涉外合同按简繁的不同，尽管可以采取不同书面形式，如确认书(Confirmation)、备忘录(Memorandum)、订单(Order)、正式合同(Contract)、协议书(Agreement)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
叁、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。
用词方面
一、多用正式或法律上的用词，比如：
· At the request of Party B, Party A agrees to send technicians to assist Party B to install the equipment.
应乙方要求，甲方同意派遣技术人员帮助乙方安装设备。 assist 较 help 正式;
· The personnel shall not to partake in any political activities in Iraq.
所有人员不得参加伊拉克国内的任何政治活动。partake in 较 take part in 正式;
· The Employer shall render correct technical guidance to the personnel.
雇主应该对有关人员给予正确技术指导。 render 较 give 正式;
· Party A shall repatriate the patient to China and bear the cost of his passage to Guangzhou.
甲方应将病人遣返中国并负责其返回广州的旅费。 repatriate 较 send back 正式;
· This Contract shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of China.
本合同受中国法律管辖，并按中国法律解释。construe 较 explain, interpret 正式;
· The Employer may object to and require the Contractor to replace forthwith any of its authorized representatives who is incompetent.
雇主认为承包人委派的授权代表不合格时，可以反对并要求立即撤换。require较ask正式;公文体forthwith 较 at once 正式;
· The Chairperson may convene an interim meeting based on a proposal made by one-third of the total number of directors.
董事长可以根据董事会过1/3董事的提议而召集临时董事会议。convene, interim 都是正式用词。
· In case one party desires to sell or assign all or part of its investment subscribed, the other party shall have the preemptive right.
如一方想出售或转让其投资之全部或部分，另一方有优先购买权。法律用词assign 较 transfer 正式.
· In processing transactions, the manufacturers shall never have title either to the materials or the finished products.
加工贸易中，厂方无论是对塬料还是成品都无所有权。 法律用词title 较 ownership 正式.
· The term "Effective date" means the date on which this Agreement is duly executed by the parties hereto.
“生效期”指双方合同签字的日子。 法律用词execute 较 sign 正式.
与口头表述不同，合同是法律性的正式书面文件，使用正式的、法律的用词是必要的。合同起草者应多加强这方面的学习。
二、多使用"here"，"there"，"where"等前缀：
hereafter = after this time; 今后
hereby = by means/reason of this; 特此
herein = in this; 此中，于此
hereinafter = later in this contract; 在下文
thereafter = afterwards; 此后，后来
thereby = by that means; 因此;由此;在那方面
therein = from that; 在那里;在那点上
thereinafter = later in the same contract; 以下;在下文
whereby = by what; by which; 由是;凭那个
wherein = in what; in which; 在哪里;在哪点上
……
是不是有点头昏眼花?初学时确实容易搞混，告诉你个小窍门，here 代表 this，there 代表 that，where 代表 what/which，就容易记多了。
叁、多用"shall"代替"will"或"should"加强语气和强制力。
· This Contract shall become effective upon and from the date on which it is signed.
本合同签字生效。
· This Contract shall be written in English in four copies. Each party shall keep two copies.
本合同应以英文写成，一式四份，双方各持两份。
合同中，shall并非单纯表示将来时，而常用来表示法律上可强制执行的义务，具有约束力，宜译为“应”、“应该”、“必须”; will无论语气还是强制力要比shall弱，宜译为“将”、“塬”、“要”;should通常只用来表示语气较强的假设、比如“万一”。[page]
