http://www.ck12.org Chapter 8. Business Documents
a slightly informal business letter you can end with “Thank you.” Only capitalize the first word of the closing, and
follow it with a comma (,). Leave two lines blank, and type your name. When you print the letter, place your
signature in between the closing and your typed name.
Enclosures
Finally, if you want to include any items with your letter, list them after the word “Enclosures” one line below your
typed name. An enclosure can be anything from a resume to a writing sample. Keep in mind that if you want to
include a sample of work you’ve done for a company, you should make sure you have the right to share that work
with others.
Sample Business Letter
January 18, 1926
Sherlock Holmes
221B Baker Street
London
Nero Wolfe
506 West 35th Street
New York, New York 10001
UNITED STATES
Dear Mr. Wolfe:
My name is Sherlock Holmes, and I am a private investigator operating out of London. I have read about your
work, and I would like your advice on a matter of criminal affairs. At the moment, I am working on a very difficult
kidnapping case in which the perpetrator has demanded a ransom. I would like your opinion on how to catch the
criminal, retrieve the victim, and save the family a hefty fee.
So far, I have gathered a number of clues. The victim was last seen on London’s east side at 10 a.m. on Saturday the
8th of January. She is of the feline persuasion and has often been known to leave the house in the mornings to hunt
mice. She is said to have a sleek brown coat, sapphire eyes, and white markings on each of her paws. On Monday
the 10th of January, a type-written ransom note was delivered to the family’s house; it demanded a sum of 1,000
American dollars. The family has until the end of the month to deliver the money.
Using this evidence, I have reached the conclusion that a native of Britain must have perpetrated the crime. The
emphasis on American dollars is clearly a distraction, but not a good one. Clearly, our criminal is lacking in
experience. I suspected a certain Mr. Moriarty for a time, but it does not follow his pattern of behaviour to go
after a cat. I am sending copies of several notable London newspapers for you to peruse– perhaps you will catch
something I have missed.
Your assistance in this matter would be most helpful. It is of great importance to the victim’s family that justice be
served, and I believe your professional judgment will be quite helpful in my solving of this case. Thank you very
much for your time regarding this issue.
Sincerely,
Sherlock Holmes
Enclosed:The London Times, The Telegraph, The London Evening Standard.
Review Questions
- Draft an outline for the body of a formal business letter. Include the purpose of your letter in the first paragraph,