{"id":117,"date":"2018-08-29T11:14:55","date_gmt":"2018-08-29T15:14:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/cmn279\/chapter\/7-1-letters\/"},"modified":"2023-12-19T21:05:17","modified_gmt":"2023-12-20T02:05:17","slug":"7-1-letters","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/cmn279\/chapter\/7-1-letters\/","title":{"raw":"7.1: Letters","rendered":"7.1: Letters"},"content":{"raw":"<div class=\"textbox learning-objectives\">\r\n<h3>Learning Objectives<\/h3>\r\n1. Identify the parts of effective letters.\r\n\r\n<strong>2. <\/strong>Plan, write, revise, and edit short documents and messages that are organized, complete, and tailored to specific audiences.\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\">i. Format and write documents and messages such as memos and letters.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\nAs one of the most formal documents you can send, a letter conveys a high degree of respect to its recipient. Sending a letter is your way of saying that the recipient matters. Letters are usually one- to two-page documents sent to people or organizations outside of the organization from which they\u2019re sent, whereas memos are equivalent documents for formal communications within an organization (see <a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/cmn279\/chapter\/7-2-memos\/\">\u00a77.2<\/a> below). 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:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Cover letters to employers in job applications<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Thank-you letters and other goodwill expressions<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Letters of recommendation (a.k.a. reference letters)<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Letters of transmittal to introduce reports or proposals<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Campaign initiatives, such as for fundraising or political advocacy<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Official announcements of products, services, and promotions to customers<\/li>\r\n \t<li>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<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Formal rejection notices to job or program applicants<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Collection notices to people with overdue payments<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nIn these cases, letters offer the advantage of formality, confidentiality (it\u2019s illegal to open someone else\u2019s mail), and a record of evidence.\r\n\r\nThere are two main types of letters: block-style letters and modified-block style. The block style used by organizations has a company letterhead at the top, whereas modified-block letters are typically written independently by individuals. Though you may see minor format variations from company to company, letters have 10-12 major parts, each of which we\u2019ll examine for the conventions that, if followed, show that you are able to write to a high standard of formality should the occasion call for it.\r\n\r\n<strong><a id=\"menu\"><\/a>Letter Parts<\/strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"#711\">7.1.1: Return Address or Company Letterhead<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"#712\">7.1.2: Date Line<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"#713\">7.1.3: Recipient Address<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"#714\">7.1.4: Subject Reference<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"#715\">7.1.5: Opening Salutation<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"#716\">7.1.6: Message Opening<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"#717\">7.1.7: Message Body<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"#718\">7.1.8: Message Closing<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"#719\">7.1.9: Closing Salutation<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"#7110\">7.1.10: Signature<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"#7111\">7.1.11: Signature Block<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"#7112\">7.1.12: Enclosure Notice<\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nBefore delving into this detail, however, let\u2019s review the advantages, disadvantages, and occasions for using letters given earlier in <a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/cmn279\/chapter\/2-3-selecting-appropriate-channels#t23\/\">Table 2.3<\/a> on channel selection.\r\n<h2>Table 2.3 Excerpt: Letter Pros, Cons, and Proper Use<\/h2>\r\n<table style=\"width: 100%;border-collapse: collapse\" border=\"1\">\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<th style=\"width: 20%\">Channel<\/th>\r\n<th style=\"width: 20%\">Advantages<\/th>\r\n<th style=\"width: 20%\">Disadvantages<\/th>\r\n<th style=\"width: 20%\">Expectations<\/th>\r\n<th style=\"width: 20%\">Appropriate Use<\/th>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"width: 20%\">Letter<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 20%\">\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Shows respect through formality and effort<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Ensures confidentiality when sealed in an envelope and delivered to the recipient\u2019s physical address (it is illegal to open someone else\u2019s mail)<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Can introduce other physical documents (enclosures)<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 20%\">\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Slow to arrive at the recipient\u2019s address depending on how far away they are from the sender<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Can be intercepted or tampered with in transit (albeit illegally)<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Can be overlooked as junk mail<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Time consuming to print, sign, seal, and send for delivery<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Mail postage is costlier than email<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 20%\">\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Follow conventions for different types of letters (e.g., block for company letters, modified block for personal letters) and provide the sender\u2019s and recipient\u2019s address, date, recipient salutation, closing salutation, and author\u2019s signature<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Use company letterhead template when writing on behalf of your organization<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 20%\">\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>For providing a formal, permanent, confidential written message to a single important person or organization<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Ideal for job applications (cover letter), persuasive messages (e.g., fundraising campaigns), bad-news messages, matters with possible legal implications (e.g., claims), and responses to letters<\/li>\r\n \t<li>For non-urgent matters<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<h1><a id=\"711\"><\/a>7.1.1: Return Address or Company Letterhead<\/h1>\r\nThe first piece of information in a letter is usually the sender\u2019s address. 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. 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. The company letterhead address usually appears in the one-line style following the format given below:\r\n\r\n[Street number] [Street name] [Street type], [City or town], [Provincial abbreviation] [two spaces] [Postal code with a single space in the middle]\r\n\r\n<strong>Example:\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0 1385 Woodroffe Avenue, Ottawa, ON \u00a0K2G 1V8\r\n\r\nSee <a href=\"#713\">\u00a77.1.3<\/a> below for more on address styles. The letterhead also includes other contact information such as phone and fax numbers, as well as the company web address. Some company letterhead templates move some or all of these parts, besides the company name and logo, to the footer so that the whole page is framed with company branding. For dozens of letter template examples, go to open a blank new document in MS Word and type \u201cletter\u201d into the document type or go to <a href=\"https:\/\/templates.office.com\/en-us\/Letters\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Letters<\/a> (Microsoft Office, 2014).\r\n\r\n<img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-114 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/404\/2018\/08\/documents.jpg\" alt=\"A preview of multiple Microsoft Word Letter templates\" width=\"1431\" height=\"255\" \/><strong>Figure 7.1.1:<\/strong> Selection of Microsoft Word business letter templates\r\n\r\nBecause <strong>modified-block-style letters<\/strong> are sent by individuals unaffiliated with a company, they typically include only the sender\u2019s two-line address at the top, which divides the above address style in half so that the street number, name, and type go on the first line (with no comma at the end), and the city\/town, provincial abbreviation, and postal code go on the second, as shown below:\r\n\r\n<strong>Example:<\/strong>\r\n\r\n1385 Woodroffe Avenue\r\nOttawa, ON\u00a0 \u00a0K2G 1V8\r\n\r\nIn both styles of address, strike a formal tone by fully spelling out the street type rather than abbreviating it (e.g., <em>Street<\/em>, not <em>St<\/em>.; <em>Avenue<\/em>, not <em>Ave.<\/em>; <em>Road<\/em>, not <em>Rd.<\/em>; <em>Crescent<\/em>, not <em>Cres.<\/em>; <em>Boulevard<\/em>, not <em>Blvd.<\/em>; <em>Court<\/em>, not <em>Crt.<\/em>; etc.). Using the abbreviations is fine in informal, personal letters, however.\r\n\r\nA distinguishing feature of the modified-block style is that the sender address is justified (flush) to the vertical middle of the page (i.e., the left edge of its text lines up with it) rather than the left margin. Do this by highlighting the two address lines, then clicking and dragging the base of the left-margin tab in your word processor\u2019s ruler right to the vertical midpoint of the page. If your page has 2.5cm margins, that would be at around the 8.25cm mark. Note that modified-block-style letters place the sender\u2019s address on the first line below the header (i.e., about an inch or 2.5cm from the top edge of the page) and don\u2019t include the sender\u2019s name at the top of this address block. The reader can find the sender\u2019s name by darting their eyes down to the signature block at the bottom.