Business
Letter
Writing
Write out the month
in full: 10 June
2005
Jakartas Skyways Limited
(British English), June 10, 2005 (AmericanWisma Metropolitan
English). You do not need “th” after Jl.
theThamrin Kav.25, No.5-7
Jakarta, Indonesia
number, and there is no full stop.
Telp. (021) 587-9789
Internet: www.jakskyways.com
10 June 2005 1
Our ref.: CC/PR432
Your ref.: BH/13198
Ms B. Henry
68 Henley Lane
Manchester
M30 8FT 2
England
M30 8FT is called the “postcode” in
British English. In America, these
numbers are the
“zip code”.
A subject
line is often unnecessary.
So is “Re:”, from the Latin for “the
thing”, meaning “about” or
“concerning”.
In Britain,
“th”
is not necessary.
it is common
10 not
June
to2001
put
(British English),
commas
after the June
opening
10, and
2003closing
(AmericanIn
greetings.
English).
North America,
Make sure
it isthat
3 Complaint about Jakartas SkywaysThe
flight
first
SO876,
letter
28 after
May 2005
the
opening
you write
normal
to aput
fullcommas
date. in both places,
addressor
is aalways
capitalized:
colon after the opening greeting.
“Thank you …”.
Dear Ms Henry 4
5 Thank you for your letter of June 1 regarding your recent experience with Jakartas Skyways.
It is perfectly acceptable to start a
paragraph
or sentence
but for the
encountered
and would with
like to“I”,
apologize
6 I was very sorry to learn of the problems
7
youhasshould
notparagraphs
do
the
time. manager.
It
Sentences
and
should
inconvenience caused. Your complaint
been passed
on this
to ourall
departmental
is common
to and
use “we”
instead.
be
kept short
simple.
Good
We hope that you will nevertheless continue
to
travel
with
Jakartas
Skyways
in the future. I
letters
have
few commas
(this one
“pp”
(or
“p.p.”)
before
the
signature
stands
for the
have enclosed our latest timetable for your information.
has
none)
and
lots
of
full
stops.
Latin per procurationem, meaning “through the agency
of”. This simply means that the sender was not
Your sincerely, 4
available to sign it. It does not mean that the signer has
“cc” people
(or “c.c.”)
for
nowstands
just write
8 pp Elizabeth Taylor any special legal authority. Many
“carbon copies” and shows
“for”
in front
of the
typed
name.
“enc”
is used
to show
that
a document
who else has received copy
Paul Bloom
has been enclosed. You may also see
Customer Relations Manager
the letter.
this written “encl”, “enc.”, “encl.”ofor
“ENC”. Often, the enclosed document
is not specified.
Cc Caroline Hurd, Departmental Manager, Europe 9
enc. 10