BLOCK BUSINESS LETTERS
OBJECTIVES
The Learner will be able to:
 Identify and describe the parts of a business
letter.
 Describe a block letter format.
 Explain open punctuation.
 Indicate correct placement and spacing of letter
parts.
 Format a letter in block style.
BASIC LETTER PARTS
Return Address
 Date
 Letter Address
 Salutation
 Body
 Complimentary Close
 Writer’s Signature
 Keyed Writer’s Name
 Writer’s Job Title
 Reference Initials (Added when needed)
 Enclosures (Added when needed)

RETURN ADDRESS
Return Address – the address of the person
sending the letter (sender).
 Example:
P. O. Box FX 342
Nassau, Bahamas
HOWEVER…….


If you have a letterhead, you do not need the
Return Address
20 Pine Street
P. O. Box FX 342, Nassau, Bahamas
Telephone: 364-6502
E-mail: gardencenter@gmail.com
DATE
Serves as a reference when the letter was
prepared.
 Key the month, day, and year: March 22, 2017
 Starts a SS below the last line of the Return
Address.
 Example:
P. O. Box FX 342
Nassau, Bahamas
March 12, 2017
[Date]

LETTER/INSIDE ADDRESS
Consists of the name and address (and possibly
company name and job title) of person to whom
you are writing.
 Starts a QS below the date.
 Example:
March 12, 2017

Ms. Hanna Laurant
Neighborhood Coordinator
P. O. Box EE 1579
Nassau, Bahamas
[Letter Address]
SALUTATION
A courteous greeting to the person or persons
receiving the letter
 Begin with Dear
 Use a courtesy title before the receiver's name
 Use the receiver’s last name
 Keyed a DS below the Inside Address
 Example:
Ms. Hanna Laurant
Neighborhood Coordinator
P. O. Box EE 1579
Nassau, Bahamas

Dear Ms. Laurant
[Salutation]
BODY
The message of the letter
 It begins a DS below the salutation
 Single spaced paragraphs. (Press Enter one time)
 Double spacing between paragraphs (Press Enter
2 times)
 Example:
Dear Ms. Laurant

I represent the Abhor Neighborhood Association, which
includes families from 1st Street through 8th
[Body]
COMPLIMENTARY CLOSE
A courteous way to end the letter
 Common closings are: Sincerely, Sincerely yours,
Yours truly, Cordially yours
 Capitalize only the first word
 Keyed a DS below the last line of the body
 Example:

Thank you for your time. I look forward to
hearing from you soon.
Sincerely
[Complimentary Close]
SIGNATURE LINES AND TITLE
The signature in a business letter identifies the
originator of the letter – the person who wrote it.
 It is made up of three parts:

a.Signature
Area – the space for the sender’s signature
b.Writer’s Typed Name – includes the sender’s first and last name
c. Job Title – Writer’s position held
Example:
Sincerely
o
Blaine Feldman
[Signature]
Blaine Feldman
[Writer’s Name]
REFERENCE INITIALS
The person who keyboards the letter
 Keyed in lowercase letters, no punctuation, no
spacing between letters
 Keyed a DS below the Writer’s typed name/title
 Example:
Blaine Feldman

gk
[Reference Initials]
ENCLOSURE/ATTACHMENT NOTATION
When an item or items are being enclosed or
attached with the letter
 The notation is a reminder to enclose the item(s)
before sealing or sending it to the mailroom
 It also alerts the reader to the fact that there are
other items enclosed/attached in the envelope
 Keyed a DS below the reference initials at the
left margin.
 Example:
gk

Enclosure
BLOCK LETTER FORMAT
All letter parts begin at the left
 Using the block format saves time because it
requires no tabular stops.
 Punctuation Style – note that no punctuation
follows the salutation or complimentary close.
This feature is called open punctuation.
