Business Correspondence by Anonymous
page 42 of 354 (11%)
page 42 of 354 (11%)
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Letter
PART II--HOW TO WRITE THE LETTER--CHAPTER 5 _From its saluation to its signature a business letter must hold the interest of the reader or fail in its purpose. The most important sentence in it is obviously the_ FIRST _one, for upon it depends whether the reader will dip further into the letter or discard it into the waste basket_. IN THAT FIRST SENTENCE THE WRITER HAS HIS CHANCE. _If he is really capable, he will not only attract the reader's interest in that first sentence, but put him into a receptive mood for the message that follows. Here are some sample ways of "opening" a business letter_ * * * * * No matter how large your tomorrow morning's mail, it is probable that you will glance through the first paragraph of every letter you open. If it catches your attention by reference to something in which you are interested, or by a clever allusion or a striking head line or some original style, it is probable you will read at least the next paragraph or two. But if these paragraphs do not keep up your interest the letter will be passed by unfinished. If you fail to give the letter a full reading the writer has only himself to blame. He has not taken advantage of his opportunity to carry your interest along and develop it until he has driven his message home, point by point. In opening the letter the importance of the salutation must not be |
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