Parts of a Formal Letter

The complete name and address of the person and/or company receiving the letter.

• letter of application
• return address
• full block style
• inside address

A form of business writing in which all the parts of a letter appear against the left margin; no paragraphs are indented.

• letter of application
• return address
• full block style
• inside address

The postal delivery area number that is written after the name of a state in an address

• zip code
• date
• salutation
• complimentary close

The month, day, and year on letter that tells when the person wrote it.

• zip code
• date
• salutation
• complimentary close

The part of a letter that tells why the person wrote the letter

• body
• signature
• margin
• complimentary close

A handwritten (rather than typed or printed) name following the close in a letter

• body
• signature
• margin
• complimentary close

The outside edge of a page

• body
• signature
• margin
• complimentary close

The street address, city, state, and zip code of the person writing the letter.

• letter of application
• return address
• full block style
• inside address

The greeting to the person receiving the letter; for example, Dear Ms. Evans; or Dear Sir:

• zip code
• date
• salutation
• complimentary close

The polite ending to a letter; for example Sincerely or Respectfully yours,

• zip code
• date
• salutation
• complimentary close