2torial #0733:
Learn2 Write a Business Letter (continued)

Frame the letter on the page

How your letter appears on the page is also important. It should be centered, with roughly equal margins on all sides. Figuring this out in the days before computers was a complicated task that involved complex formulas and the occasional dose of correction fluid. Now, word processing programs do the hard work for you.

Generally, treat a letter of roughly 100 to 300 words with 1.5-inch (4-centimeter) margins. If the letter is very short (less than 100 words), increase the margins to 2 inches (5 centimeters) and add a few lines between the closing and your signature. If a piece of correspondence is only a few sentences long, double-space the text to spread it more evenly over the page.

Try to keep your letter to a single page. If you have to use a second page, type the name of the addressee at the top left-hand margin of the second page.

Don't worry about adjusting the number of spaces between the heading and inside address, or between the complimentary close and your name.