A letter style is the way of arranging all the basic
letter parts. Sometimes a company adopts a certain style; sometimes the individual
letter writer is allowed to choose the most appropriate style. Because letter
is usually arranged in one of the letter style described briefly below.
Full Block Style
Each letter part begins at the left margin. Paragraphs
are always blocked.
This letter style is more efficient than the semi block
or the modified block because no extra time is required for paragraph
indentations. Many writers believe that the full block style provides an
attractive business like appearance.
Modified Block Style:
Same as block Style, except that the date (or the return
address and date), complimentary close, and signature block start near the
center of the page, Attention and subject lines may be indented, centered or
begin at the left margin. In this style paragraphs are not indented.
The most common style for intercultural business letter
are the block style and modified block style.
Modified Block style with indented paragraphs or Semi
Block Style
The semi block style is similar to the modified block
style with one exception; the first sentence of each paragraph is indented
This letter style is considered somewhat conservative. It
is used much less than I was number of years ago.
AMS (Administrative Management Society) Simplified style.
The AMS simplified format is full block, but it omits the
salutation and complimentary close, using instead a subject line in capital
letter without using the word subject.
An extra line space ( a triple space ) precedes and follows the subject
line. It is often used when the gender or marital status of the female receiver
is unknown
The simplified letter has certain disadvantages, at least
in the opinion of some office managers and business writers. They do not wish
to give up the usual conventional salutation and complimentary close. They say
that because these letters parts have been used so routinely for many years,
readers expect them
The advantages of the simplified style are as follows.
- 1. It is easy for the typist because all lines begin at the left margin.
- 2. It is economical because salutations and complimentary closes – which convey little or no message are eliminated.
- 3. It avoids the risk of selecting a salutation that the reader would consider appropriate.
- 4. It makes the subject easy to identify.
It is popular in all
over the world but limited in few departments.
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