Requirements for Letterheads

While letterheads don't have any specific legal requirements, they do require certain elements in order to be effective in the workplace, and even in some personal letters. Lawrence University Career Center recommends that letterheads include a name, address, phone number and email address.

Name

According to Lawrence University Career Center, names should be the first piece of information on a letterhead. For personal letters, use the nickname you most often go by and include your last name. In professional letters, use your full name, and don't use any initials, such as "J. P." or "T. J." because these make your gender unclear and appear unprofessional. Don't include any suffixes (such as junior) or any prefixes (such as Mr. or Mrs.). For business letters, be sure to use a consistent name format on all correspondence, including cover letter, resume and list of references.

Address

Lawrence University Career Center recommends including your permanent mailing address on the line below or adjacent to your name. Avoid post office boxes as these may give the impression that you move frequently. Spell out all street references (for example, use Avenue instead of Ave.).

Phone Number

According to Lawrence University Career Center, your phone number should be the next piece of information on the letterhead. For people who aren't frequently home, a cell phone number can be used, but the voice mail message should be professional and clearly state your name and/or company name.

Email Address

Lawrence University Career Center recommends including an email address on your letterhead. A professional email address from your work or school is best. If you use a personal email address, make sure it is business appropriate. Email addresses using your name or initials are always appropriate, whereas email addresses referencing personal hobbies (such as HockeyGirl or GardeningFanatic) are not appropriate.

Format

Your name should be separate from all other letterhead information, according to Lawrence University Career Center. It should either be on its own line or should be on the opposite side of the rest of the information. To place emphasis on the name, place it in all capital letters or place it in bold or italic font. The rest of the information can be placed on one line or aligned on the opposite side of the page. Be sure to separate your letterhead from the letter text with several spaces.

References

• Lawrence University Career Center