Art of Letter Writing

There are always times when you need to write a letter, and yet many people find it one of the mostdifficult ways to communicate. How do I begin and end my letter? How long should my letter be? Whatare the right, and the wrong, things to say? The Art of Letter-Writing will help you by answering thesequestions, and more. Organised by occasion, the book contains samples of letters you might receive and how best to reply. Learn what to write in invitations and thank-you letters for weddings, birthdays and anniversaries; findout the best ways to write polite but efficient letters of complaint and to make and cancel reservations,as well as how to sensitively phrase messages of condolence. Discover, too, the correct way to addressenvelopes and people according to their status. You'll find it easy to learn by example, as lots of sampleletters are included to use as a basis for your own letters and to demonstrate ideal ways to correspond. It includes guidance on getting the right tone for your letter, whether formal or informal, as well as thegenerally accepted format - for example, ‘yours sincerely' or ‘yours faithfully' is a stumbling block forrmany people. Since many people now use computers both for work and personal matters, the sectionon ‘netiquette' is a useful resource - describing the correct way to write an e-mail. Some of the quaintmysteries of letter-writing are also revealed, like why a man is addressed ‘esquire', making this theessential companion for anyone who values the power of the written word.