general+buisness+letter+format+and+terms

A good business letter is brief, straightforward, and polite. If possible, it should be limited to one single-spaced typewritten page. Because it is so brief, a business letter is often judged on small, but important, things: format, grammar, punctuation, openings and closings. A business letter is not the place to try out fancy fonts or experimental writing styles. There are two main styles of business letters: Below are the elements of a standard business letter and their functions:
 * Writing Business Letters**
 * Full block style:** Align //all// elements on the left margin.
 * Modified block style:** Down the middle of the page, align the return address, date, closing, signature, and typed name; align other elements on the left page margin.

Your address (or the address of the company you represent). If you are using preprinted stationary, there is no need to retype the information.
 * Return Address:**

Leave two blank lines after the return address. Always spell out the month and include the day, a comma, and the year.
 * Date:**

Leave two blank lines after the date. Then type the address of the person or company to whom you are writing.
 * Inside Address:**

Type //Dear//, followed by the person's name. End the line with a colon. If you don’t know the name of the person, use a title instead (i.e., //Dear Editor, Dear Madam//).
 * Salutation:**

Align your message on the left margin. Skip a line before starting a new paragraph, but do not indent the paragraph's first line. Make sure that each paragraph is clear and concise.
 * Body:**

Leave two lines of space after your last body paragraph, then use a conventional closing, followed by a comma (i.e., //Sincerely//, //Sincerely Yours//, //Respectfully//).
 * Closing:**

Your signature should appear below your closing. Unless you have established a personal relationship with the person you are writing, use both your first and last name.
 * Signature:**

Four lines after the closing, type your full name. Do not include a title (//Mr. or Mrs.//). If you are writing on behalf of an organization, type your title on the next line.
 * Name and Position:**

If you send a copy of a letter to someone other than the person addressed, use //cc:// and the person’s name. Use //Enc.// or //Enclosure// if you enclose something with the letter. If someone else types it, put the writer’s initials in capitals, then a slash and the typist’s initials in lowercase: //MT/fjr//. Just one abbreviation should appear on a line. //This handout is also available online at the George Mason University Writing Center web site:// //Updated 2006//
 * Abbreviations at the end of a letter:**
 * //On the back of this page is a sample business letter in Full Block style//**
 * //http://writingcenter.gmu.edu//**


 * Sample Business Letter (Full Block Style)**

Mrs. Clara Winters 12187 S. Polo Dr. **Return Address** Fairfax, VA 22030

May 26, 2002 **Date**

The Tiny Tots Toy Company 15456 Pyramid Way **Inside Address** College Park, South Lakes WA 6364

Dear Customer Service Representative: **Salutation**

I recently purchased one of your Tiny Tents (Model #47485) for my three-year old. Unfortunately, after viewing the components that came with the product, I discovered that four of the parts were missing. Also, the instructions that came with the tent are in Portuguese and Russian, but not in English or French, the two languages I speak. These two unforeseen problems have resulted in the tent remaining unassembled and unacceptable as a toy for my daughter. I am writing to request replacements for the missing parts, and a copy of the full set of assembly instructions (in English or French) for the model I purchased. If reasonable arrangements are not made within ten business days, I will return the tent to the store I purchased it from and expect a full refund. To assist you in processing my request, I am including a copy of my sales receipt and a list of the missing parts. I have purchased other toys manufactured by your company in the past, and have always been impressed with the quality and selection that Tiny Tots has made available to its customers. I sincerely hope this is a one-time incident, and that any future purchases I make will live up to the standard my family has come to expect from your company.

Sincerely, **Closing**


 * Signature**

Clara Winters **Typed Name**

Enc: 2 **Abbreviation**