+_Style_+.--Be perspicuous. Paragraph and punctuate as in other kinds of writing. Spell correctly; write legibly, neatly, and with care.
_Letters of friendship_ should be colloquial, natural, and familiar.
Whatever is interesting to you will be interesting to your friends.
_Business letters_ should be brief, and the sentences should be short, concise, and to the point.
In _formal notes_ the third person is generally used instead of the first and the second; there is no Introduction, no Conclusion, no Signature, only the name of the Place and the Date at the bottom, on the left side of the page.
THE CONCLUSION.
_+Parts+_.--The Conclusion consists of the _+Complimentary Close+_ and the _+Signature+_. The forms of the Complimentary Close are many, and are determined by the relations of the writer to the one addressed. In letters of _friendship_ you may use _Your sincere friend; Yours affectionately ; Your loving son or daughter_, etc. In business letters, you may use _Yours; Yours truly; Truly yours; Yours respectfully; Very respectfully yours_, etc. In official letters use _I have the honor to be, Sir, your obedient servant; Very respectfully, your most obedient servant_.
The Signature consists of your Christian name and your surname. In addressing a stranger write your Christian name in full. A lady addressing a stranger should prefix her t.i.tle--_Miss_ or _Mrs._--to her own name, enclosing it within marks of parenthesis, if she prefers.
_+How Written+_.--The Conclusion should begin near the middle of the first line below the Body of the Letter, and should slope to the right like the Heading and the Address. Begin each line of it with a capital letter, and punctuate as in other writing, following the whole with a period. The Signature should be very plain.
THE FOLDING.
The Folding is a simple matter when, as now, the envelope used is adapted in length to the width of the sheet. Take the letter as it lies before you, with its first page uppermost, turn up the bottom of it about one-third the length of the sheet, bring the top down over this, taking care that the sides are even, and press the parts together.
Taking the envelope with its back toward you, insert the letter, putting in first the edge last folded. The form of the envelope may require the letter to be folded in the middle. Other conditions may require other ways of folding.
THE SUPERSCRIPTION.
_+Parts+_.--The Superscription is what is written on the outside of the envelope. It is the same as the Address, consisting of the Name, the t.i.tle, and the full Directions of the one addressed.
_+How Written+_.--The Superscription should begin near the middle of the envelope and near the left edge-- the envelope lying with its closed side toward you--and should occupy three or four lines. These lines should slope to the right as in the Heading and the Address, the s.p.a.ces between the lines should be the same, and the last line should end near the lower right-hand corner. On the first line the Name and the t.i.tle should stand.
If the one addressed is in a city, the door-number and name of the street should be on the second line, the name of the city on the third, and the name of the state on the fourth. If he is in the country, the name of the post-office should be on the second line, the name of the county on the third--(or by itself near the lower left-hand corner), and the name of the state on the fourth. The t.i.tles following the name should be separated from it and from each other by the comma, and every line should end with a comma, except the last, which should be followed by a period. The lines should be straight, and every part of the Superscription should be legible.
Place the stamp at the upper right-hand corner.
LETTER, ORDERING MERCHANDISE.
[Cursive: Newburgh, N. Y.
Jan. 7. 1888
Messrs. Hyde & Co., 250 Broadway. N. Y.
Gentlemen,
Please send me by Adams Express the articles mentioned in the enclosed list.
Be careful in the selection of the goods, as I desire them for a special cla.s.s of customers.
When they are forwarded, please inform me by letter and enclose the invoice.
Yours truly,
Thomas Dodds.]
ANSWER, ENCLOSING INVOICE.
[Cursive: 250 Broadway, N. Y.
Jan 9, 1888.
Mr. Thomas Dodds, Newburgh, N. Y.
Dear Sir,
We have to-day sent you by Adams Express the goods ordered in your letter of the 7th inst. Enclosed you will find the invoice.
We hope that everything will reach you in good condition and will prove satisfactory in quality and in price.
Very truly yours,
Peter Hyde & Co.]
INVOICE.
Thomas Dodds,
Bought of Peter Hyde & Co.
3 boxes Sperm Candles. 140 lbs., @33c. $46.20 7 do. Adamantine Extra Candles, 182 lbs., "26c. 47.32 120 lbs. Crushed Sugar, "12-1/2c. 15.00 60 do. Coffee do., "11-1/4c. 6.75 ----- $115.27
LETTER OF APPLICATION.
[Cursive: 176 Clinton St. Brooklyn, N. Y.
Dec. 12, 1887
Messrs. Fisk & Hatch, 5 Na.s.sau St., N. Y.
Gentlemen,
Learning by advertis.e.m.e.nt that a clerkship in your house is vacant, I beg leave to offer myself as a candidate for the place. I am sixteen years old, and am strong and in excellent health. I have just graduated with honor from the seventh grade of the Polytechnic Inst.i.tute, Brooklyn, and I enclose testimonials of my character and standing from the President of that Inst.i.tution.
If you desire a personal interview, I shall be glad to present myself at such time and place as you may name.
Very respectfully yours,
Charles Hastings.]
NOTES OF INVITATION AND ACCEPTANCE (in the third person).
_Mr. and Mrs. Brooks request the pleasure of Mr. Churchill"s company at a social gathering, next Tuesday evening, at_ 8 _o"clock_.
32 _W_. 31_st Street, Oct_. 5.
_Mr. Churchill has much pleasure in accepting Mr. and Mrs. Brooks"s kind invitation to a social gathering next Tuesday evening_.
160 _Fifth Ave., Oct_. 5.