\r\n\r\nIn some circumstances, you may want to use block-style letters with a letterhead when writing on your own behalf rather than for a company. When writing a cover letter, for instance, you can stylize your name prominently as if it were the name of a company so that it stands out in a larger font in bold typeface, possibly in an eye-catching colour. Because this appears in the header margin, adopting the block style has the additional advantage of placing your name and contact information automatically on every page so that consistent personal branding extends to the one- to two-page r\u00e9sum\u00e9 that follows, including the references page that would be separated out for confidentiality reasons (see <a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/cmn279\/chapter\/9-2-resumes-and-online-applications#9221\/\">\u00a79.2.2.1<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/cmn279\/chapter\/9-3-cover-letters#931\/\">\u00a79.3.1<\/a> below).\r\n\r\n<a href=\"#menu\">Return to the Letter Parts menu<\/a>\r\n<h1><a id=\"712\"><\/a>7.1.2: Date Line<\/h1>\r\nIn a formal letter, the date must follow the unambiguous style that fully spells out the month, gives the calendar date, a comma, and the full year (e.g., April 25, 2020). In block-style letters, this appears left-justified (its left edge lines up with the left margin) often with 2-3 lines of space between it and the company letterhead above it and, for symmetry, as much between it and the recipient address below.\r\n\r\nIn modified-block-style letters, however, the date often appears as the third line of the sender address block. Its left edge therefore lines up with the vertical middle of the page. Only one line of space should separate the date line from the recipient address below. After this, block-style and modified-block letters are formatted in the same way until you get to the signature block at the bottom.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"#menu\">Return to the Letter Parts menu<\/a>\r\n<h1><a id=\"713\"><\/a>7.1.3: Recipient Address<\/h1>\r\nNo matter what style of letter you use, the recipient address is left-justified, begins with the recipient\u2019s full name on the top line, and follows with their mailing address on the lines below in the format options given in Table 7.1.3 below.\r\n<h2>Table 7.1.3: Standard Letter Address Format for Company and Personal Recipients<\/h2>\r\n<table style=\"width: 100%;border-collapse: collapse\" border=\"1\">\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<th style=\"width: 50%\">Address Format<\/th>\r\n<th style=\"width: 50%\">Examples<\/th>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"width: 50%\">Title Full Name, Professional Role\r\nCompany Name\r\n# Street Type\r\nTown\/City, PA\u00a0 A1B 2C3<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 50%\">Dr. Michelle Masterton, Geriatrician\r\nTidal Healthcare Clinic\r\n6519 Maynard Street\r\nHalifax, NS\u00a0 B4L 6C9<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"width: 50%\">Title Full Name, Credentials\r\nProfessional Role (if long)\r\n# Street Type\r\nTown\/City, PA\u00a0 A1B 2C3<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 50%\">Mr. Jonathan Carruthers, MBA\r\nFreelance Marketing Consultant\r\n3489 Cook Street\r\nVictoria, BC\u00a0 V9G 4B2<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\nNotice that commas follow only (1) the recipient\u2019s name if followed by a professional role (capitalized) or credentials abbreviation and (2) the city or town. Two spaces separate the provincial abbreviation (PA) from the postal code, which has a single space in the middle dividing the six alpha-numeric characters into two groups of three for readability. Though you sometimes see addresses that fully spell out the province, rather than abbreviate it, and have only one space between the province and postal code, the style given above is dominant and has the advantage of being more concise and clearly distinguishing the province from the postal code without crowding the line with commas. Keep the end of each line free of any punctuation.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"#menu\">Return to the Letter Parts menu<\/a>\r\n<h1><a id=\"714\"><\/a>7.1.4: Subject Reference<\/h1>\r\nLike a subject line in an email, letters can have subject lines that indicate the topic or purpose. The same titling principles as email apply (see <a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/cmn279\/chapter\/6-1-1-email-address#613\/\">\u00a76.1.3<\/a> above), only the letter\u2019s subject reference begins with \u201c<strong>Re:<\/strong>\u201d or \u201cRE:\u201d and is entirely in either bold typeface or all-caps, but not both. You might also see it positioned above or below the opening salutation, but usually above. Like all the text blocks besides the date line, a blank line of space separates this from the other parts above and below.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"#menu\">Return to the Letter Parts menu<\/a>\r\n<h1><a id=\"715\"><\/a>7.1.5: Opening Salutation<\/h1>\r\nThe most common opening salutation for a letter is given in Table 7.1.5 below:\r\n<h2>Table 7.1.5: Opening Salutation<\/h2>\r\n<table style=\"width: 100%;border-collapse: collapse\" border=\"1\">\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<th style=\"width: 50%\">Opening Salutation Form<\/th>\r\n<th style=\"width: 50%\">Examples<\/th>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"width: 50%\">Dear [Title] [Full or Last Name]:<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 50%\">Dear Ms. Fran\u00e7oise Hardy:\r\nDear Mr. Serge Gainsbourg:\r\nDear Mrs. Pattie Boyd:\r\nDear Dr. Landy:\r\nDear Ms. Vartan:\r\nDear Dana Dortmund:<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\nThe Dear, title, full name, and colon all signal formality. Variations in formal letters include omitting the title or the first name, but not both at once. Omit the title if you\u2019re at all concerned about its accuracy. For instance, if the recipient\u2019s first name is a unisex name and you\u2019re not sure it they\u2019re male or female, skip the gender title to avoid offending the recipient by mixing up their gender. Unless you\u2019re sure that the recipient prefers <em>Mrs.<\/em> (indicating that she\u2019s married) over <em>Ms.<\/em> because she\u2019s used it herself, <em>Ms.<\/em> might be the safer option. Avoid the title <em>Miss<\/em> because it\u2019s no longer commonly used and appears outdated. If you\u2019re addressing someone who identifies as non-binary, then <em>Mx.<\/em> might be best if you must use a title, or just no title at all. Other considerations in the opening salutation include the following:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Using the recipient\u2019s first name only is appropriate only if you know them well on a friendly, first-name basis.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Using a comma instead of a colon is appropriate only for very informal letters.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><em>To whom it may concern:<\/em> is an appropriate opening salutation only if you really intend for the letter to be read by whomever it is given to, as in the case of a reference letter that an applicant gives copies of to potential employers. Otherwise, every effort should be made to direct the letter to a particular person, especially cover letters. If an employer has deliberately omitted any mention of who is responsible for hiring an applied-for position, addressing the person by professional role (e.g., <em>Dear Hiring Manager:<\/em>) is acceptable (see <a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/cmn279\/chapter\/9-3-cover-letters#9321\/\">\u00a79.3.2.1<\/a> below).<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<a href=\"#menu\">Return to the Letter Parts menu<\/a>\r\n<h1><a id=\"716\"><\/a>7.1.6: Message Opening<\/h1>\r\nLetters are ideal for both direct- and indirect-approach messages depending on the occasion for writing them. Consistent with what we saw in <a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/cmn279\/chapter\/4-1-choosing-an-organizational-pattern#411\/\">\u00a74.1.1<\/a> above, direct-approach letters get right to the point by stating their main point or request in a paragraph of no more than a sentence or two. Letters organized with openings like this lend themselves to positive or neutral messages. Ideal for formally delivering bad-news or persuasive messages, indirect-approach letters begin with a buffer paragraph\u2014again, this may only be a sentence or two\u2014just to say some nice things before getting to the bad news or difficult request in the body of the message. (See <a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/cmn279\/chapter\/4-1-choosing-an-organizational-pattern#412\/\">\u00a74.1.2<\/a> for more on the indirect approach).\r\n\r\n<a href=\"#menu\">Return to the Letter Parts menu<\/a>\r\n<h1><a id=\"717\"><\/a>7.1.7: Message Body<\/h1>\r\nWhether the opening takes the direct or indirect approach, the body supports this with explanatory detail (see <a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/cmn279\/chapter\/4-1-choosing-an-organizational-pattern\/\">\u00a74.1<\/a> above on message bodies). Ensure that your message body abides by the 6 Cs of (see <a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/cmn279\/chapter\/4-5-standard-business-style#452\/\">\u00a74.5.2<\/a> above), especially conciseness because a letter should only be a page or two. If appropriate for the content, use effective document design features such as numbered or bulleted lists to improve readability (see <a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/cmn279\/chapter\/4-6-effective-document-design#465\/\">\u00a74.6.5<\/a> above). For instance, if your letter contains a series of questions, use a numbered list so that the reader can respond to each with a corresponding numbered list of their own.