50 Block formats for correspondence
The most important thing to remember with written correspondence is to be consistent: indent all paragraphs or block all paragraphs. But this document will review the major formats for correspondence.
Block format (everything lines up on the left margin):
(RETURN ADDRESS)
123 Smith Street
Plattsburgh, N.Y. 12901
(DATE)
Feb. 21, 2006
(INSIDE ADDRESS)
Mr. Milton Bradley
President
Johnson Packaging Company
4242 Jones Road
Canton, N.Y. 13084
(SALUTATION)
Dear Mr. Bradley:
(BODY- don’t indent paragraphs- skip lines between paragraphs)
I am writing….
Please….
(Signature line)
Yours truly,
Jeff Meyers
Modified block:
123 Smith Street
Plattsburgh, N.Y. 12901
Feb. 21, 2006
Mr. Milton Bradley
President
Johnson Packaging Company
4242 Jones Road
Canton, N.Y. 13084
Dear Mr. Bradley:
(Don’t indent paragraphs- skip lines between paragraphs)
Yours truly,
Jeff Meyers
The semi block format is similar to modified block except that paragraphs are indented and it is optional to skip lines between paragraphs- do so consistently if you want to spread info out more on a page.
The simplified letter can use any of the block formats, but it does not include the Greeting. Instead, it has a subject line identifying the topic of the letter. It is used when you don’t know the name of a person you are writing to. It’s sometimes better than using “Dear Sir or Madam:” or “To Whom it May Concern.”