Business letters are different than personal or academic letters. They are succinct, factual and specific. Business letters generally are short and convey the bottom line without a lot of fluff.
Types
The main types of business letters include requests, agreeing to requests, enclosing documents, providing bad news, generating a response, sales letter, goodwill, adjustment, application, collection, complaint, inquiries, resignation, thank you and acknowledgement letters.
Size
Business letters are generally printed on 8 1/2 x 11-inch paper and are best kept to one page.
Warning
Avoid jargon, abbreviations, wordiness and abstracts in business letters.
Features
Business letters contain the following main components: Inside Address, Date, Salutation, Subject Line, Body, Close, Signature Block, Identification Initials (i.e., typist), Enclosure Notation and Carbon Copy (cc).
Considerations
The overall tone and formality of the business letter depends on the relationship between the parties.
