Business letters are an essential part of communication. Although e-mail has become a dominant force in exchanging messages, the old-fashioned, tried and true letter still holds an important place in business correspondence today.

Before you sit down to physically compose your letter, it's a good idea to think about what it is you want to say. As you do this, formulate and organize your thoughts; once you do this, you're ready to put your fingers to the keys and compose a fantastic business letter. Here are some general guidelines to follow when typing your business letter:

*Format. Choose a format that looks professional and as you type your letter, make sure you stick to the chosen format to ensure your letter has a uniform look to it.

*Header and date. Always remember to include your return address with the date located beneath it (spell out the month). Date your letter to ensure it accurately reflects the day you've generated the message. Often documentation is essential and you want to make sure your message has properly done so, especially if a legal issue arises down the road, this timestamp will be invaluable. Placing header/date in the upper right hand corner is usually customary, but many opt to "block style" their letter left aligning everything. Often it's chef's choice! What's important is your header remain consistent with the format you've chosen.

*Address and salutation. Once you've formatted your letter and dated it, address it with your recipient's name, title, and address. Depending on the level of familiarity you want to make sure you put in an appropriate greeting. Either "Dear Mr. or Ms." Or "Dear Charlie or Sue" depending on your informality. If you don't know the person well, it's best to go with a more formal salutation. This section is always left-aligned.

*Body of the letter. The body of your business letter includes an opening paragraph, subsequent paragraphs containing the "meat" of your letter, and a conclusion (beginning, middle, and end). Start your letter with introductory information, briefly describing the purpose of your correspondence. As you go into your other letters, keep your message as concise as possible. Do not ramble or go off topic as you articulate your letter, a good business letter remains true to the point in conveying your message. Keep the contents of your letter organized and smooth flowing and don't forget paragraph breaks. In your conclusion, briefly summarize your message and always remember

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