English Writing Practice Test: Letter Writing — Flashcards

Here are some basics for writing a letter:
Salutation: For a formal letter, the standard salutation is "Dear Sir/Madam". If you don't know the recipient's gender, you can address them by their occupation or full name.
Date: The date is part of the basic structure of any formal letter. It helps recruiters and candidates stay on track with any correspondence.
Letter body: The body is the most important part of a formal letter. It captures the essence of the letter and the message that the sender wishes to convey to the receiver.
Signature: The signature is very important in letter-writing as it's a simple way of "proving" who you are. It should include your first name or your initial(s) plus your surname.
Address of the sender: The address of the sender is the primary or the most important element of the formal letter or an informal letter.
Recipient address: The corresponding address, i.e. the address of the recipient of the mail is written here.
Complimentary close: A complimentary close is a term inserted before your signature in a formal letter. It can be used both in digital mail or hard copy of a writing piece. It is used by writers to show their respect to the recipient. 

Other basics for writing a letter (in print) include:
Using the right formatting
Choosing between block or indented form
Including additional information