Professional Letter Samples

Business Letter Style

Before you search for professional letter samples, brush up on proper business letter style to be sure the samples you use conform to today's professional standards. The parts of a business letter will include:

• Heading
• Inside Address
• Salutation
• Body
• Close
• Signature Line

Professional Letter Samples

Following a sample letter can help to write a polished letter that says precisely what you need to say in a professional manner. A professional letter does not necessarily need to be long, but polite and to the point. Samples and templates can be found online for free, or you can purchase software to help you pull together the details and facts you want to convey. Here are a few samples to get you started:

• Business Thank You Letter
• Donation Letter
• How To Write a Business Letter
• Job Search Cover Letters
• Letter of Interest
• Letters of Recommendation
• Reference Letters
• Resignation Letters
• Sympathy Letter
• Termination Letter
• Writing a Collection Letter

Business Letter Format

As you peruse various professional letter samples, you'll note three different letter formats. These include:

• Block – Every line is left justified. This is probably the most popular letter format because it doesn't require any indentation.
• Modified Block Format – The heading, closing and signature line are centered. Other than that, the remainder of the letter is left justified.
• Semi-block Format – The heading, closing and signature line are centered and paragraphs within the body are indented.

All three of these formats are commonly used and accepted, so choose the one you prefer or the one that your company uses.

First Paragraph

Identify what should be included within the first paragraph of letter before you begin to write. As you look over professional letter samples, you'll find that typically business letters express the main point of the letter within the first paragraph. Busy people receive volumes of mail, and it's important to keep your letter concise and easy to read. Identifying the main point within the first paragraph of your letter allows the recipient to scan for vital information. Along with the main point, include a couple of sentences explaining why you are writing the letter.

Second Paragraph

After you've made the purpose of the letter clear, the following paragraph should include specific details that support the purpose. Such information may include:

• Background information
• Statistics
• First hand accounts

Closing Paragraph

The closing paragraph should tie up all the details in a brief restatement of what you have laid out within the letter. If pertinent, include your contact information in this paragraph. If it's a thank you letter, close with thanking them again. Or if you have promised to do something clearly state how you will follow-up and what actions you plan to take. Make the paragraph fit the purpose of your letter.

Tone

When writing a professional letter a pleasant, conversational tone is accepted and expected. Even if you are responding to a negative situation, a professional will retain their professionalism in the tone and content of their letter. This does not mean you can't be direct. However, there is a difference between aggressive and assertive.

To the Point

Before you start to write your letter, jot a list of the items you want to be sure to cover. Organize these points in logical order to be included within the body of your letter. This will help you to keep your letter brief and to the point.

Check Your Work

No matter which of the professional letter samples you choose to follow, after you have written your letter, be sure to check your work. Verify dates, statistics, names, etc. Double check that they are not only correct but complete. Proofread for typos and grammatical mistakes. One way to catch these is to read your letter out loud. Before you send it out, it's also a good idea to have another person read through your letter, as a second set of eyes will often catch little things easily overlooked after working for hours moving words around and changing phrases.

One last thing to verify before you seal the envelope is to be sure you have signed the letter and have a copy for your records. After following these steps, your professional letter is ready to go.