Business Letter Format Salutation Punctuation. The difference between the comma and the colon might seem insignificant, but it actually reflects the level of formality in your message. Begin letters and emails with a salutation.
Johnson, you should write dear mrs. The traditional united states rules for writing business letters state that a colon should be used after the salutation greeting of the business letter and a comma should be used after the complementary close. A business letter is to be composed on the company's letterhead, with margins of 1 to 1.5 inches all around the page, with allowances given for the company's letterhead style. Use single line spacing and 0 pt. If you don't know the person well, it is best to use mr., ms., or dr.
If you know the person and typically address them by their first name, it is acceptable to use only the first name in the salutation, for example, dear lucy:.
All typed lines begin at the left margin. In some cases, it might not be a faux pas to use a comma at the end of the salutation. Proper salutation format reflects the degree of knowledge possessed by the writer and respects the status of the individual to whom the letter is addressed. What to write in a salutation. Johnson: and then continue with the body of the message. Use a free flow style. The salutation sets the tone for your letter or email. This letter illustrates a personal business letter in block format.