During the third Denver Stationery Society Meeting we experienced an intimate discussion about the etiquette we should be aware of for much of our correspondence.
Personal Letter Writing Basics – True Etiquette
If your stationery does not include your printed address, place it in the upper right-hand corner of the first page. Follow one or two lines below with the date. If your address is already printed, the date is placed in the upper right-hand corner of the first page.
The Body of the Letter
The best letters will share news and information, respond to the questions asked or news shared in a previous letter, and ask about the recipient. Include only information you would be happy for others to see. It is more likely that a mailed letter will stay private; e-mailed ones can easily be forwarded inadvertently or intentionally.
How to End a Letter
There are a few different ways to end a letter, depending on who you’re sending it to. Start your letter ending with something positive and if you can, wind up the letter with something your correspondent can relate to.
The Complimentary Close
· The preferred letter ending phrases for formal, social, or business correspondence are “Sincerely,” “Sincerely yours,” “Very sincerely,” or “Very sincerely yours.”
· “Kind(est) regards,” and “Warm(est) regards” fill a nice gap between formal and more intimate closings.
Friendly Letter Closings
· The most frequently used friendly letter closings are “Cordially,” “Affectionately,” “Fondly,” and “Love.”
· “Gratefully” is used only when a benefit has been received, as when a friend has done you a favor.
· “As always” or “As ever” is useful in closing a letter to someone with whom you may not be close or haven’t seen for some time.
Signatures
· Sign with your first and last name if you’re writing to someone you’ve never met face to face.
· Put your last name in parentheses if you’ve only spoken with the person on the phone.
· Use your first name or nickname on letters to friends or business associates who know you.
4 Types of Letters Best Left Unwritten
Although personal letters can be a powerful force for good, the potential for a letter to be misinterpreted or to cause permanent damage in a relationship is equally strong. Here are four types of letters that you might want to think twice about sending.
Woe-is-me: A letter full of misfortune and unhappiness won’t give your reader pleasure and will leave him or her worried or depressed.
Tell-all: There’s nothing wrong with pouring your heart out in a letter, but providing too many intimate details could eventually lead to embarrassment.
Gossip: It’s wrong to tell everything you know about someone’s trials and tribulations, so check your impulse to share.
Anger: Bitter spoken words fade away, but written words stay on a page forever. Put a letter written in anger aside before sending it. Go back later and maybe you’ll soften the tone or decide not to send it.
From the Emily Post Etiquette Institute
