MS-Word and Business Letters (Letter Formats) Lytle High School Business Computer Information Systems Spring 2004

Introduction In this short lesson, you will learn about some basic letter formats. Some are commonly used while others are not seen too much these days. Good luck and have fun learning.

Full-Block Style Top Margin is set for 2” or 2.5” Easiest of the format styles to type. Notice how all the text is to the left margin. There are no tabs or indents to mess with.

Modified-Block Style Top Margin is set for 2” or 2.5” The “Inside Address”, the “Date” and the “Signature Block” are at a tab position set to the center point of the page. Everything else is to the left.

To calculate the “Center Point” of the page Subtract the margins from the width of the paper (8.5”). Divide the difference by 2. Example: 8.5” (Page width) - 2” (left and right margins) ” (divide by 2) = 3.25” tab set Tab to center point

Semi-Block Style The Top Margin is set for 2” or 2.5”. The “Return Address”, the “Date”, and the “Signature Block” are positioned to a tab set to the center of the page. The “Inside Address” and the “Salutation” are to the left margin. Each paragraph is indented.5”.

Simplified Style The “Top Margin” is set for 2” or 2.5” All text is to the left margin. No “Salutation”. What you put in it’s place, is the “Subject” of the letter in all caps. No “Signature Block”, type the sender’s name in all caps.

In Review Now you will answer a few questions about the various formats of a business letter. Click on the link below to go to “Quia.Com” and answer a few questions to check your knowledge. "Quia.Com" Practice Quiz Feel free to review this lesson, and take the practice quiz as often as you like.