Search results for 'tag:Formal letters tag:Abbreviations' matching tags 'Formal letters' and 'Abbreviations'

Re: Formal Letter - author codes, and the use of "Con't"...

Anonymous — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 21:03:53 GMT

There are nearly 3 million google hits and 2 million yahoo hits for CON'T as the abbreviation for continue/continued.
It's not a form listed in popular dictionaries.

cont.
contd
cont'd
cnt

Why do you suppose it has become so common?
Perhaps:
- It's an abbreviation of an existing abbreviation: cont'd / con't
- The apostrophe is a stress mark for the pronunciation of the word instead of replacing letters
- Abbreviations can have slang forms too

Re: Formal Letter - author codes, and the use of "Con't"...

Anonymous — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 14:46:27 GMT

Where is this abbreviation (con't) for? I would understand better if it would be "con'd" for "continued".

Re: Follow up email after unsuccessful internal interview.....

sherif_fam — Tue, 26 Oct 2004 21:36:45 GMT

Hi,

The letter sounds good to me as well.

Only one comment: I read someplace that we should not use abbreviations in formal letters, such as (I'm sure...), instead we use (I am sure...).

Best regards,

Sherif

Re: abbreviations in formal letter

Usenet — Fri, 16 Jan 2004 12:33:04 GMT

| Thank you all for your comments. Of course I meant contractions. | I will tell my students they have to write everything 'with as | many letters as they can'...in formal letters.

:-) Things like eg and ie can be left.
[nq:1]Now about the question of the Attn. line: According to my coursebook, this should be placed as below: ... Smith ... Do all of you concur with this?[/nq]
From a British perspective I'd say the Attn line is okay, but the date should be right up at the top.
[nq:1]In the Netherlands it is common to place this Attn. line between the company name and the company's address, ... Somewhere Somecountry Is this also used in England and the USA? Or is this a typically Dutch thing?[/nq]
I'd say that's more common on envelopes and the above format within the letter, but usage varies with house style.

Owain

Re: abbreviations in formal letter

Usenet — Thu, 15 Jan 2004 21:42:56 GMT

Thank you all for your comments. Of course I meant contractions. I will tell my students they have to write everything 'with as many letters as they can'...in formal letters.

Now about the question of the Attn. line: According to my coursebook, this should be placed as below:

Attn. Mr Smith

Do all of you concur with this?

In the Netherlands it is common to place this Attn. line between the company name and the company's address, e.g. ABC Company Attn. Mr Smith 123 Southwest Drive 45X67N Somewhere Somecountry

Is this also used in England and the USA? Or is this a typically Dutch thing?

Thanks in advance, -- Astrid

Re: abbreviations in formal letter

Usenet — Wed, 14 Jan 2004 16:28:24 GMT

[nq:1]Hi group, I'm a teacher of English in the Netherlands and I have just discussed the question of abbreviations in ... didn't (and still don't) know the answer to that, so maybe someone here could help me (and my students) out?[/nq]
"I'm" is a contraction just the same. They're either all in (informal) or all out (formal).
[nq:1]Furthermore I would like to know the place of the Attn. line in formal letters. Is it between the addresses and the date, or within theaddressee's address, or someplace else?[/nq]
I can't see where there is room for "Attn" or "FAO" in letters. If you know the name of the person you're writing to, your letter will start:

--- (Your address)

(Date)

Mrs A N Other (company address)

Dear Mrs Other

(letter) ---

If you don't, it'll start:

--- (Your address)

(Date)

The Marketing Manager (company address)

Dear sir/madam

(letter) ---

The only place I use "FAO" is in the subject line of emails.

Adrian

Re: abbreviations in formal letter

Usenet — Wed, 14 Jan 2004 00:45:39 GMT

on 14 Jan 2004:
[nq:1]Hi group, I'm a teacher of English in the Netherlands and I have just discussed the question of abbreviations in ... didn't (and still don't) know the answer to that, so maybe someone here could help me (and my students) out?[/nq]
I wouldn't use any contractions (not "abbreviations") in a formal business letter. But if one uses "I'm", then there is no reason not to use "don't" and "won"t".
[nq:1]Furthermore I would like to know the place of the Attn. line in formal letters. Is it between the addresses and the date, or within the addressee's address, or someplace else?[/nq]
You can check a business-letter handbook for that kind of stylistic fillip, but I don't see the point of using it. If a letter is supposed to be brought to the attention of a particular person or the person who fills a particular position, then all that is necessary is to address it to that person, eg:

14 January 2004

Personnel Manager ABC Corp. Paris, France

Dear Personnel Manager:

-- Franke: EFL teacher & medical editor.

Abbreviations in formal letter

Usenet — Tue, 13 Jan 2004 21:32:59 GMT

Hi group,

I'm a teacher of English in the Netherlands and I have just discussed the question of abbreviations in formal letters with a class. Of course abbreviations like don't and won't are forbidden, but one of my students asked if "I'm" should also be spelled as "I am" in formal writing. Now, I didn't (and still don't) know the answer to that, so maybe someone here could help me (and my students) out?

Furthermore I would like to know the place of the Attn. line in formal letters. Is it between the addresses and the date, or within the addressee's address, or someplace else?

Thanks in advance,

-- Astrid

Re: Formal Letter - author codes, and the use of "Con't"...

wumanfu — Wed, 01 Oct 2003 12:25:48 GMT

What is the correct format for author and typist codes at the end of a letter?
AND
What is the correct usage (if any) on "Con't" to denote multiple pages of a formal letter?
â¦
Hi, I wish I could find a free, easy to use resource. If you find one, please post your information here. I couldnât find a definitive reference but this portion of Merriam-Webster's Style Guide might give you a clue. âThe contemporary styling of abbreviations is inconsistent and arbitrary, and no set of rules can hope to cover all the possible variations & exceptions.â¦
In doubtful cases, a good general dictionary or a dictionary of abbreviations will usually show standard forms for common abbreviations.
and peculiarities encountered in print.â

Merriam-Webster Unabridged
Main Entry: contd
Function: abbreviation
continued

â For more extensive treatment than can be provided here, consult:
Merriam-Webster's Manual for Writers and Editors (2nd ed., Merriam-Webster, 1995)
The Chicago Manual of Style (14th ed., Univ. of Chicago Press, 1993)
MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (5th ed., Modern Language Association of America, 1999)
Scientific Style and Format (6th ed., Cambridge Univ. Press, 1994)â