How to write a formal letter:

 

1. Your own adress

   • Top left

   • No name, that is at the bottom

   • Do not alter the way of writing your address from the Dutch way Helmbergweg 10

2221 SZ Katwijk

The Netherlands

 

1. adressee

   • top left

   • Mr, Miss Ms (if you do not know if she is married) of Mrs

(NO dot after Mr, Miss, Ms en Mrs)

• First name, then title

Mr J.A. Smith, MA, BSc, PhD, RA, OBE

10 Cranmer Terrace

London SW17 ORB

UK (or Great Britain or England)

 

1. date

 

• Months start with a capital letter

• Comma after the month

• never write the date in number format (e.g. 12/07/2016) but always with the month spelt out 3 March, 1993

3rd March, 1993 (let op: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc.)

March 3, 1993

March 3rd, 1993

 

 

1. Salutations

• left

• Mr, Mrs, Ms of Dr (no dot)

• Use titles, if any

 

Dear Sirs, (for a company)

Dear Sir or Madam,

Dear Madam,

Dear Mr Taylor,

Dear Miss Haynes,

Dear Ms Lee,

Dear Mrs Jones,

 

1. Main body

 

• First paragraph: always introduce the reason you are writing, introduce yourself if necessary, keep it brief and to the point (You can start with I)

• Alsways write in full no don’t/won’t etc but do not or will not

• When you start a new topic leave one line open, don’t leave out topics from the assignment

• Last paragraph: a polite closing is necessary, encourage a response if applicable, reiterate main points, keep it brief and concise

 

1. Sign-off

• Start with a capital letter and end with a comma en eindigt met een comma

Yours faithfully, (when there is no name on top)

Yours sincerely, (when there is a name)

 

1. Your name

• bottom left

• no full stop after your name

 

Example:

 

Hendrik ten Brugghenstraat 11

2301 AB Rijnsburg

The Netherlands

 

Personnel Manager / Human Resources Manager

Primark

9 Burleigh St

Cambridge CT1 2TG

UK (England / United Kingdom / Great Britain)

 

 

July 22, 2011 (22 July, 2011 / 22nd July, 2011 / July 22nd, 2011)

 

 

Dear Sir or Madam,

 

........

 

(I would like to thank you for your attention and) I look forward to hearing from you soon / I hope to hear from you soon.

 

 

Yours faithfully,

Johanna van Rijn