1. Business Letters A basis overview Writing Seminar

2. Styles often used

3. Parts of the letter HEADING INSIDE ADDRESS GREETING BODY CLOSE SIGNATURE

4. Heading Includes the address of the sender and date 552 Madison AvenueNew York, NY 10446October 10, 2011 Do no abbreviate words such as “Drive” Use postal service abbreviations for states such as “DE” Do not abbreviate the month

5. Inside address Includes the name and address of the person receiving the letter: Mrs. Martina HerzogCustomerService ManagerNewsmag552 Madison AvenueNew York, NY 10446 Use Mr., Mrs., or Ms. Include the job title

6. Greeting (Sometimes called the “salutation”) DearMrs. Herzog: Use title and last name as in the inside address. Use a colon (:) after the name.

7. Body State the business of the letter Should be written in complete sentences and paragraphs Gets to the point courteously Should conclude with a statement of action expected

8. Closure & Signature “Sincerely” is a standard close for business letters. Skip 3 lines below the close and type your name, exactly as you will sign it. Your signature should be legible, in blue or black ink.

9. Formatting details Use a standard font: Times New Roman or Lucida Bright, for example. Single-space within the parts of the letter. Double-space (skip a line) between the parts and between paragraphs.

10. Punctuation Pointers For dates, use a comma between the day numeral and the year. (January 1, 2012) Use a comma between the city and the state abbreviation (Dover, DE) but not between the state and zip code (Dover, DE 19904) User a colon after the greeting (Dear Mrs Hertzog:) and a comma after the close (Sincerely,)

11. The End Produced by Pat Taylor in August 2003 Last updated October 2011