Letter Format
VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
School of Business
Snead Hall, 301 West Main Street
Richmond, Virginia 23284-4000
Mr. Joe Galloway, Office Manager
Countrywide Insurance Company
5983 Maplewood Cove
Richmond, Virginia 23220
(blank line before salutation)
Dear Mr. Galloway
(blank line after salutation)
This letter illustrates the use of the full-block style. Because of the efficiency with which this letter can be keyboarded, its use is growing in popularity.
(blank line between paragraphs)
Some persons object to this letter style because everything is at the left margin; they believe that the date and closing lines should be centered or started at the center of the page. Others would like to indent the first line of each paragraph. Both variations are acceptable; the letter style is known as modified block style.
Notice that the "open" style of punctuation is used in this letter; there are no marks of punctuation after the salutation (greeting) or complimentary close. However, it is acceptable, regardless of the letter style, to use "mixed" punctuation, which requires a colon (:) after the salutation and a comma after the complimentary close.
Finally, notice how your title is shown after your name on the first line of the inside address. However, my title is on the next line in the closing. We try to equalize the line length by doing so. A comma is required if you place the title on the same line as the person's name.
(blank line before complimentary close)
Sincerely
(three blank lines before typed signature)
R. Jon Ackley, Ed.D.
Associate Professor
School of Business
Snead Hall, 301 West Main Street
Richmond, Virginia 23284-4000
Mr. Joe Galloway, Office Manager
Countrywide Insurance Company
5983 Maplewood Cove
Richmond, Virginia 23220
(blank line before salutation)
Dear Mr. Galloway
(blank line after salutation)
This letter illustrates the use of the full-block style. Because of the efficiency with which this letter can be keyboarded, its use is growing in popularity.
(blank line between paragraphs)
Some persons object to this letter style because everything is at the left margin; they believe that the date and closing lines should be centered or started at the center of the page. Others would like to indent the first line of each paragraph. Both variations are acceptable; the letter style is known as modified block style.
Notice that the "open" style of punctuation is used in this letter; there are no marks of punctuation after the salutation (greeting) or complimentary close. However, it is acceptable, regardless of the letter style, to use "mixed" punctuation, which requires a colon (:) after the salutation and a comma after the complimentary close.
Finally, notice how your title is shown after your name on the first line of the inside address. However, my title is on the next line in the closing. We try to equalize the line length by doing so. A comma is required if you place the title on the same line as the person's name.
(blank line before complimentary close)
Sincerely
(three blank lines before typed signature)
R. Jon Ackley, Ed.D.
Associate Professor