The layout of BUSINESS LETTERS

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The layout of BUSINESS LETTERS
The Business letters are a sort of company visiting card. The most frequently used layout of business letters is the block style, where all elements are aligned with the left-hand margin, except the heading, which is usually centred.
The Heading
The heading is the part of a business letter that contains the name of the firm sending the letter, it is usually printed on the letter paper and contains information about the firm, logo, name, style, full address, telephone, telex, fax numbers, e-mail addresses and web site.
The Date
The date states the day when the letter was written and is usually placed just under the heading, either on the right or on the left.

In British English, the standard date is formed by the ordinal number of the day, the name of the month, a comma and the full year in numerals. so the date on the left.
Uses this form: 9th December, 1902 = the ninth of December, nineteen – o - two

In American English, the standard date is formed by the month written out in full, the cardinal number of the day, a comma and the full year in numerals.
Uses this form: December 9, 1902 = December the ninth, nineteen – o – two
The Reference Line
This is not always present in business letter. Its most common form is represented by the initials of the person who wrote the letter in capital letters, and the initials of the person who typed the letter in small letters.
The Inside Address
The inside address is always present in a business letter, as it states the name and address of the company you are writing to. There are three cases:
1. the name of the firm is made up of proper names, or the letter is addressed to a single person;
2. the name of the firm does not include proper names;
3. the firm is a company limited by shares.
1. In the first case, you will use a courtesy title:
- Mr., if the addressee is a man;
- Mrs., if the addressee is a married woman;
- Miss, if the addressee is an unmarried woman;
- Ms., if the addressee is a woman, whose marital status is not known.
If the company name is made of two or more proper names, you will use:
- Messrs, it is used as the plural form of Mr.
2. In the second case you will use The in front of the name.
Examples: The chamber of Commerce
3. In the third case you will simply copy the name of the company.
Examples: Brookstone Co. Ltd
The Attention Line
This is not always present in a business letter and you will place it just below the inside address.
The Salutation
The salutation is always present is business letters and it is placed under the inside address. The salutation differs according to whom the letter is addressed and has different forms in British English and American English. All the words forming the salutation are written with an initial capital letter.

Addressee
British English
American English
The letter is addressed to a single person, whose name is not know.
Dear Sir/Madame
Dear Sir/Madame
The letter is addressed to a single person, whose name is know.
Dear Mr. Brown
Dear Miss Brown
Dear Mr. Brown
Dear Miss Brown
The letter is addressed to more than one person, a company, an authority/agency.
Dear Sir
Gentlemen
The body of the letter
The body of the letter contains the reason for the letter. The body usually consist of three parts:
1. (first): introduction; 2. (second): object; 3. conclusion.
The complimentary close
Is always present in a business letter, as it is a form of courtesy to end the letter.
The signature
Is always present in a business letter, as is states the person who wrote, or dictated.