| Exemplary Prose: |
| Essential Writing Skills in Context |
Proofread
format, capitalization, punctuation and phrasing of standard business letters
including the salutation, address and closing; master the conventions of
formal business English.
It has often been said that one of the most writing skills you could acquire is that of letter writing. Whether it is to woo a possible mate, reminisce with an old friend, or complain about an issue to your local paper, powerful letter writing will open doors that otherwise would be denied you.
For the HSGQE you will be expected to be familiar with the business letter format. The traditional business letter format consists of six parts:
Heading: A sufficient heading includes your name, address, and the date when you composed the letter. It should be placed in the upper right hand corner of the page.
Joshua Beans
17 Antoski Road
St. Mary's, Alaska 99758
January 25, 2001
Inside address: The inside address includes the address of the recipient. Use the person's name if you know it. it should be placed on the left hand side of the paper, above the salutation.
Mr. Ted Stevens
Alaska Incorporated
987 Airport Way
Fairbanks, Alaska 99701
Salutation: The salutation greets the recipient. Use Mr., Mrs., Ms., and so forth. If you don't know the person's name, use Dear Sir of Madam.
Dear Mr. Stevens:
Body: The body of a letter conveys the message of the letter. Remember to write clearly and lucidly and pay attention to grammar, spelling, and sentence structure. Another point to remember when writing a business letter is your tone. If you are angry, be respectful. If you are excited, be direct. Brevity is good.
Closing: The closing does just that - it ends the letter. There are several options, including Yours truly and Sincerely.
Signature: A signature is extremely important to many people. Sign the letter in ink. Below the signature, type your full name.
Below is an example of a business letter question from the HSGQE. Answer the questions and see how you do.
For numbers 1 through 4, read the letter and look at the numbered, underlined parts. Choose the answer that shows the best capitalization and punctuation for each part.
July 15, 2001
Merchandise Manager
Now Fashion
1425 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90027
Dear Manager:
I recently purchased a pair of socks from your store, after wearing them
only once, I found a huge hole. At the department store the salesperson told me
to send them to you with a copy of the sales receipt.
Enclosed you will find the socks and a copy of the receipt. I would
appreciate it if you would issue me a store credit or refund my money as soon as
possible.
Yours truly,
Carol Smith
A. October 20, 2000
B. October, 20 2000
C. October 20 2000,
D.
Correct as it is
A. 1425 Hollywood blvd.
B. 1425 Hollywood Blvd.
C. 1425 Hollywood blvd
D.
Correct as it is
A. store, after
B. store. After
C. store; after
D. Correct as it is
A. yours Truly,
B. yours truly,
C. Yours truly,
D. Correct as it is