How to Write an Envelope Letter to Someone

This is the way letters always looked 100 years ago.

An envelope letter is a business or personal letter that is sent by postal service. It's surprising how often this is still done in business and it can be very exciting for someone to receive a letter mailed the old fashioned way, particularly if it's personal or a love letter.

Things You'll Need

• paper
• envelope
• computer
• printer
• stamp

Instructions

1. Write the contents of your letter by hand on paper (it can be plain white or lined). If you have a computer, you can type your letter into the computer using one of the many word processing programs and make sure to save it.

2. A personal letter can be formatted as you choose, but a business letter has a standard structure. Put the date on the upper left corner. Space down two space and write the name of the person your sending the letter to. Space once and put the company name. Space again and put the address. Space down three times and then the salutation (Dear Ms. Jones or To The Personal Manager). Space each paragraph separated by one extra line space.

3. Print out the letter if you have used a computer.

4. Fold up the letter so it will fit into the size envelope you have. Traditional 8 ½ X 11 inch paper can be folded twice to fit in the standard envelope. Fold the letter by laying it flat top to bottom and then fold up a third from the bottom to the center, then fold again so that the letter is now almost the exact size of the envelope. To fit in a smaller envelope, take what you've already folded and fold in half horizontally.

5. Put the letter into the envelope and put your address, called return address, in the upper left corner. Center the address for the recipient, the person who is getting the letter, and write the person's name, address, city, state, and ZIP code.

6. Add a stamp and mail it through any mailbox or post office.

References

• Sample Cover Letter