\r\n\r\nMessage body paragraphs should be proper three-part paragraphs (see <a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/cmn279\/chapter\/4-4-forming-effective-paragraphs#441\/\">\u00a74.4.1<\/a> above). Like all other text blocks throughout (except for the return address above and signature block below in a modified-block letter), every line in the message body must be flush to the left margin, including the first. In other words, rather than indent a paragraph\u2019s first line as novels do to mark where one paragraph ends and another begins, separate them with a blank line. Brevity in formal letters limits the number of paragraphs to what you can fit in a page or two.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"#menu\">Return to the Letter Parts menu<\/a>\r\n<h1><a id=\"718\"><\/a>7.1.8: Message Closing<\/h1>\r\nThe closing mirrors the opening with a sentence or two that wraps up the letter with something relevant to the topic at hand (see <a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/cmn279\/chapter\/4-1-choosing-an-organizational-pattern\/\">\u00a74.1<\/a> above on message closings). Because of their formality, letters almost always end with a goodwill statement, such as an expression of gratitude thanking the reader for their attention or consideration. For instance, a cover letter thanks the reader for their consideration, invites them to read the enclosed r\u00e9sum\u00e9, and expresses interest in meeting to discuss the applicant\u2019s fit with the company in person since getting an interview is the entire point of an application. A thank-you letter will thank the recipient again, and a recommendation letter will emphatically endorse the applicant. Even letters delivering bad news or addressing contentious situations should end with pleasantries rather than hostile or passive-aggressive jabs.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"#menu\">Return to the Letter Parts menu<\/a>\r\n<h1><a id=\"719\"><\/a>7.1.9: Closing Salutation<\/h1>\r\nA simple<em> Sincerely<\/em> or <em>Cordially<\/em> are standard business letter closing salutations that signal the formal end of the message much like the opening salutation did before the beginning of the message proper. A more personal letter sent to someone you know well may end with <em>Yours truly<\/em> (with the second word all lowercase), but don\u2019t use this with someone you\u2019ve never met or with anyone you want to maintain a strictly professional relationship with. Always place a \u201changing comma\u201d at the end of the line, as you can see in <a href=\"#t7110\">Table 7.1.10<\/a> below.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"#menu\">Return to the Letter Parts menu<\/a>\r\n<h1><a id=\"7110\"><\/a>7.1.10: Signature<\/h1>\r\nYour signature is a guarantee of authorship that carries legal weight. In a printed letter, leave enough space\u2014usually about three single-spaced lines\u2014to autograph your signature by hand. When sending a letter that you write and submit completely electronically, you have two options for an electronic signature, as explained in Table 7.1.10 below. Of the two, an image of your hand-written signature looks much more professional than a typed-out version using a simulated handwriting font. The hand-written image gives the impression that you are adept at technology.\r\n<h2><a id=\"t7110\"><\/a>Table 7.1.10: How to Make Signatures for Electronically Written and Sent Letters<\/h2>\r\n<table style=\"width: 100%;border-collapse: collapse\" border=\"1\">\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<th style=\"width: 50%\">Signature Image<\/th>\r\n<th style=\"width: 50%\">Simulated Signature<\/th>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"width: 50%\">Sincerely,\r\n\r\n<img class=\"size-full wp-image-115 alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/404\/2023\/10\/gallileo1.png\" alt=\"Galileo Galilei\" width=\"205\" height=\"87\" \/>\r\n\r\nGalileo Galilei, Astronomer\r\nImage source: <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Galileo_Signature.svg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Connormah<\/a> (2009)<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 50%\">Sincerely,\r\n\r\n<img class=\"size-medium wp-image-116 alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/404\/2023\/10\/galileo2-300x75.png\" alt=\"Galileo Galilei\" width=\"300\" height=\"75\" \/>\r\n\r\nGalileo Galilei, Astronomer<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td style=\"width: 50%\">\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li>Write your signature several times on a piece of blank, white paper.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Scan the document.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Crop the best image into a close-fitting jpeg image file. If the scanner makes a PDF file of the scanned image, make a jpeg file of the best signature by using the <a href=\"https:\/\/support.microsoft.com\/en-ca\/help\/13776\/windows-use-snipping-tool-to-capture-screenshots\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Snipping Tool<\/a> (Microsoft Support, 2017) with the file type set to jpeg and saving the captured image.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Drag and drop the signature image from the folder where you saved it to the space between your closing salutation and your full printed name in the signature block.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Adjust the signature size so that it occupies the equivalent of about 2-3 single-spaced lines and delete any blanks lines of space above and below it so that it fits snugly between the closing salutation and your full printed name.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 50%\">\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li>Type your name on the line between your closing salutation and full printed name in the signature block.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Highlight it.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Go to the font selection dropdown menu and select a simulated handwriting signature that is common to most computers such as Freestyle Script.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Adjust the font size so that your simulated signature occupies the equivalent of 2-3 single-spaced lines.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\nDon\u2019t cut corners when assembling an image of your handwritten signature. For instance, taking a smartphone photo of your signature rather than scanning it will look amateurish because the background will probably be greyish or another off-white shade that will clash with the pure white of your page background. Also, drawing your signature with your computer\u2019s mouse or touchpad will look shaky like it was signed by a seven year-old. The inserted signature image must be seamlessly integrated and smoothly drawn for it to look professionally done.\r\n\r\nBesides giving the impression that you\u2019re adept at technology, making an image file of your handwritten signature for electronic letters also sets you up for using it repeatedly to sign contracts and other documents electronically. If current labour trends take us to a predominant gig economy <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/report-on-business\/rob-commentary\/the-gig-economy-is-here-and-we-arent-ready\/article36678505\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">(Nazareth, 2017)<\/a>, having a shortcut for signing emailed contracts will save you time. Unless you\u2019re sent a contract via <a href=\"https:\/\/www.docusign.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">DocuSign<\/a> or an equivalent technology solution to legally sign documents in a secure manner, a PDF contract sent to you would otherwise require printing it out, signing it, scanning it, and emailing it back. With a signature image, you can just drag and drop your signature into the document after downloading it, re-save it as a PDF, and email it back to the employer in a minute or two.\r\n\r\nThough the simulated signature is certainly easier to put together, it carries with it several problems: it looks lazy and even tacky, carries no legal authority, and may not appear as a simulated signature font when it\u2019s opened by the recipient on another computer. If it\u2019s opened on, say, a Mac computer when you wrote it on a Windows-based PC, the signature might be converted into 25-pt. Arial font, making the recipient wonder why you chose a font that looks nothing like handwriting for your signature. The reason is that their computer didn\u2019t have the signature font you chose, or something was lost in translation, and their reader rendered the signature into a different font. For these reasons, using an image of your actual signature is better.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"#menu\">Return to the Letter Parts menu<\/a>\r\n<h1><a id=\"7111\"><\/a>7.1.11: Signature Block<\/h1>\r\nThe signature block clarifies the sender\u2019s name in full since handwritten signatures are rarely legible enough to do so themselves. The sender\u2019s professional role follows their name either on the same line (with a comma in between) if both the name and role are short enough, and on the second line if they are too long together. On the line below the sender\u2019s name and role can appear the name of the company they work for and their work email address on the third line; all three lines are single-spaced. If you are writing independently, putting your email address and phone number on the line(s) after your printed name depends on if you used a simple modified-block style address at the top, in which case you should add your contact info the signature block. If you used a personal letterhead, perhaps for a job application cover letter, then you need not include anything more than your full printed name in your signature block.\r\n\r\nSometimes letters are written on someone else\u2019s behalf, perhaps by an administrative assistant. In such cases, the signature and typed-out name of the person responsible for the letter is given at the bottom, then the initials of the person who typed it appear after a line of space below the last line of the signature block.