Attention Letter Format

A letter format attention line is an extra line at the top of a business letter that indicates who you are writing to. It is generally placed two lines below the address and is used to help ensure that the letter reaches the right person in an organization.

The first line to write on attention letter format attention line should state the recipient's name. This is usually capitalized if you know the name to be male or female and may include their title (Mr, Mrs., or Dr.). If the name is difficult to pronounce or hard to spell, use a nickname.

Below the recipient's name should be the company's complete address. The next line may contain a special delivery instruction such as suite number, department, or floor number, which can be important if the recipient is located in a large building with several floors. The final line should include the city, state, and ZIP code. This information is especially critical if the letter is being sent via certified mail or if the letter is marked private or confidential.

The date of the letter is written in the center of the page with either a date format that places the month before the day (such as June 11, 2001) or a date line that is left justified and centered if you are using letterhead. It is also common to skip a line between the date and the address when the sender is using stationery with the return address already imprinted on it.