It is important to include a date so that your recipient will know when you... 3. Write out the date with the Month first, then the date, and then the year. Do not include your name, just your address. asap = as soon as possible. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Personal letters can be as long as you want to make them. Whether you are preparing to write a personal letter, a business letter, or a cover letter, it can be hard to know how to structure the heading and what to say in the first few lines. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Include an email address, personal website address, and/or phone number on the next line. “To Whom it May Concern” is another alternative, but this is even more distant and businesslike than leaving off “Dear.” Only use this opening phrase if you do not know the name of your recipient. For example, if your brother is still a child, you could say something typical, like: Dear ____. "April 22, 2016", Include your salutation. Related: Formatting Your Business Letter: Definitions, Tips and Examples. There two ways in which business letters usually start: they make reference to a previous contact, for example, phone conversation, meeting, previous mail correspondence; or they are the first contact with the recipient. Think … A formal letter has a number of conventions about layout, language and tone that you should follow. By using our site, you agree to our, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/15\/Start-a-Letter-Step-1-Version-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Start-a-Letter-Step-1-Version-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/15\/Start-a-Letter-Step-1-Version-4.jpg\/aid1261761-v4-728px-Start-a-Letter-Step-1-Version-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"