FAQS

What is a professional letter?

Professional letters are often used to communicate with a group outside an organization such as clients, customers, or other companies. 

What are the steps to take before writing a professional letter?

1. Research the facts
   • ​​It is important for you to plan what you want to talk about before writing the letter
   • Jot down some key facts you want to include in your letter
2. Know your audience
   • ​​To whom are you writing?  
   • Why are you writing the letter?
3. Determine your objectives
   • ​​What do you want to accomplish by writing the letter?
   • How do you want the reader to react?

What are the components of a professional letter?

• Your return address
• The recipient's address
• A greeting
• The Body (the content of the letter)
• A closing (such as "sincerely")
• Both your handwritten signature and your name typed

What should I keep in mind while writing a professional letter?

• Be sure to use clear, concise language
• Be direct
• Do not use too technical terms - write in language the reader will understand
• Be mindful of tone 
• Direct the focus of the letter on the reader
• Keep letters short and to the point
• Be sure to use proper grammar, punctuation, and spelling

Do you have any examples of professional letters?

References

Seglin, J. & Coleman, E. (2012). The AMA handbook of business letters (4th ed.) Retrieved from http://go.oreilly.com/rasmussen-college/library/view/the-ama-handbook/9780814420126/