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"#menu\">Return to the Letter Parts menu<\/a>\r\n<h1><a id=\"7112\"><\/a>7.1.12: Enclosure Notice<\/h1>\r\nJust as emails can include attachments, letters are often sent along with other documents. Cover letters introduce r\u00e9sum\u00e9s, for instance, and letters of transmittal introduce reports to their intended recipients. In such cases, an enclosure notice on the very last line of the page (above the footer margin) tells the reader that another document or other documents are included with the letter. This would look like the following:\r\n\r\nEnclosures (2): R\u00e9sum\u00e9, Portfolio\r\n\r\nFor other documents included with the letter, simple, brief titles such as <em>Brochure<\/em> or <em>Thank-you Card<\/em> would suffice. Separate each with a comma if you have more than one.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"#menu\">Return to the Letter Parts menu<\/a>\r\n<h1><a id=\"7113\"><\/a>7.1.13: Before Sending Your Letter<\/h1>\r\nGiven the importance of the letter you\u2019re writing, especially if it has to do with employment, editing is crucial to your career success. Even a single writing error in a cover letter, for instance, is enough to prompt the reader to dump it in the shredder without even glancing at the enclosed r\u00e9sum\u00e9, making the applicant\u2019s efforts useless. Apply all the revising and proofreading advice in <a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/cmn279\/part\/chapter-5-the-writing-process-4-editing\/\">Ch. 5<\/a> above to ensure that the letter fulfills its purpose and represents you well with its flawless attention to detail.\r\n\r\nEnsure also that your letter meets all expectations for standard business letter format. In North America, the page must be 8.5\" x 11\" (21.6 x 27.9cm) with one-inch (2.5cm) or 3cm margins all around. Though letterhead and graphic elements may go in the header and footer for company branding purposes, the side margins must remain blank. Make the font 12-point Times New Roman or a similar serif font, or alternatively a sans-serif font such as Arial, but definitely not something exotic like Papyrus (see <a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/cmn279\/chapter\/4-6-effective-document-design#463\/\">\u00a74.6.3<\/a> above on font). Single-space the text by ensuring that the line spacing is 1.0 in your word processor, which may be different from your word processor\u2019s default (the MS Word default is 1.08). Adjusting the default setting that adds additional line spaces every time you hit the Enter or Return key is essential to avoiding the effect of the line spacing looking like it\u2019s double even when you indeed set it to single (see <a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/cmn279\/chapter\/4-6-effective-document-design#464\/\">\u00a74.6.4<\/a> above for more on line spacing).\r\n\r\nThough letters sent electronically can be attached in emails or uploaded to a website, hard-copy letters must be printed out and signed. Those mailed on their own or perhaps with one or two enclosed pages can be folded twice to make three horizontal panels of equal height so that the letter fits in a standard 4 1\/8\" x 9 1\/2\" envelope. When a hard-copy letter covers extremely important documents (e.g., a mailed job application or report), consider sending them pristinely unfolded in a 9\" x 11.5\" envelope.\r\n\r\nFinally, ensure that you leave enough time for your letter to arrive at its destination if punctuality is a factor. Though letters sent to a destination within your city may take only a couple of days to get there, those sent across the country may take a week or longer depending on weekend and holiday slow-downs (e.g., letters sent during the Christmas holiday season take longer to arrive). Email has largely replaced hard-copy letters because it ensures that a message gets to its destination the instant you press <em>Send<\/em>, so send letters when urgency isn\u2019t an issue.\r\n\r\nFor more perspectives on business letters, including slight format variations, see the following resources:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thebalancecareers.com\/how-to-format-a-business-letter-2062540\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">How to Format a Business Letter<\/a> (Doyle, 2018)<\/li>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/owl.english.purdue.edu\/owl\/resource\/653\/01\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Writing the Basic Business Letter<\/a> (Purdue OWL, n.d.)<\/li>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Write-a-Business-Letter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">How to Write a Business Letter<\/a> (wikiHow, 2018)<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<div class=\"textbox key-takeaways\">\r\n<h3>Key Takeaway<\/h3>\r\nIf you need to send a highly formal message to show respect to your recipient and ensure confidentiality, follow standard business letter conventions.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"textbox exercises\">\r\n<h3>Exercises<\/h3>\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li>Put together a letterhead template for a fictional company that you might work for, or even start yourself, in the career you\u2019re training for. There\u2019s no need to go overboard with a fancy with a logo design; many companies\u2019 trademark is just their company name in an interesting font (e.g. Google or the fictional Dunder Mifflin in the TV show <em>The Office<\/em>). Include fictional contact information either at the top or bottom.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Using the company letterhead template you designed for Exercise #1, write a letter that you would send to everyone in your customer contact database advertising a new product or service that you would offer in the career you\u2019re training for.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>If you did the email assignment at the end of <a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/cmn279\/chapter\/6-1-1-email-address#6111\/\" style=\"text-align: initial;font-size: 1em\">\u00a76.1.11<\/a><span style=\"text-align: initial;font-size: 1em\">, revise it in the form of a personal modified-block-style letter (invent details as necessary, including Dr. Emily Conway\u2019s company name and address for the recipient address block). Ensure that it is perfectly written in a formal style.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"textbox shaded\">\r\n<h2>References<\/h2>\r\n<p class=\"hangingindent\">Connormah. (2009, August 28). Galileo signature. <em>Wikimedia Commons<\/em>. Retrieved from <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Galileo_Signature.svg\">https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Galileo_Signature.svg<\/a><\/p>\r\n<p class=\"hangingindent\">Doyle, A. (2018, April 6). How to format a business letter.<em> The Balance Careers<\/em>. Retrieved from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thebalancecareers.com\/how-to-format-a-business-letter-2062540\">https:\/\/www.thebalancecareers.com\/how-to-format-a-business-letter-2062540<\/a><\/p>\r\n<p class=\"hangingindent\">Leuca, A. (2008, March 13). Modified block business letter. Retrieved from <a href=\"http:\/\/www.savvy-business-correspondence.com\/ModifiedBlockBizLetter.html\">http:\/\/www.savvy-business-correspondence.com\/ModifiedBlockBizLetter.html<\/a><\/p>\r\n<p class=\"hangingindent\">Microsoft Office. (2014, December 10). Letters. <em>Office Templates<\/em>. Retrieved from <a href=\"https:\/\/templates.office.com\/en-us\/Letters\">https:\/\/templates.office.com\/en-us\/Letters<\/a><\/p>\r\n<p class=\"hangingindent\">Microsoft Support. (2017, April 26). Use Snipping Tool to capture screenshots. Retrieved from <a href=\"https:\/\/support.microsoft.com\/en-ca\/help\/13776\/windows-use-snipping-tool-to-capture-screenshots\">https:\/\/support.microsoft.com\/en-ca\/help\/13776\/windows-use-snipping-tool-to-capture-screenshots<\/a><\/p>\r\n<p class=\"hangingindent\">Nazareth, L. (2017, October 17). The gig economy is here \u2013 and we aren\u2019t ready. <em>The Globe and Mail<\/em>. Retrieved from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/report-on-business\/rob-commentary\/the-gig-economy-is-here-and-we-arent-ready\/article36678505\/\">https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/report-on-business\/rob-commentary\/the-gig-economy-is-here-and-we-arent-ready\/article36678505\/<\/a><\/p>\r\n<p class=\"hangingindent\">Purdue OWL. (n.d.). Writing the basic business letter. Retrieved from <a href=\"https:\/\/owl.english.purdue.edu\/owl\/resource\/653\/01\/\">https:\/\/owl.english.purdue.edu\/owl\/resource\/653\/01\/<\/a><\/p>\r\n<p class=\"hangingindent\">wikiHow. (2018, May 14). How to write a business letter. Retrieved from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Write-a-Business-Letter\">https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Write-a-Business-Letter<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>","rendered":"<div class=\"textbox learning-objectives\">\n<h3>Learning Objectives<\/h3>\n<p>1. Identify the parts of effective letters.<\/p>\n<p><strong>2. <\/strong>Plan, write, revise, and edit short documents and messages that are organized, complete, and tailored to specific audiences.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px\">i. Format and write documents and messages such as memos and letters.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>As one of the most formal documents you can send, a letter conveys a high degree of respect to its recipient. Sending a letter is your way of saying that the recipient matters. Letters are usually one- to two-page documents sent to people or organizations outside of the organization from which they\u2019re sent, whereas memos are equivalent documents for formal communications within an organization (see <a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/cmn279\/chapter\/7-2-memos\/\">\u00a77.2<\/a> below). 