In commercial letters paragraph divisions are made more frequently than in other composition. Each separate point should be made the subject of a separate paragraph.
165. Faults in Body of the Letter. In letters that are intended to be complete and formal, avoid the omission of articles, pronouns, and prepositions. Avoid also expressions that are grammatically incomplete. Only in extremely familiar and hasty letters should the "telegraph style" be adopted.
| Bad: Received yours of the 10th. Have had no
chance to look up man. Will do so soon. |
| Good: I have received your letter of the
tenth. I have had no chance as yet to look up the man, but I will
do so soon. |
| Bad: Address c/o John Smith, Mgr. Penna.
Tele. |
| Good: Address in care of John Smith,
Manager of the Pennsylvania Telegraph. |
| Bad: In reply will say ...
|
| Good: In reply I wish to say ... |
| Bad: Yours of the 10th at hand. |
| Good: Your letter of the 10th is at
hand. |
| Bad: Your favor received ... |
| Good: We have received your letter ... |
| Bad: Enclose P. O. money order for
$2. |
| Good: We enclose post office money order
for two dollars, ($2). |
| Bad: We have read your plan. Same is
satisfactory. |
| Good: We have read your plan, and it is
satisfactory. |
Avoid the use of abbreviations in the letter.