SAMPLE: FULL BLOCK LETTER FORMAT
March 15, 2001 {write out date)
Mr. John Smith, Director of Operations {inside address}
Company
{if applicable}
Street Address
City, State ZIP CODE
Dear Mr. Smith:
{salutation}
Thank you for your inquiry about Full-Block format for letters. What follows is a
quick summary of the format and the conventions it uses.
Full block format is considered the most formal of the three styles. In full block
format or style, every line is left justified. The dateline is placed two to six line
spaces below the last line of the heading or letterhead. The inside address
placement varies depending upon the length of the letter. A common spacing is
four line spaces below the date line. The salutation is placed two lines below the
attention line (if an attention line is provided). After the salutation, a colon is used
if the letter is forma. A coma is used for an informal letter. The first line of the
body is placed two lines below an attention line or two to four lines below the last
inside address line. When using full block, paragraphs are single spaced, with a
double space between paragraphs.
While there are no set rules governing format use, full block is generally used for
(1) requests or inquiries, (2) claims, (3) announcements, (4) records of agreement,
(5) transmittal of other technical documents, and (6) job applications. There are
other types of letters: semi-block or simplified format, but your teacher prefers Full
Block since it is appropriate for anything. This page illustrates the spacing and
layout of full block format.
Sincerely,
{closing}
{your signature goes here—hit <enter> four times}
Dr. Sheila Carter