Practical Grammar and Composition Part 47

MISCELLANEOUS DIRECTIONS

170. In beginning the letter, place the address and date an inch and a half or two inches below the top of the page.

Leave a margin of about a half inch or more on the left side of the page. Indent the beginning of each paragraph about an inch or more beyond the margin.

In using a four-page sheet, write on the pages in their order, 1, 2, 3, 4.

In the correctly written forms of letters under --174 observe the indentation of the lines. The first line of the inside address should be flush with the margin, the second somewhat set in. The salutation should begin flush with the margin. The body of the letter should begin on the line below the salutation, and some distance in from the margin.

THE OUTSIDE ADDRESS

171. POSITION OF OUTSIDE ADDRESS. Place the address on the envelope so that it balances well. Do not have it too far toward the top, too close to the bottom, nor too far to one side. See addressed envelope under --173. Place the stamp squarely in the upper right-hand corner, not obliquely to the sides of the envelope.

172. PUNCTUATION OF OUTSIDE ADDRESS. Punctuation may be omitted at the end of the lines of the address. If it is used, place a period at the end of the last line, and a comma after each preceding line.

Within the lines punctuate just as you would in the inside address.

If an abbreviation ends the line, always place a period after it, whether the other lines are punctuated or not.

173. FAULTS IN THE OUTSIDE ADDRESS. Avoid the use of abbreviations except those that would be proper in the inside address or in the heading. See ---- 155 and 158.

Do not use the sign # before the number of the street address. No letters or sign at all should be used there. See --155.

Compare the following forms of addresses:

Bad: Col. Wm. Point, #200 John St., Trenton, N. J.

Good: Colonel William Point, 200 John Street, Trenton, New Jersey.

Good: Colonel William Point 200 John Street Trenton, New Jersey

Bad: Chas. Jones, c/o Edward Furrey, Wilkinsburg, Pa.

Good: Mr. Charles Jones In care of Mr. Edward Furrey Wilkinsburg Pennsylvania

Bad: Rev. Walter Bertin

Good: The Reverend Walter Bertin

Bad: Pres. of Bucknell Univ.

Good: For the President of Bucknell University.

A properly arranged address:

[Ill.u.s.tration: Mr. Robert D. Royer, 201 Tenth Street, Danville, Illinois.]

174. CORRECTLY WRITTEN LETTERS

200 Mead Avenue, Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, January 12, 1909.

Mr. A. M. Weaver, Cambridge, Ma.s.sachusetts.

My dear Sir:

I have received your letter of inquiry about the sale of my law books. I will say in answer that at present I have no intention of selling them.

You may, however, be able to secure what you want from H. B. Wa.s.sel, Esquire, Commonwealth Building, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. He has advertised the sale of a rather extensive list of books.

Very truly yours, Charles M. Howell.

Muncy, New York, January 12, 1909.

My dear Professor Morton:

We are trying to establish in the school here some permanent system of keeping students' records. I have been told that you have worked out a card method that operates successfully. If you can give me any information in regard to your method, I shall consider it a very great favor. I enclose a stamped envelope for your reply.

Very sincerely yours, Harris A. Plotts.

Professor E. A. Morton, Braddock, Pennsylvania.

Braddock, Pennsylvania, January 12, 1909.

My dear Mrs. Hagon:

I wish to thank you for your kind aid in securing Captain Howard to deliver one of the lectures in our course. Only your influence enabled us to get so good a man at so Iowa price.

Very sincerely, Sylvester D. Dunlop.

173 State Street, Detroit, Michigan, January 23, 1910.

To whom it may concern:

It gives me great pleasure to testify to the character, ability and attainments of Mr. E. J. Heidenreich. He has been a trusted personal a.s.sociate of mine for more than twenty years. He may be counted upon to do successfully anything that he is willing to undertake.

Harry B. Hutchins.

My dear Walter:

I am to be in the city only a few more weeks before leaving permanently.

Before I go, I should like to have you come out and take dinner with me some evening. How would next Wednesday at six o'clock suit you?

If you can come at that time, will you please write or telephone to me sometime before Tuesday?

Very cordially yours, Paul B. Vandine.

6556 Broad Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, March 30, 1909.

The Lafayette, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, March 31, 1909.

My dear Paul:

I shall be very glad to accept your invitation to take dinner with you before you take final leave of the city. The time you mention, next Wednesday evening, is entirely satisfactory to me.

I was more than pleased to receive your invitation, for the prospect of talking over old times with you is delightful.