Layout of commercial correspondence
Business letters exchanged by commercial firms, companies, publishing houses, institutions, etc. are usually written on business letterheads with the name and address of the firm or office already printed above the letter.
The usual layout for the official business letter today is known as the blocked style. In this style all new lines of typing are ranged to the left including paragraph openings and the concluding salutation. There is no punctuation in the address and the greetings. The same style is followed on the envelope.
This streamline style is considered to be efficient, modern and is designed to save the typist time.
However, there are companies and firms which favor the indented or step form style. In this style paragraph openings are indented, the address and greetings are punctuated. The complimentary close and signature are in the middle or even on the right.
The indented style in business letters now has somewhat a traditional appearance, though it can look more balanced, especially for personal letters.
Following are some business letters written on letterheads in the modern streamline block style.
1. The usual layout for the official business letter today is known as the blocked style.
2. There is no punctuation in the address and the greetings.
3. The streamline style is considered to be efficient, modern and is designed to make a letter more beautiful.
4. In the indented or step form style paragraph openings are indented, the address and the greetings are punctuated.
5. The complimentary close and signature in the step form style can be only in the middle.
6. The indented style in business letters has a different appearance each time.
V. Read the sample of business letters and explain the difference between them.
Heading
University High School
155 East 44th Street
New York 17, New York
September 4, 200...
Inside address
Salutation
Mr. H. Buford Fisher, Chief
Public Information Service
United Nations, UN Plaza
New York, New York.
Dear Mr. Fisher.
BODY
Our oral-English class1 occasionally sends speakers to other oral-English classes as part of our program of work during the term. This year we would like to aid in publicizing UN activity during the forthcoming annual Assembly2 of the United Nations due to open this September. In order to get information about the activities of the United Nations and the importance of this World organization, we should like to have a good speaker who can
give us information, such as a member of the UN Secretariat. Would you be kind enough to suggest a speaker who is not too formal, but who would talk conversationally3 and interestingly. His talk should not last over an hour.
I enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope,4 and we shall be grateful for any suggestions you may make.
Close
Signature
Very truly yours,
Laura Winston
1. oral-English class – группа разговорного английского языка.
2. the forthcoming annual Assembly – предстоящая ежегодная Ассамблея.
3. to talk conversationally – владеть разговорной речью.
4. self-addressed stamped envelope – маркированный конверт с обратным адресом.