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:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Cover letters to employers in job applications<\/li>\n<li>Thank-you letters and other goodwill expressions<\/li>\n<li>Letters of recommendation (a.k.a. reference letters)<\/li>\n<li>Letters of transmittal to introduce reports or proposals<\/li>\n<li>Campaign initiatives, such as for fundraising or political advocacy<\/li>\n<li>Official announcements of products, services, and promotions to customers<\/li>\n<li>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<\/li>\n<li>Formal rejection notices to job or program applicants<\/li>\n<li>Collection notices to people with overdue payments<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In these cases, letters offer the advantage of formality, confidentiality (it\u2019s illegal to open someone else\u2019s mail), and a record of evidence.<\/p>\n<p>There are two main types of letters: block-style letters and modified-block style. The block style used by organizations has a company letterhead at the top, whereas modified-block letters are typically written independently by individuals. Though you may see minor format variations from company to company, letters have 10-12 major parts, each of which we\u2019ll examine for the conventions that, if followed, show that you are able to write to a high standard of formality should the occasion call for it.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a id=\"menu\"><\/a>Letter Parts<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#711\">7.1.1: Return Address or Company Letterhead<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#712\">7.1.2: Date Line<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#713\">7.1.3: Recipient Address<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#714\">7.1.4: Subject Reference<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#715\">7.1.5: Opening Salutation<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#716\">7.1.6: Message Opening<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#717\">7.1.7: Message Body<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#718\">7.1.8: Message Closing<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#719\">7.1.9: Closing Salutation<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#7110\">7.1.10: Signature<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#7111\">7.1.11: Signature Block<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#7112\">7.1.12: Enclosure Notice<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Before delving into this detail, however, let\u2019s review the advantages, disadvantages, and occasions for using letters given earlier in <a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/cmn279\/chapter\/2-3-selecting-appropriate-channels#t23\/\">Table 2.3<\/a> on channel selection.<\/p>\n<h2>Table 2.3 Excerpt: Letter Pros, Cons, and Proper Use<\/h2>\n<table style=\"width: 100%;border-collapse: collapse\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"width: 20%\">Channel<\/th>\n<th style=\"width: 20%\">Advantages<\/th>\n<th style=\"width: 20%\">Disadvantages<\/th>\n<th style=\"width: 20%\">Expectations<\/th>\n<th style=\"width: 20%\">Appropriate Use<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 20%\">Letter<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 20%\">\n<ul>\n<li>Shows respect through formality and effort<\/li>\n<li>Ensures confidentiality when sealed in an envelope and delivered to the recipient\u2019s physical address (it is illegal to open someone else\u2019s mail)<\/li>\n<li>Can introduce other physical documents (enclosures)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 20%\">\n<ul>\n<li>Slow to arrive at the recipient\u2019s address depending on how far away they are from the sender<\/li>\n<li>Can be intercepted or tampered with in transit (albeit illegally)<\/li>\n<li>Can be overlooked as junk mail<\/li>\n<li>Time consuming to print, sign, seal, and send for delivery<\/li>\n<li>Mail postage is costlier than email<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 20%\">\n<ul>\n<li>Follow conventions for different types of letters (e.g., block for company letters, modified block for personal letters) and provide the sender\u2019s and recipient\u2019s address, date, recipient salutation, closing salutation, and author\u2019s signature<\/li>\n<li>Use company letterhead template when writing on behalf of your organization<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 20%\">\n<ul>\n<li>For providing a formal, permanent, confidential written message to a single important person or organization<\/li>\n<li>Ideal for job applications (cover letter), persuasive messages (e.g., fundraising campaigns), bad-news messages, matters with possible legal implications (e.g., claims), and responses to letters<\/li>\n<li>For non-urgent matters<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h1><a id=\"711\"><\/a>7.1.1: Return Address or Company Letterhead<\/h1>\n<p>The first piece of information in a letter is usually the sender\u2019s address. 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. 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. The company letterhead address usually appears in the one-line style following the format given below:<\/p>\n<p>[Street number] [Street name] [Street type], [City or town], [Provincial abbreviation] [two spaces] [Postal code with a single space in the middle]<\/p>\n<p><strong>Example:\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0 1385 Woodroffe Avenue, Ottawa, ON \u00a0K2G 1V8<\/p>\n<p>See <a href=\"#713\">\u00a77.1.3<\/a> below for more on address styles. The letterhead also includes other contact information such as phone and fax numbers, as well as the company web address. Some company letterhead templates move some or all of these parts, besides the company name and logo, to the footer so that the whole page is framed with company branding. For dozens of letter template examples, go to open a blank new document in MS Word and type \u201cletter\u201d into the document type or go to <a href=\"https:\/\/templates.office.com\/en-us\/Letters\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Letters<\/a> (Microsoft Office, 2014).<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-114 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/404\/2018\/08\/documents.jpg\" alt=\"A preview of multiple Microsoft Word Letter templates\" width=\"1431\" height=\"255\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/cmn279\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/404\/2018\/08\/documents.jpg 1431w, https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/cmn279\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/404\/2018\/08\/documents-300x53.jpg 300w, https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/cmn279\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/404\/2018\/08\/documents-1024x182.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/cmn279\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/404\/2018\/08\/documents-768x137.jpg 768w, https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/cmn279\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/404\/2018\/08\/documents-65x12.jpg 65w, https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/cmn279\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/404\/2018\/08\/documents-225x40.jpg 225w, https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/cmn279\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/404\/2018\/08\/documents-350x62.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1431px) 100vw, 1431px\" \/><strong>Figure 7.1.1:<\/strong> Selection of Microsoft Word business letter templates<\/p>\n<p>Because <strong>modified-block-style letters<\/strong> are sent by individuals unaffiliated with a company, they typically include only the sender\u2019s two-line address at the top, which divides the above address style in half so that the street number, name, and type go on the first line (with no comma at the end), and the city\/town, provincial abbreviation, and postal code go on the second, as shown below:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>1385 Woodroffe Avenue<br \/>\nOttawa, ON\u00a0 \u00a0K2G 1V8<\/p>\n<p>In both styles of address, strike a formal tone by fully spelling out the street type rather than abbreviating it (e.g., <em>Street<\/em>, not <em>St<\/em>.; <em>Avenue<\/em>, not <em>Ave.<\/em>; <em>Road<\/em>, not <em>Rd.<\/em>; <em>Crescent<\/em>, not <em>Cres.<\/em>; <em>Boulevard<\/em>, not <em>Blvd.<\/em>; <em>Court<\/em>, not <em>Crt.<\/em>; etc.). Using the abbreviations is fine in informal, personal letters, however.<\/p>\n<p>A distinguishing feature of the modified-block style is that the sender address is justified (flush) to the vertical middle of the page (i.e., the left edge of its text lines up with it) rather than the left margin. Do this by highlighting the two address lines, then clicking and dragging the base of the left-margin tab in your word processor\u2019s ruler right to the vertical midpoint of the page. If your page has 2.5cm margins, that would be at around the 8.25cm mark. Note that modified-block-style letters place the sender\u2019s address on the first line below the header (i.e., about an inch or 2.5cm from the top edge of the page) and don\u2019t include the sender\u2019s name at the top of this address block. The reader can find the sender\u2019s name by darting their eyes down to the signature block at the bottom.<\/p>\n<p>In some circumstances, you may want to use block-style letters with a letterhead when writing on your own behalf rather than for a company. When writing a cover letter, for instance, you can stylize your name prominently as if it were the name of a company so that it stands out in a larger font in bold typeface, possibly in an eye-catching colour. Because this appears in the header margin, adopting the block style has the additional advantage of placing your name and contact information automatically on every page so that consistent personal branding extends to the one- to two-page r\u00e9sum\u00e9 that follows, including the references page that would be separated out for confidentiality reasons (see <a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/cmn279\/chapter\/9-2-resumes-and-online-applications#9221\/\">\u00a79.2.2.1<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/cmn279\/chapter\/9-3-cover-letters#931\/\">\u00a79.3.1<\/a> below).