Project 2: AutoTools
Letters

A business letter has a standard format. This makes it possible for programmers to write a Letter Wizard to help you create your business letters. Before working with the Letter Wizard, let's review the parts of a standard business letter.

Business Letter Formats

	Left aligned paragraphs
	Indented paragraphs
	Left aligned on letterhead paper

The illustration below labels the sections of a letter. There are several acceptable variations in placement on the page for these sections, as the examples above illustrate. Most businesses now left align all the paragraphs instead of indenting the first line of a paragraph. It's simple; it's easy to learn; it communicates well.

Letterhead: a standardized page for letters that includes such information as the company's name, the company logo, the address, phone numbers, email address, and web site address.

Letterhead paper looks more professional than plain paper. Many letterheads also include the names of important people in the company or department. These often are listed down the side of the page, not exactly the "head" of the letter. It's still it's called a letterhead, even when parts are at the bottom of the page!

In the days of typewriters, letterhead paper had to be pre-printed by a printing company and you typed your letter directly on it. Today you can create your own letterhead design and save it on your computer. Then each time you write a letter, you start with the letterhead document. It's all printed at the same time.

You can still use pre-printed paper from a print shop, but you must measure carefully and change the margins of your document in your word processor so that your text will not print on top of the pre-printed letterhead.

Signature block: the items below your actual signature.

You always type your name here. Most of us don't sign our names too clearly, so this is important!

You could include your title (when you've got one!) and the company name. 

You need to include lines like the following when they fit the situation:

~~  1 Cor. 10:31 ...whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.  ~~

Last updated: 30 Apr 2012