Business Letters Vs. Business Email
Even though they may seem fairly interchangeable, business letters and business e-mails serve very different purposes as mediums of business communication. Business letters, for example, are used primarily for audiences external to an organization, while business e-mails may be used for audiences both internal and external.
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Functions
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Business letters are used to deliver positive or negative news in a variety of corporate situations. Business e-mails, in contrast, are usually used to prompt discussions and gather opinions, as well as to transmit information or electronic documents and files.
Elements
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Business letters have seven standard elements, including a heading, date, recipient address, salutation, body, closing and signature block. Business e-mails, instead, contain four standard elements, namely a recipient address, subject line, salutation and closing.
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Formats
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Business letters usually adhere to either a block format, with every element flush against the left margin or a modified-block format. Business e-mails vary in format though they often adhere to the block or modified-block format of business letters.
Effects
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Business letters convey a greater degree of formality and authority than do business e-mails, thus serving well for external corporate communication. Business e-mails are less formal and more immediate, allowing for quicker communication within organizations.
Considerations
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Business letters and e-mails both benefit from appropriate tone and style. Tone conveys a writer's thoughts toward the subject and the recipients of a letter or e-mail, whereas style reflects a writer's knowledge of the conventions of language and business communication.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Robert S. Donovan
