Put the date above your return address? In the old days, Emily Post, famous for writing about etiquette, would have been aghast! When it comes to writing letters today, some of the old rules still stand but new situations dictate new guidelines. Here are a few tips from emilypost.com:
Always RSVP: Follow the invitation format. Reply to written invites with letters, respond via email to emails, for example.
Address and date: If your stationery does not include a printed address, include yours in the upper right-hand corner of the page, with the date just below.
More: Letters That Changed Our World
Be kind: It’s never in style to complain, disparage others, gossip or vent.
Finish warmly: Close formal or business correspondence with “Sincerely” or “Sincerely yours,” or tone down the formality by using “Kind (or Warm) regards.” End friendly notes with “Cordially,” “Affectionately,” “Fondly” or “Love.” For an acquaintance or someone you haven’t seen in a long time, try “As Always.”
Sign off: Use your first and last name with someone you’ve never met in person. Put your last name in parentheses if you’ve only spoken to the letter recipient on the phone. For friends or close business associates, sign with your first name or nickname.
Next: Letters by the Numbers
Numbers of Letters
30 Rejection letters Stephen King received for his first novel, Carrie (legend has it that King nailed the letters to a timber under his bed)
1 million+ Letters American kids sent to Santa Claus last year
65,000 Letters delivered to the White House each week, as well as 100,000 emails and 1,000 faxes
20% The drop in letters mailed since 2007, according to the U.S. Post Office
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