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HEADED OR UNHEADED? The letters that you send are an expression of your personality. They signify to the world outside how you would like to be seen and they do this before you have even reached the end of your first sentence. The wrong stationery may, therefore, create entirely the wrong impression before the contents of your letter have even been considered. Given this factor, it’s probably a good idea to make the correct stationery selection at the very beginning of the process. You’re just giving yourself all the advantages you can.

ILLUSTRATION 1 Headed paper can be kept simple and needn’t be expensive

Historically, it was considered correct to have headed paper for business correspondence and plain paper for personal. Things have moved on. Nowadays it is imperative to have headed paper for business letters and unusual not to have it for personal correspondence. Headed paper makes life easier for the recipient. If he or she feels the urge to reply straight away then he or she won’t have to go digging around in old files and address books in order to get the required information. The necessary information, by the way, includes an accurate postcode as well as a telephone number (with full area code) and, if possible, an email address. It is not really necessary, and possibly inelegant, to include your name, as this will be at the bottom of your letter in any event.

The right kind of stationery, especially headed paper, can make all the difference.

It may also be considered slightly suspect to write a personal letter on unheaded paper. If you have the recipient’s correct address and you must do, since you are writing to them, then why shouldn’t they have all your particulars? Mutuality breeds trust.

Unheaded paper may be suitable for friends whom you know well. It may also be suitable for covering letters accompanying other materials or for very brief notes to almost anyone, but, generally speaking, when in doubt, and if at all possible, stick to headed. It looks more attractive.

Headed paper, though, doesn’t necessarily have to be fancy embossed stationery ordered from an upmarket stationery firm. For simple business correspondence, and certainly for friends, it is perfectly acceptable simply to print your headed paper at home on your own printer. However, professionally printed paper, unless you have all the latest technology, is normally smarter. In this particular case, it seems, you pay for what you get. Appearance may not make any difference to the end result of your correspondence, but, on the other hand, it may. Again, it’s best to use all the advantages you can.

Keep the design simple and the print bold and make sure that the words are large enough to read easily.