When writing an English letter, the placement and considerations for the signature are as follows: First, the letterhead includes the sender's address and date, typically located in the upper right corner of the first page. The address is written in the order of house number, street, city, province (state), postal code, and country, followed by the date of sending. In private letters, only the date of sending is necessary. Next, the inside address refers to the recipient's name and address. This must be included in business letters, but is usually omitted in private letters. The format of this address is similar to the sender's address, placed below the date and in the upper left corner. Moreover, the salutation is the address for the recipient, aligned with the left margin, and is placed 1-2 lines below the recipient's name and address. British people typically use a comma, while Americans prefer a colon as a separator. In private letters, the recipient's first name can be used directly, but in business letters, the surname should be written.
The main content of the letter is the body, where the purpose of the letter is clearly stated. Unlike Chinese letters, the English letter's body directly explains the sender's identity and the reason for writing, followed by a description of the sender's situation, opinions, or needs, and provides necessary explanations or clarifications. When stating the purpose, be concise and clear.
The closing part of the letter includes the sender's closing phrase and signature. The closing phrase is written above the signature, with the first letter capitalized, followed by a comma. In business letters, the signature is usually the full name, unless the relationship with the recipient is very familiar. Finally, the signature is placed one or two lines below the closing phrase. Unless the relationship with the recipient is intimate, the full name should be written legibly. If the signature is messy and difficult to read, it should be printed below the signature to ensure the recipient can accurately identify it.
