The business letters

Business letters are letters used in commerce. In the business letters all elements are aligned with the left-hand margin, except the heading, which is usually centered. At the top of the letter there is the heading which contains information about the firm, logo, name, style, full address, telephone, telex, fax numbers, email address and web site. The date states the day when the letter was written and is usually placed just under the heading, either on the right or on the left. In British English, the standard date is formed by the ordinal number of the day, the name of the month a comma and the full years in numerals. In American English, the standard date is formed by month written out the full, the cardinal number of the day a comma and the full years in numerals. In the left-hand margin below the letterhead is usually placed the reference. This is not always present in business letters. The reference consists of the initials of the person who signs the letter, followed by the initials of the typist. Under the date is generally placed the inside address which consists of the name and address of the recipient. When you address a single person use Mr. or Esq. two or more person are addressed Messrs. Messrs should be omitted when the names of such companies are impersonal. Below the inside address is written the attention line. This is not always present the salutation. If you are writing to a single person use:

Dear Sir/ Dear Madame  

If you are writing to a firm or a company use:

Dear Sirs/ Gentlemen: (is used in the u.s.a. followed by a colon)

When the contents of the letter is not intended for a specific person or firm use:

To whom it may concern.

The body of the letter contains the message to be communicated and is of great importance.  The body usually consist of three parts:

1(first): introduction

2(second): object

3 (third): conclusion

The closing greeting is placed two lines below the body of the letter. The most common forms of complimentary closing for business letters are: your faithfully. Immediately below the closing greeting  should be the signature. The presence of enclosures is usually indicated outside the body of the letter in the bottom left-hand concern(margin) of the paper. The number sows how many items are being sent.