Writing a formal letter

1. Letterhead

Brownlee & Co Ltd

2. Sender’s address

5 High Street, Blackheath, London SF3B 5 HY

3. Recipient’s address

Mr. C. Chamberlain Managing Director

Evans Universal Ltd.

Lord Shaftsbury Avenue,

London W1 A 7WW

4. Date

1^st May 2011

5. Salutation

Dear Mr. Chamberlain,

6. Introductory paragraph

Thank you for your letter of 22^nd October enquiring about our range of office equipment.

7. Main paragraph

I enclose an up-to-date price list and our latest catalogue which I hope includes something of interest to you. You will notice that we offer very favourable terms of payment.

8. Concluding paragraph

I look forward to hearing from you again.

9. Complimentary ending

Yours sincerely,

10. Signature

11. Typed signature

Mr. James Brownlee

12. Position/ title

Professor of Michigan University

To a company

Dear Sirs

To a man if you don’t know his name

Dear Sir

To a woman if you don’t know her name

Dear Madam

To a man

Dear Mr Smith

To a married woman

Dear Mrs Smith

To an unmarried woman or a girl

Dear Miss Smith

To a married or unmarried woman

(if her marital status is not known to you or if she herself prefers to be addressed this way)

Dear Ms Smith

To anyone concerned

To whom it may concern

To a department

Sales Department