The basic format of writing an English letter consists of several essential components. Here is a structured breakdown:
1. Header: This includes the sender's address and the date. It is positioned in the upper right corner of the letterhead and begins with the closest address to the center of the paper. There should be a space above the header. Start with the sender's address, which is written differently from Chinese, with the smaller place name first, followed by the larger one. Below the address, write the date in the order of month, day, and year, or day, month, year. For example: May 17, 2003, with a comma before the year.
2. Salutation: This is the address to the recipient. It is written below the header and starts from the left edge of the letter. When writing to someone familiar, use terms like "Dear," followed by their name, or "My dear" for a more personal touch. For example: "Dear Li Lei," "Dear Miss Thomas," or "My dear Dad."
3. Body: This is the main content of the letter. It begins from the next line below the salutation and the first letter of each paragraph, except the first, should be indented by 3 to 5 spaces.
4. Complimentary Close: This is the polite closing phrase at the end of the letter's body. It is written starting from the center or slightly towards the right at the bottom of the letter, with the first letter capitalized and ending with a comma. In informal social letters, "Yours" or "Sincerely" are commonly used. For close friends, "Sincerely yours" or "Yours" can be employed.
5. Signature: This is the sender's signature. It is written below the complimentary close, slightly偏右.
Furthermore, the way an English envelope is addressed differs from Chinese. Typically, the recipient's address is written in the center or slightly towards the lower right corner of the envelope. Their name is written at the top, followed by the address. The sender's name and address are written in the upper left corner of the envelope, or they can be written on the back of the letter.
Remembering this structured format will ensure your English letters are properly formatted and professional in appearance.
