Before you pen your next piece of handwritten correspondence, do you know the latest letter-writing guidelines?Parade magazine recently published these tips from the Emily Post Institute:
- Always RSVP: Reply in the same format as the invitation. Reply to written invites with letters, respond via email to emails.
- Address and date: If your stationery doesn’t include a printed address, include yours in the upper right-hand corner of the page. Write the date below the address.
- Finish warmly: Close formal or business correspondence with “Sincerely” or “Sincerely yours.” You can tone down the formality by using “Kind (or Warm) regards.” End friendly notes with “Cordially,” “Affectionately,” “Fondly” or “Love.”
- Sign off: Use your first and last name with someone you’ve never met in person. Put your last name in parentheses if you’ve only spoken to the letter recipient on the phone. For friends, sign with your first name.
The Postal Service kicked off National Card and Letter Writing Month April 1 by dedicating From Me to You, a stamp that promotes handwritten correspondence.