The business letters help communicate with business acquaintances just like the other popular mode of communication but with a major difference. Business letters go down in a transaction, as having evidenced whatever matter of relevance, being communicated. But on a normal business day, a business letter puts on record facts and figures which can be referred later unlike what telecommunication does.
The Basics of Writing an Effective Business Letter
To get to the basics, you must understand that business letters are bound by sort of unwritten regulations of which, some are specific to the type of letter you are writing. Point number two: Business letters are always written on the organizations’ letterheads. Three: The language used must be formal regardless of the occasion and matter.
Address the person by titles like Dear Mr., Dear Ms. Director; General Manager, if you don’t know their names and it is fine to use their names when you know. The title Ms., is an important one to watch since you can’t write Miss or Mrs., unless you know for sure.
Then there is the section on reference on which you are writing; give a subject title to your letter indicative of the body of your letter.
Begin the matter by explaining your intentions to write and straight away come to the body. For example, you can begin with ‘…I am writing to enquire about…’ if this is a general or a purchase enquiry letter. For communicating discrepancies, begin something like ‘We are deeply disappointed to see your fax message regarding ... treating the ....’ continuing the letter, you can suggest or state in definitive words, as the case may be, ‘We demand a complete refund of…’ or ‘Our management has decided to return the consignment for…’
The closing remarks must be in their formal best. While thanking the reader, you can end it like, yours sincerely, in case you have addressed the letter to none in particular, and then thanking by yours truly is appropriate.
Secret of Business Letter Writing
Business letters are also documental evidences apart from being tools of communications. The language, the tone and the format always remain broadly same regardless of the relation you share with the person whom you are writing to. The business letter drafter must be communicating the matter in full awareness of the subject matter and the eventual consequences of writing it. A wrong or omitted statement could severely deal a blow (Missed skill in your job application, for example.) Make use of common sense and internet guides, if needed.