Legal Writing

Can ?Enclosure? go at the top of a letter?

By Maeve

A reader inquires:

Is it permissible to list Enclosures at the top of a letter right after Subject and/or References or should they always be listed at the bottom of the letter after your closing?

I suppose that anything is “permissible,” but some things are not advisable. Shaking up the conventional order of a business letter is not a good idea.

People opening a business letter expect it to be arranged in the following conventional order:

1. writer’s return address
2. date the letter is being written
3. name, title, and address of recipient
4. salutation (with colon)
5. a RE or subject line if desired
6. body of the letter
7. closing and signature
8. notice of enclosure

Busy people appreciate anything that makes their work easier. Observing conventional order in a business letter is one of those things.

Here are some related articles:
Dear Sir and other business conventions
The perils of writing to someone you don’t know

Can “Enclosure” go at the top of a letter?

Full post as published by Daily Writing Tips on March 09, 2009 (boomark / email).