How to Begin a Letter

While letters are less common in today's world of cell phones and email, letter writing is still an important skill that can make business correspondence more professional and casual communication more personal. Writing an important letter can seem like a daunting task, but it can be simple if you are aware of style guidelines and are prepared with all necessary information. Once you know how to begin the introductory paragraph, the letter should take shape.

Things You'll Need

• Stationery

Instructions

1. Choose stationery appropriate to the purpose of the letter. Formal or business letters require classic stationery with little color and few, if any, graphic elements. Casual letters can be sent on stationery that is more fun and reflective of your personal style. Formal letters should be typed on 8 1/2-by-11 inch paper, while casual letters can be written on note cards.

2. Start the letter by including your return address in the top-right corner of the paper. The address of the recipient should immediately follow on the left side of the page. This is required only for formal letters.

3. Skip two lines and add today's date. Make sure to spell out the month. For a casual letter where the addresses are omitted, skip down six lines from the top of the page before writing the date.

4. Move down two lines and add an appropriate salutation. Use "Dear" followed by a title (Dr., Mr., Mrs., Miss or Ms.) and the name, if you know it. If you do not know the recipient's name, address the letter to "Sir or Madam." First names are acceptable for casual letters.

5. Begin the body of the letter by including an introduction that explains the reason for the letter. Avoid vagueness. The recipient should not have to guess at your letter's meaning or purpose.

6. Include how you learned of the news you are referencing in the introductory paragraph. For example, describe where you saw a job posting or how you learned of someone's promotion.

7. Introduce yourself to the reader in the introduction portion of the letter if necessary. Simply explain who you are. There is no need to state your name, since that will be included at the bottom of the letter. For example, when applying for a job, you might refer to yourself as a "skilled receptionist with 8 years of experience."

Tips & Warnings

• Make note of your thoughts before beginning the letter. This will help make it easier to begin and complete the correspondence.

• Do not indent paragraphs. Use a space in between the paragraphs to communicate the beginning of a new section.

• Avoid jumping into the body of the letter right away. An introduction is important to set the tone of the letter and give the reader a clear indication of its purpose.