Writing Guides
Business Letters: Format
Heading
- The heading is also the return address to which the recipient will refer when sending a response.
- The writer's name is not included in the heading, as it is appears in the complimentary close at the end of the letter. It should include only the street, city, state and zip code of the letter writer. Identifying words such as Avenue, Circle, Court, Drive, and Street should be spelled out rather than abbreviated. Doing so reduces the chances of a response being sent to an incorrect address.
- The state name can be either spelled out or abbreviated in upper case letters according to U.S. Postal Service guidelines.
- The date a letter is written should be placed below the writer's return address information. It is the final component in the heading of a business letter.