How to Write Letters (Formerly The Book of Letters) Part 52

[Ill.u.s.tration: Department stores and firms that write many letters to women often employ a notepaper size]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Specimens of stationery used by men for personal business letters]

The letterhead may be printed, engraved, or lithographed, and it is safest done in black. It should cover considerably less than a quarter of the page. It contains the name of the firm, the address, and the business. The addresses of branch houses, telephone numbers, cable addresses, names of officials, and other data may be included. But all flamboyant, colored advertis.e.m.e.nts, trade slogans, or advertising matter extending down the sides of the letter detract from the actual content of the letter, which it is presumed is the essential part of the letter.

For personal business letters, that is, for letters not social but concerning personal affairs not directly connected with his business, a man often uses a letter sheet partaking more of the nature of social stationery than of business. This sheet is usually rather smaller than the standard business size and of heavier quality. The size and shape of these letter sheets are matters of personal preference--7 x 10 inches or 8 x 10 inches--sometimes even as large as the standard 8-1/2 x 11 or as small as 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 or 6 x 8. The smaller size, however, requires the double sheet, and the engraving may be done on the fourth page instead of the first. The inside address in these letters is generally placed at the end of the letters instead of above the salutation.

Instead of a business letterhead the sheet may have an engraved name and home or business address without any further business connotations, or it may be simply an address line.

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