You are here:

Business & Technical Writing/How do I type a business letter?

Advertisement

Expert: Alice J. Bogert - 10/5/2006


Question
I am in 5th grade.  I have to write a business letter.  I don't know what to do.  I showed my teacher it today and she said something is wrong.  I don't know what.  

Answer
Hi Michelle,

I'm sorry your teacher didn't take the time to tell you exactly what was wrong with your letter.  I don't know what your assignment was or what your letter looked like, so I will give you some basic information on business letter writing.  

There are several different formats to business letter writing, and I shall give you examples for two of the most common. One is block style where everything lines up with the left margin, and the other is modified block style where the date and closing are indented (usually center of page). Samples follow.

Block Style:

October 4, 2006


Mr. Joe Blow
RCDA Company
4000 J Street
San Diego, California  92301

RE:  Television Model 421567

Dear Mr. Blow:

blah blah blah (this is where you explain what you are writing about).


Sincerely,


Michelle Smith


Modified Block Style

                      October 4, 2006


Mr. Joe Blow
RADC Company
4000 J Street
San Diego, California  92314

RE:  Television Model 12345

Dear Mr. Blow:

blah blah blah


                      Sincerely,



                      Michelle Smith


I hope this was helpful to you and that you do well on your assignment.

Alice J. Bogert

Business & Technical Writing

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Alice J. Bogert

Expertise

I have taught English grammar to elementary school, high school, and college students for several years in addition to private tutoring for students struggling with writing assignments. I also teach adult writing classes for business professionals in the private sector as well as for various government agencies. I have edited manuscripts and other writings submitted by various authors for publication to magazines and journals

Experience

I have studied English grammar for many years. While employed as a federal probation officer, I wrote hundreds of pre-sentence reports to assist federal judges in making fair and appropriate sentencing decisions. I've written short stories and poetry for publication, and I've helped write policy and procedure manuals for various government offices.

Organizations
National Association of Retired Federal Employees Writers Guild of America Professional Women's Assoc.

Publications
"Journal of Juvenile and Family Courts," 1978. "International Library of Poetry," 2003.

Education/Credentials
I have an M.A, Degree in Sociology, and I minored in English.

Awards and Honors
I received three meritorious quality step awards for excellence during my career as a federal probation officer. I was also a nominee for National Probation Officer of the Year in 1986. I am listed in the 1998 edition of "Who's Who in Professions."

Past/Present Clients
California County and State government Federal government Various School Districts Los Rio Community College District Readers' Digest

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.