<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#menu\">Return to the Letter Parts menu<\/a><\/p>\n<h1><a id=\"712\"><\/a>7.1.2: Date Line<\/h1>\n<p>In a formal letter, the date must follow the unambiguous style that fully spells out the month, gives the calendar date, a comma, and the full year (e.g., April 25, 2020). In block-style letters, this appears left-justified (its left edge lines up with the left margin) often with 2-3 lines of space between it and the company letterhead above it and, for symmetry, as much between it and the recipient address below.<\/p>\n<p>In modified-block-style letters, however, the date often appears as the third line of the sender address block. Its left edge therefore lines up with the vertical middle of the page. Only one line of space should separate the date line from the recipient address below. After this, block-style and modified-block letters are formatted in the same way until you get to the signature block at the bottom.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#menu\">Return to the Letter Parts menu<\/a><\/p>\n<h1><a id=\"713\"><\/a>7.1.3: Recipient Address<\/h1>\n<p>No matter what style of letter you use, the recipient address is left-justified, begins with the recipient\u2019s full name on the top line, and follows with their mailing address on the lines below in the format options given in Table 7.1.3 below.<\/p>\n<h2>Table 7.1.3: Standard Letter Address Format for Company and Personal Recipients<\/h2>\n<table style=\"width: 100%;border-collapse: collapse\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"width: 50%\">Address Format<\/th>\n<th style=\"width: 50%\">Examples<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50%\">Title Full Name, Professional Role<br \/>\nCompany Name<br \/>\n# Street Type<br \/>\nTown\/City, PA\u00a0 A1B 2C3<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%\">Dr. Michelle Masterton, Geriatrician<br \/>\nTidal Healthcare Clinic<br \/>\n6519 Maynard Street<br \/>\nHalifax, NS\u00a0 B4L 6C9<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50%\">Title Full Name, Credentials<br \/>\nProfessional Role (if long)<br \/>\n# Street Type<br \/>\nTown\/City, PA\u00a0 A1B 2C3<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%\">Mr. Jonathan Carruthers, MBA<br \/>\nFreelance Marketing Consultant<br \/>\n3489 Cook Street<br \/>\nVictoria, BC\u00a0 V9G 4B2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Notice that commas follow only (1) the recipient\u2019s name if followed by a professional role (capitalized) or credentials abbreviation and (2) the city or town. Two spaces separate the provincial abbreviation (PA) from the postal code, which has a single space in the middle dividing the six alpha-numeric characters into two groups of three for readability. Though you sometimes see addresses that fully spell out the province, rather than abbreviate it, and have only one space between the province and postal code, the style given above is dominant and has the advantage of being more concise and clearly distinguishing the province from the postal code without crowding the line with commas. Keep the end of each line free of any punctuation.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#menu\">Return to the Letter Parts menu<\/a><\/p>\n<h1><a id=\"714\"><\/a>7.1.4: Subject Reference<\/h1>\n<p>Like a subject line in an email, letters can have subject lines that indicate the topic or purpose. The same titling principles as email apply (see <a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/cmn279\/chapter\/6-1-1-email-address#613\/\">\u00a76.1.3<\/a> above), only the letter\u2019s subject reference begins with \u201c<strong>Re:<\/strong>\u201d or \u201cRE:\u201d and is entirely in either bold typeface or all-caps, but not both. You might also see it positioned above or below the opening salutation, but usually above. Like all the text blocks besides the date line, a blank line of space separates this from the other parts above and below.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#menu\">Return to the Letter Parts menu<\/a><\/p>\n<h1><a id=\"715\"><\/a>7.1.5: Opening Salutation<\/h1>\n<p>The most common opening salutation for a letter is given in Table 7.1.5 below:<\/p>\n<h2>Table 7.1.5: Opening Salutation<\/h2>\n<table style=\"width: 100%;border-collapse: collapse\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"width: 50%\">Opening Salutation Form<\/th>\n<th style=\"width: 50%\">Examples<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50%\">Dear [Title] [Full or Last Name]:<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%\">Dear Ms. Fran\u00e7oise Hardy:<br \/>\nDear Mr. Serge Gainsbourg:<br \/>\nDear Mrs. Pattie Boyd:<br \/>\nDear Dr. Landy:<br \/>\nDear Ms. Vartan:<br \/>\nDear Dana Dortmund:<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>The Dear, title, full name, and colon all signal formality. Variations in formal letters include omitting the title or the first name, but not both at once. Omit the title if you\u2019re at all concerned about its accuracy. For instance, if the recipient\u2019s first name is a unisex name and you\u2019re not sure it they\u2019re male or female, skip the gender title to avoid offending the recipient by mixing up their gender. Unless you\u2019re sure that the recipient prefers <em>Mrs.<\/em> (indicating that she\u2019s married) over <em>Ms.<\/em> because she\u2019s used it herself, <em>Ms.<\/em> might be the safer option. Avoid the title <em>Miss<\/em> because it\u2019s no longer commonly used and appears outdated. If you\u2019re addressing someone who identifies as non-binary, then <em>Mx.<\/em> might be best if you must use a title, or just no title at all. Other considerations in the opening salutation include the following:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Using the recipient\u2019s first name only is appropriate only if you know them well on a friendly, first-name basis.<\/li>\n<li>Using a comma instead of a colon is appropriate only for very informal letters.<\/li>\n<li><em>To whom it may concern:<\/em> is an appropriate opening salutation only if you really intend for the letter to be read by whomever it is given to, as in the case of a reference letter that an applicant gives copies of to potential employers. Otherwise, every effort should be made to direct the letter to a particular person, especially cover letters. If an employer has deliberately omitted any mention of who is responsible for hiring an applied-for position, addressing the person by professional role (e.g., <em>Dear Hiring Manager:<\/em>) is acceptable (see <a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/cmn279\/chapter\/9-3-cover-letters#9321\/\">\u00a79.3.2.1<\/a> below).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"#menu\">Return to the Letter Parts menu<\/a><\/p>\n<h1><a id=\"716\"><\/a>7.1.6: Message Opening<\/h1>\n<p>Letters are ideal for both direct- and indirect-approach messages depending on the occasion for writing them. Consistent with what we saw in <a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/cmn279\/chapter\/4-1-choosing-an-organizational-pattern#411\/\">\u00a74.1.1<\/a> above, direct-approach letters get right to the point by stating their main point or request in a paragraph of no more than a sentence or two. Letters organized with openings like this lend themselves to positive or neutral messages. Ideal for formally delivering bad-news or persuasive messages, indirect-approach letters begin with a buffer paragraph\u2014again, this may only be a sentence or two\u2014just to say some nice things before getting to the bad news or difficult request in the body of the message. (See <a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/cmn279\/chapter\/4-1-choosing-an-organizational-pattern#412\/\">\u00a74.1.2<\/a> for more on the indirect approach).<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#menu\">Return to the Letter Parts menu<\/a><\/p>\n<h1><a id=\"717\"><\/a>7.1.7: Message Body<\/h1>\n<p>Whether the opening takes the direct or indirect approach, the body supports this with explanatory detail (see <a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/cmn279\/chapter\/4-1-choosing-an-organizational-pattern\/\">\u00a74.1<\/a> above on message bodies). Ensure that your message body abides by the 6 Cs of (see <a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/cmn279\/chapter\/4-5-standard-business-style#452\/\">\u00a74.5.2<\/a> above), especially conciseness because a letter should only be a page or two. If appropriate for the content, use effective document design features such as numbered or bulleted lists to improve readability (see <a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/cmn279\/chapter\/4-6-effective-document-design#465\/\">\u00a74.6.5<\/a> above). For instance, if your letter contains a series of questions, use a numbered list so that the reader can respond to each with a corresponding numbered list of their own.<\/p>\n<p>Message body paragraphs should be proper three-part paragraphs (see <a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/cmn279\/chapter\/4-4-forming-effective-paragraphs#441\/\">\u00a74.4.1<\/a> above). Like all other text blocks throughout (except for the return address above and signature block below in a modified-block letter), every line in the message body must be flush to the left margin, including the first. In other words, rather than indent a paragraph\u2019s first line as novels do to mark where one paragraph ends and another begins, separate them with a blank line. Brevity in formal letters limits the number of paragraphs to what you can fit in a page or two.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#menu\">Return to the Letter Parts menu<\/a><\/p>\n<h1><a id=\"718\"><\/a>7.1.8: Message Closing<\/h1>\n<p>The closing mirrors the opening with a sentence or two that wraps up the letter with something relevant to the topic at hand (see <a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/cmn279\/chapter\/4-1-choosing-an-organizational-pattern\/\">\u00a74.1<\/a> above on message closings). Because of their formality, letters almost always end with a goodwill statement, such as an expression of gratitude thanking the reader for their attention or consideration. For instance, a cover letter thanks the reader for their consideration, invites them to read the enclosed r\u00e9sum\u00e9, and expresses interest in meeting to discuss the applicant\u2019s fit with the company in person since getting an interview is the entire point of an application. A thank-you letter will thank the recipient again, and a recommendation letter will emphatically endorse the applicant. Even letters delivering bad news or addressing contentious situations should end with pleasantries rather than hostile or passive-aggressive jabs.