

Use a company letterhead template whenever writing on behalf of the company you work for never use it for personal messages (e.g., reference letters for a relative) not authorized by the company. In block-style letters, the address appears as part of the company letterhead in the header under or beside the prominently displayed and brand-stylized company name and logo. The first piece of information in a letter is usually the sender’s address.

There are two main types of letters: block-style letters and modified-block style. In these cases, letters offer the advantage of formality, confidentiality (it’s illegal to open someone else’s mail), and a record of evidence.

Collection notices to people with overdue payments.Formal rejection notices to job or program applicants.

Claims and other complaints sent to companies to lay down a formal paper-trail record as evidence in case matters escalate into the court system.Official announcements of products, services, and promotions to customers.Campaign initiatives, such as for fundraising or political advocacy.Letters of transmittal to introduce reports or proposals.Thank-you letters and other goodwill expressions.Cover letters to employers in job applications.Though we use email for many of the occasions that we used to send letters for before the twenty-first century, letters are still sent rather than emails for several purposes: Letters are usually one- to two-page documents sent to people or organizations outside of the organization from which they’re sent, whereas memos are equivalent documents for formal communications within an organization (see §7.2 below). Sending a letter is your way of saying that the recipient matters. Format and write documents and messages such as memos and lettersĪs one of the most formal documents you can send, a letter conveys a high degree of respect to its recipient. Plan, write, revise, and edit short documents and messages that are organized, complete, and tailored to specific audiences. Identify the parts of effective letters.Ģ.
