
甲方委托乙方为在新加坡的独家销售代理商;
三、多用现在时，少用将来时，尽管很多条款规定的是合同签订以后的事项：
Licensee may terminate this Contract 90 days after a written notice thereof is sent to Licensor upon the happening of one of the following events:
当有下列事件之一发生，被许可人提前90天向许可人发送书面通知后，可以终止合同：
1. Licensor becomes insolvent or a liquidator of Licensor is appointed;
许可人无力偿付债务或其破产清算人以被指定;
2. The patent described in Article 2 is not issued within 30 days from signing this Contract; and
第二条规定的专利未在签约后30天之内发布;
3. Licensor fails to perform its obligations under this Contract.
许可人未能履行其合同义务。
四、直接表达方式用得多，间接表达方式用的较少：
This Article does not apply to bondholders who have not been paid in full. (用得少)
本条款不适用于尚未全部偿付的债券持有者。
This Article applies only to bondholders who have been paid in full. (用得多)
本条款只适用于已全部偿付的债券持有者。
五、尽量使用一个动词，避免使用“动词+名词+介词”的同意短语：
Party A shall make an appointment of its representative within 30 days after signing the Contract.
甲方应于签约后30天内指派其授权代表。宜用appoint代替 make an appointment of.
Party A will give consideration to Party B\'s proposal of exclusive agency.
甲方愿意考虑乙方独家代理的建议。宜用consider代替give consideration to.
六、下列特殊用语使用频繁：
1. WHEREAS 鉴于
正式而重要的合同，尤其是英美法系的合同，多用它在前文中引出签约背景和目的，起连词作用：
WHEREAS the Employer is desirous that manpower can be rendered available for the construction of High-Rise Residential Complex in Baghdad, Iraq;
鉴于雇主欲请劳动力建造伊拉克巴格达的高层住宅综合大楼;
WHEREAS the Contractor is desirous to provide the manpower for the Works;
鉴于承包人想为此工程提供劳动力;
2. WITNESS 证明
在合同前文中常用作首句的谓语动词：
This Agreement, made by ...
WITNESSES
WHEREAS..., it is agreed as follows:
本协议由……签订证明：鉴于……特此达成协议如下：
3. IN WITNESS WHEREOF 作为所协议事项的证据：
该短语常用于合同的结尾条款：
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Contract in duplicate by their duly authorized representatives on the date first above written.