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#menu\">Return to the Letter Parts menu<\/a><\/p>\n<h1><a id=\"719\"><\/a>7.1.9: Closing Salutation<\/h1>\n<p>A simple<em> Sincerely<\/em> or <em>Cordially<\/em> are standard business letter closing salutations that signal the formal end of the message much like the opening salutation did before the beginning of the message proper. A more personal letter sent to someone you know well may end with <em>Yours truly<\/em> (with the second word all lowercase), but don\u2019t use this with someone you\u2019ve never met or with anyone you want to maintain a strictly professional relationship with. Always place a \u201changing comma\u201d at the end of the line, as you can see in <a href=\"#t7110\">Table 7.1.10<\/a> below.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#menu\">Return to the Letter Parts menu<\/a><\/p>\n<h1><a id=\"7110\"><\/a>7.1.10: Signature<\/h1>\n<p>Your signature is a guarantee of authorship that carries legal weight. In a printed letter, leave enough space\u2014usually about three single-spaced lines\u2014to autograph your signature by hand. When sending a letter that you write and submit completely electronically, you have two options for an electronic signature, as explained in Table 7.1.10 below. Of the two, an image of your hand-written signature looks much more professional than a typed-out version using a simulated handwriting font. The hand-written image gives the impression that you are adept at technology.<\/p>\n<h2><a id=\"t7110\"><\/a>Table 7.1.10: How to Make Signatures for Electronically Written and Sent Letters<\/h2>\n<table style=\"width: 100%;border-collapse: collapse\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"width: 50%\">Signature Image<\/th>\n<th style=\"width: 50%\">Simulated Signature<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50%\">Sincerely,<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-115 alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/404\/2023\/10\/gallileo1.png\" alt=\"Galileo Galilei\" width=\"205\" height=\"87\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/cmn279\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/404\/2023\/10\/gallileo1.png 205w, https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/cmn279\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/404\/2023\/10\/gallileo1-65x28.png 65w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 205px) 100vw, 205px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Galileo Galilei, Astronomer<br \/>\nImage source: <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Galileo_Signature.svg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Connormah<\/a> (2009)<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%\">Sincerely,<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-116 alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/404\/2023\/10\/galileo2-300x75.png\" alt=\"Galileo Galilei\" width=\"300\" height=\"75\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/cmn279\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/404\/2023\/10\/galileo2-300x75.png 300w, https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/cmn279\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/404\/2023\/10\/galileo2-65x16.png 65w, https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/cmn279\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/404\/2023\/10\/galileo2-225x56.png 225w, https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/cmn279\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/404\/2023\/10\/galileo2.png 305w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Galileo Galilei, Astronomer<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50%\">\n<ol>\n<li>Write your signature several times on a piece of blank, white paper.<\/li>\n<li>Scan the document.<\/li>\n<li>Crop the best image into a close-fitting jpeg image file. If the scanner makes a PDF file of the scanned image, make a jpeg file of the best signature by using the <a href=\"https:\/\/support.microsoft.com\/en-ca\/help\/13776\/windows-use-snipping-tool-to-capture-screenshots\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Snipping Tool<\/a> (Microsoft Support, 2017) with the file type set to jpeg and saving the captured image.<\/li>\n<li>Drag and drop the signature image from the folder where you saved it to the space between your closing salutation and your full printed name in the signature block.<\/li>\n<li>Adjust the signature size so that it occupies the equivalent of about 2-3 single-spaced lines and delete any blanks lines of space above and below it so that it fits snugly between the closing salutation and your full printed name.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%\">\n<ol>\n<li>Type your name on the line between your closing salutation and full printed name in the signature block.<\/li>\n<li>Highlight it.<\/li>\n<li>Go to the font selection dropdown menu and select a simulated handwriting signature that is common to most computers such as Freestyle Script.<\/li>\n<li>Adjust the font size so that your simulated signature occupies the equivalent of 2-3 single-spaced lines.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Don\u2019t cut corners when assembling an image of your handwritten signature. For instance, taking a smartphone photo of your signature rather than scanning it will look amateurish because the background will probably be greyish or another off-white shade that will clash with the pure white of your page background. Also, drawing your signature with your computer\u2019s mouse or touchpad will look shaky like it was signed by a seven year-old. The inserted signature image must be seamlessly integrated and smoothly drawn for it to look professionally done.<\/p>\n<p>Besides giving the impression that you\u2019re adept at technology, making an image file of your handwritten signature for electronic letters also sets you up for using it repeatedly to sign contracts and other documents electronically. If current labour trends take us to a predominant gig economy <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/report-on-business\/rob-commentary\/the-gig-economy-is-here-and-we-arent-ready\/article36678505\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">(Nazareth, 2017)<\/a>, having a shortcut for signing emailed contracts will save you time. Unless you\u2019re sent a contract via <a href=\"https:\/\/www.docusign.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">DocuSign<\/a> or an equivalent technology solution to legally sign documents in a secure manner, a PDF contract sent to you would otherwise require printing it out, signing it, scanning it, and emailing it back. With a signature image, you can just drag and drop your signature into the document after downloading it, re-save it as a PDF, and email it back to the employer in a minute or two.<\/p>\n<p>Though the simulated signature is certainly easier to put together, it carries with it several problems: it looks lazy and even tacky, carries no legal authority, and may not appear as a simulated signature font when it\u2019s opened by the recipient on another computer. If it\u2019s opened on, say, a Mac computer when you wrote it on a Windows-based PC, the signature might be converted into 25-pt. Arial font, making the recipient wonder why you chose a font that looks nothing like handwriting for your signature. The reason is that their computer didn\u2019t have the signature font you chose, or something was lost in translation, and their reader rendered the signature into a different font. For these reasons, using an image of your actual signature is better.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#menu\">Return to the Letter Parts menu<\/a><\/p>\n<h1><a id=\"7111\"><\/a>7.1.11: Signature Block<\/h1>\n<p>The signature block clarifies the sender\u2019s name in full since handwritten signatures are rarely legible enough to do so themselves. The sender\u2019s professional role follows their name either on the same line (with a comma in between) if both the name and role are short enough, and on the second line if they are too long together. On the line below the sender\u2019s name and role can appear the name of the company they work for and their work email address on the third line; all three lines are single-spaced. If you are writing independently, putting your email address and phone number on the line(s) after your printed name depends on if you used a simple modified-block style address at the top, in which case you should add your contact info the signature block. If you used a personal letterhead, perhaps for a job application cover letter, then you need not include anything more than your full printed name in your signature block.<\/p>\n<p>Sometimes letters are written on someone else\u2019s behalf, perhaps by an administrative assistant. In such cases, the signature and typed-out name of the person responsible for the letter is given at the bottom, then the initials of the person who typed it appear after a line of space below the last line of the signature block.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#menu\">Return to the Letter Parts menu<\/a><\/p>\n<h1><a id=\"7112\"><\/a>7.1.12: Enclosure Notice<\/h1>\n<p>Just as emails can include attachments, letters are often sent along with other documents. Cover letters introduce r\u00e9sum\u00e9s, for instance, and letters of transmittal introduce reports to their intended recipients. In such cases, an enclosure notice on the very last line of the page (above the footer margin) tells the reader that another document or other documents are included with the letter. This would look like the following:<\/p>\n<p>Enclosures (2): R\u00e9sum\u00e9, Portfolio<\/p>\n<p>For other documents included with the letter, simple, brief titles such as <em>Brochure<\/em> or <em>Thank-you Card<\/em> would suffice. Separate each with a comma if you have more than one.