In Exercise 75, are given a number of suggestions for letter-writing. Others will readily occur to the teacher.
The Heading
152. Position of Heading. In all business letters the writer's address and the date of writing should precede the letter and be placed at the upper right hand side of the sheet not less than an inch from the top. This address and date is called the heading. In friendly letters the parts of the heading are sometimes placed at the end of the letter on the left side a short distance below the body of the letter. This is permissible, but to place it at the beginning in all letters is more logical and customary. Never write part of the heading at the beginning and part at the end of the letter.
153. Order of Heading. The parts of the heading should be sufficient to enable the accurate addressing of a reply, and should be in the following order: (1) the street address, (2) the town or the city address, (3) the date. If all cannot be easily placed on one line, two or even three lines should be used; but, in no case, should the above order be varied. Examples:
| Wrong: | March 31, 1910, Red Oaks, Iowa, 210 Semple Street. |
| Right: | 210 Semple Street, Red Oaks, Iowa, March 31, 1910. |
| Right: | 210 Semple Street, Red Oaks, Iowa, |
| March 31, 1910. | |
| Right: | 210 Semple Street, |
| Red Oaks, Iowa, | |
| March 31, 1910. |
If only two lines are used, put the writer's address on the first line and the date on the second.
| Wrong: | January 19, 1910, Sharon, Pennsylvania, |
| The Hotel Lafayette. | |
| Right: | The Hotel Lafayette, Sharon, Pennsylvania, |
| January 19, 1910. |
154. Punctuation of Heading. Place a period after each abbreviation that is used. In addition to this, place commas after the street address, after the town address, after the state address, and after the number of the day of the month. Place a period after the number of the year. Examine the correct address under §153.
155. Faults to be Avoided in Headings. Avoid the use of abbreviations in the friendly letter, and avoid their too frequent use in the business letter.
It is better to avoid abbreviating any but the longer names of states.