A MODEL FOR A FULL BLOCK STYLE LETTER July 20, 2016
Lyon College Attn: Ms. Fonda Letters P.O. Box 2317 2300 Highland Road Batesville, AR 72503-2317 Re: Letter Style This is a full block letter style. Every line of the letter begins at the left margin. This style is recommended for formal correspondence. For consistency, the inside address should match the envelope. The inside address should consist of two or more lines. Notice that the attention line is placed in the inside address. The ZIP code is typed two spaces after the state abbreviation. If you are doing a bulk mailing, simply notify the mailing office so that the address labels can be converted to USPS’s preference for that form of mail. Here are some rules recommended by the U.S. Post Office:
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Use the two-letter abbreviations for state names. Leave two spaces between the state abbreviation and the ZIP code. Single space the address lines. Foreign country names must appear in full as the last item in the address.
The salutation of the letter is determined by the first line of the inside address. When the first line is a company name, substitute the subject of your letter for the salutation. When the first line is a person’s name (Mrs. Sally Jones), the salutation is “Dear Mrs. Jones.” When the first line is a title (Personnel Manager), the salutation is “Dear Sir or Madam.” Depending on the formality of the correspondence, the salutation should be followed by a comma (less formal) or a colon (very formal). For further information on correct forms of address, please consult pages 11 and 12 of this style guide.
Sincerely,
LYON
C OLLEGE
S T Y L E
G U I D E
The complimentary close is typed two spaces below the final sentence, with the sender’s name and title four spaces below the close.
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Mary Todd Lincoln First Lady