Full - Block Letter Company Logo or Letterhead

March 15, 2001

Mr. John Smith, Director of Operations SomeGroup Group SomeStreet Drive Sometown, VA 12345 Dear Mr. Smith : Thank you for your inquiry about Full-Block format for letters. What follows is a quick summary of the format and the conventions it uses. Full block format is considered the most formal of the three styles. In full block format or style, every line is left justified. The dateline is placed two to six line spaces below the last line of the heading or letterhead. The inside address placement varies depending upon the length of the letter. A common spacing is four line spaces below the date line. The salutation is placed two lines below the attention line (if an attention line is provided). The first line of the body is placed two lines below an attention line or two to four lines below the last inside address line. When using full block, paragraphs are single spaced, with a double space between paragraphs. While there are no set rules governing format use, full block is generally used for (1) requests or inquiries, (2) claims, (3) announcements, (4) records of agreement, (5) transmittal of other technical documents, and (6) job applications. Most other types of letters use semi-block or simplified format. This page illustrates the spacing and layout of full block format. Sincerely yours ,

Dr. Sheila Carter-Tod English Instructor SCT/jm

Enclosure

Company Logo or Letterhead

March 15, 2001

Mr. John Smith, Director of Operations SomeGroup Group SomeStreet Drive Sometown, VA 12345 Dear Mr. Smith : Sincerely yours ,

Dr. Sheila Carter-Tod English Instructor SCT/jm Enclosure

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Company Logo or Letterhead

March 15, 2001

Mr. John Smith, Director of Operations SomeGroup Group SomeStreet Drive Sometown, VA 12345

SIMPLIFIED FORMAT LETTERS

Thank you for your inquiry about Simplified format for letters. What follows is a quick summary of the format and the conventions it uses. Simplified format or style unlike full block and semi-block has fewer internal parts. This format is also the most widely used format in professional correspondence. Simplified format is focused and professional without unnecessary formality. Simplified format places all internal parts in left alignment; however, the traditional salutation is replaced with an all-caps subject line that is also placed flush with the left margin. Body paragraphs are left aligned and single spaced within and double spaced between. In simplified style, the writer's name and title, if necessary, are aligned with the left margin and typed in all caps at least five spaces below the last line of the body or message of the letter. This page illustrates the spacing and layout of simplified format. Both full block

and semi-block formats generally contain all of the necessary parts of a letter. Sincerely yours ,

DR. SHEILA CARTER-TOD ENGLISH INSTRUCTOR SCT/jm Enclosure