Do not use a name alone as a salutation.
| Wrong: | Mr. W. W. Braker: |
| Will you please inform ... |
| Right: | Mr. W. W. Braker, |
| Muncy, Pennsylvania. | |
| Dear Sir: | |
| Will you please inform ... |
In the salutation capitalize only the important nouns and the first word of the salutation.
| Wrong: | My Dear Sir: |
| Right: | My dear Sir: |
| Wrong: | My very Dear Friend: |
| Right: | My very dear Friend: |
| Wrong: | Dear sir: |
| Right: | Dear Sir: |
The Body of the Letter
163. The Subject Matter of the Letter. In friendly letters much latitude is allowed in the body of the letter, but business letters should be brief and to the point. No letter, however, should be lacking in the courteous forms or in completeness.
164. Form of Body. The body of the letter usually begins on the line below the salutation and is indented the same distance from the margin as any other paragraph would be indented. See model letters under §174.