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#menu\">Return to the Letter Parts menu<\/a><\/p>\n<h1><a id=\"7113\"><\/a>7.1.13: Before Sending Your Letter<\/h1>\n<p>Given the importance of the letter you\u2019re writing, especially if it has to do with employment, editing is crucial to your career success. Even a single writing error in a cover letter, for instance, is enough to prompt the reader to dump it in the shredder without even glancing at the enclosed r\u00e9sum\u00e9, making the applicant\u2019s efforts useless. Apply all the revising and proofreading advice in <a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/cmn279\/part\/chapter-5-the-writing-process-4-editing\/\">Ch. 5<\/a> above to ensure that the letter fulfills its purpose and represents you well with its flawless attention to detail.<\/p>\n<p>Ensure also that your letter meets all expectations for standard business letter format. In North America, the page must be 8.5&#8243; x 11&#8243; (21.6 x 27.9cm) with one-inch (2.5cm) or 3cm margins all around. Though letterhead and graphic elements may go in the header and footer for company branding purposes, the side margins must remain blank. Make the font 12-point Times New Roman or a similar serif font, or alternatively a sans-serif font such as Arial, but definitely not something exotic like Papyrus (see <a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/cmn279\/chapter\/4-6-effective-document-design#463\/\">\u00a74.6.3<\/a> above on font). Single-space the text by ensuring that the line spacing is 1.0 in your word processor, which may be different from your word processor\u2019s default (the MS Word default is 1.08). Adjusting the default setting that adds additional line spaces every time you hit the Enter or Return key is essential to avoiding the effect of the line spacing looking like it\u2019s double even when you indeed set it to single (see <a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/cmn279\/chapter\/4-6-effective-document-design#464\/\">\u00a74.6.4<\/a> above for more on line spacing).<\/p>\n<p>Though letters sent electronically can be attached in emails or uploaded to a website, hard-copy letters must be printed out and signed. Those mailed on their own or perhaps with one or two enclosed pages can be folded twice to make three horizontal panels of equal height so that the letter fits in a standard 4 1\/8&#8243; x 9 1\/2&#8243; envelope. When a hard-copy letter covers extremely important documents (e.g., a mailed job application or report), consider sending them pristinely unfolded in a 9&#8243; x 11.5&#8243; envelope.<\/p>\n<p>Finally, ensure that you leave enough time for your letter to arrive at its destination if punctuality is a factor. Though letters sent to a destination within your city may take only a couple of days to get there, those sent across the country may take a week or longer depending on weekend and holiday slow-downs (e.g., letters sent during the Christmas holiday season take longer to arrive). Email has largely replaced hard-copy letters because it ensures that a message gets to its destination the instant you press <em>Send<\/em>, so send letters when urgency isn\u2019t an issue.<\/p>\n<p>For more perspectives on business letters, including slight format variations, see the following resources:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thebalancecareers.com\/how-to-format-a-business-letter-2062540\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">How to Format a Business Letter<\/a> (Doyle, 2018)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/owl.english.purdue.edu\/owl\/resource\/653\/01\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Writing the Basic Business Letter<\/a> (Purdue OWL, n.d.)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Write-a-Business-Letter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">How to Write a Business Letter<\/a> (wikiHow, 2018)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"textbox key-takeaways\">\n<h3>Key Takeaway<\/h3>\n<p>If you need to send a highly formal message to show respect to your recipient and ensure confidentiality, follow standard business letter conventions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"textbox exercises\">\n<h3>Exercises<\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li>Put together a letterhead template for a fictional company that you might work for, or even start yourself, in the career you\u2019re training for. There\u2019s no need to go overboard with a fancy with a logo design; many companies\u2019 trademark is just their company name in an interesting font (e.g. Google or the fictional Dunder Mifflin in the TV show <em>The Office<\/em>). Include fictional contact information either at the top or bottom.<\/li>\n<li>Using the company letterhead template you designed for Exercise #1, write a letter that you would send to everyone in your customer contact database advertising a new product or service that you would offer in the career you\u2019re training for.<\/li>\n<li>If you did the email assignment at the end of <a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/cmn279\/chapter\/6-1-1-email-address#6111\/\" style=\"text-align: initial;font-size: 1em\">\u00a76.1.11<\/a><span style=\"text-align: initial;font-size: 1em\">, revise it in the form of a personal modified-block-style letter (invent details as necessary, including Dr. Emily Conway\u2019s company name and address for the recipient address block). Ensure that it is perfectly written in a formal style.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"textbox shaded\">\n<h2>References<\/h2>\n<p class=\"hangingindent\">Connormah. (2009, August 28). Galileo signature. <em>Wikimedia Commons<\/em>. Retrieved from <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Galileo_Signature.svg\">https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Galileo_Signature.svg<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"hangingindent\">Doyle, A. (2018, April 6). How to format a business letter.<em> The Balance Careers<\/em>. Retrieved from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thebalancecareers.com\/how-to-format-a-business-letter-2062540\">https:\/\/www.thebalancecareers.com\/how-to-format-a-business-letter-2062540<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"hangingindent\">Leuca, A. (2008, March 13). Modified block business letter. Retrieved from <a href=\"http:\/\/www.savvy-business-correspondence.com\/ModifiedBlockBizLetter.html\">http:\/\/www.savvy-business-correspondence.com\/ModifiedBlockBizLetter.html<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"hangingindent\">Microsoft Office. (2014, December 10). Letters. <em>Office Templates<\/em>. Retrieved from <a href=\"https:\/\/templates.office.com\/en-us\/Letters\">https:\/\/templates.office.com\/en-us\/Letters<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"hangingindent\">Microsoft Support. (2017, April 26). Use Snipping Tool to capture screenshots. Retrieved from <a href=\"https:\/\/support.microsoft.com\/en-ca\/help\/13776\/windows-use-snipping-tool-to-capture-screenshots\">https:\/\/support.microsoft.com\/en-ca\/help\/13776\/windows-use-snipping-tool-to-capture-screenshots<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"hangingindent\">Nazareth, L. (2017, October 17). The gig economy is here \u2013 and we aren\u2019t ready. <em>The Globe and Mail<\/em>. Retrieved from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/report-on-business\/rob-commentary\/the-gig-economy-is-here-and-we-arent-ready\/article36678505\/\">https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/report-on-business\/rob-commentary\/the-gig-economy-is-here-and-we-arent-ready\/article36678505\/<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"hangingindent\">Purdue OWL. (n.d.). Writing the basic business letter. Retrieved from <a href=\"https:\/\/owl.english.purdue.edu\/owl\/resource\/653\/01\/\">https:\/\/owl.english.purdue.edu\/owl\/resource\/653\/01\/<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"hangingindent\">wikiHow. (2018, May 14). How to write a business letter. Retrieved from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Write-a-Business-Letter\">https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Write-a-Business-Letter<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"menu_order":1,"template":"","meta":{"pb_show_title":"","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[49],"contributor":[],"license":[],"class_list":["post-117","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry","chapter-type-numberless"],"part":113,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/cmn279\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/117","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/cmn279\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/cmn279\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/cmn279\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/cmn279\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/117\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":269,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/cmn279\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/117\/revisions\/269"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/cmn279\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/113"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/cmn279\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/117\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/cmn279\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=117"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/cmn279\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=117"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/cmn279\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=117"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/cmn279\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=117"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}