Business and Friendly Letters

Whenever you write a formal business letter or a friendly letter (to a family member or friend), your letter should include the following parts:

heading -- address and date (in a business letter the heading includes the name and address of the person to whom the letter is written and may be flush to the left margin or right of center; in a friendly letter the heading contains the letter writer's address)
salutation -- Dear Name (followed by a colon if in a business letter, by a comma if in a friendly letter) -- if word processing, skip two lines below the heading and begin flush with the left margin; if writing by hand, skip a space and begin flush with the left margin
body -- the main part of the letter in which you write about your information and ideas; if word processing, skip one line after the salutation and skip one line between paragraphs; when writing by hand, you do not need to skip these spaces; indent paragraphs
closing -- Sincerely or Respectfully yours (followed by a comma in a business letter; skip several spaces and then type your name; you will sign the letter above your name) or Love or Affectionately or Your granddaughter or Your best friend or something similar followed by a comma (in a friendly letter) -- capitalize only the first word and begin the closing directly below the heading
signature -- write (by hand) your first name only below the closing in a friendly letter; your full name above the word-processed name, using your whole name

Use nice stationery, write by hand with an ink or gel pen whenever possible, and use your best handwriting. (Business letters are typically written on letterhead, special stationery with the business logo. To see examples of letterhead, follow this link.)

Example Business Letter

20 September 1951

Mrs. Emily Garner
Rte. 3, Box 5A
Oz, Kansas 67001

Dear Mrs. Garner:

I recently learned that your niece Dorothy, a fourth grader in my classroom, visited your farm in Kansas this past summer. She told her classmates a wonderful story about a whirlwind ride and a country fair named Emerald City.

Our class has decided to study Kansas in our social studies geography unit. We wondered if you might be able to send us photographs and other materials related to your state. We would be most appreciative.

Thank you,

Leticia Pettway
Teacher, Wizarding Elementary School

Example Friendly Letter
Some letter writers have nice stationery with initials or name and address. To see some examples, follow this link.

	12 Cherry Lane
	Anytown, LA 77777
	5 August 1951

Dear Auntie Em,
I had such a wonderful time in Kansas that I wanted to write and let you know. I loved the whirlwind ride at the county fair. All of my friends want my cowardly lion that Uncle Lester won for me on the midway. I sleep with the lion every night.
I hope you and Uncle Lester can come visit me next summer. We'll go to Emerald City Fun Fair and eat popcorn and cotton candy.

	Love,