Section IV writing

Dateline: July 9, 19—

Inside Address: The Middle Atlantic Institute of Technology,

149 Danbury Road, Danbury, Connecticut 50202

Attention Line: Attention Dean Claude Monet

Salutation: Gentlemen and Ladies

Subject Line: Educational Exchange

Body:

The Commission for Educational Exchange between the United States and Belgium has advised me to contact you in order to obtain employ­ment assistance.

I received my Doctor’s Degree with a “grande distinction” from the University of Brussels and would like to teach French (my mother tongue), English, Dutch, or German.

My special field is English literature; I wrote my dissertation on James Joyce, but I am also qualified to teach languages to business students. 1 l\ave been active in the field of applied linguistics for the past two years at the University of Brussels.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Complimentary Closing: Respectfully yours

Signer's Identification: Jacqueline Brauer

Reference Initials: JB:db

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block format

most common business letter format, single spaced, all paragraphs begin at the left margin

body

the content of the letter; between the salutation and signature

bullets

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certified mail

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coherent

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concise

gets to the point quickly

confidential, personal

private

diplomacy, diplomatic

demonstrating consideration and kindness

direct mail, junk mail

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double space

format where one blank line is left between lines of text

enclosure

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formal

uses set formatting and business language, opposite of casual

format

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heading

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indent

extra spaces (usually 5) at the beginning of a paragraph

informal

casual

inside address

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justified margins

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letterhead

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logo

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margin

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memorandum (memo)

document sent within a company (internal), presented in short form

modified block format

left justified as block format, but date and closing are centered

on arrival notation

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postage

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proofread

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punctuation

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reader-friendly

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recipient

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right ragged

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salutation

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sensitive information

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semi-block format

paragraphs are indented, not left-justified

sincerely

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single spaced

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spacing

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tone

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transitions

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airmail letter

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begging letter

a letter asking for money, sent to an individual or an organization believed to be rich

blackmail letter

a letter of threatening to reveal substantially true information about a person to the public, a family member, or associates unless a demand made upon the victim is met

business letter

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chain letter

a letter which is sent to several people who are each asked to send copies to several others, and which sometimes threatens that bad things will happen if they do not send these copies

circular letter

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complaint letter

letter of complaint

confirmation letter

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cover letter

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dead letter

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letter box

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letterhead

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letter paper

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love letter

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Dear John letter

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open letter

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red-letter day

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ADDRESSEE

SALUTATION

CLOSING

President of the United States

Dear Mr./Ms. President:

Very respectfully yours,

Yours very truly,

Former President

Dear Mr./Ms.____________:

Sincerely yours,

Vice President of the United States

Dear Mr./Ms. Vice President:

Respectfully yours,

Yours very truly,

Cabinet Officers

Dear Mr./Ms. Secretary:

Sincerely yours,

Chief Justice, U.S. Supreme Court

Dear Mr./Ms. Chief Justice:

Dear Chief Justice:

Very truly yours,

Sincerely yours,

Associate Justice, U.S. Supreme Court

Dear Mr./Ms. Justice:

Dear Justice:

Sincerely yours,

Retired Justice, U.S. Supreme Court

Dear Justice:

Sincerely yours,

Speaker, House of Representatives

Dear Mr./Ms. Speaker:

Sincerely yours,

U.S. Senator

Dear Senator:

Sincerely yours,

Former U.S. Senator

Dear Mr./Ms.___________:

Sincerely yours,

U.S. Representative or Congressman

Dear Mr./Ms.___________:

Sincerely yours,

Former Representative

Dear Mr./Ms.___________:

Sincerely yours,