A block style paper (often referring to a business letter) is formatted with all elements aligned to the left margin and single-spaced, except for double spaces between paragraphs. There are no indentations for paragraphs in this format.
Here's a breakdown of the key characteristics:
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Left Alignment: Every part of the document, including the date, address, salutation, body paragraphs, closing, and signature block, starts at the left margin. This creates a clean, uniform look.
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Single Spacing: Within paragraphs, the text is single-spaced, maximizing space efficiency.
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Double Spacing Between Paragraphs: Instead of indenting the first line of each paragraph, a double space is used to visually separate them. This is the primary distinguishing feature of the block format related to paragraphing.
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Formal and Professional: The block style is considered a highly formal and professional format suitable for business correspondence.
Here's an example of how elements might appear in a block style letter:
[Your Name/Company Name]
[Your Address]
[Your City, State, Zip Code]
[Date]
[Recipient Name/Company Name]
[Recipient Address]
[Recipient City, State, Zip Code]
[Salutation (e.g., Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name:)]
[First Paragraph: Introduce the purpose of the letter.]
[Double Space]
[Second Paragraph: Provide details and supporting information.]
[Double Space]
[Third Paragraph: Conclude with a call to action or closing statement.]
[Double Space]
[Closing (e.g., Sincerely,)]
[Four Spaces for Signature]
[Your Typed Name]In summary, a block style paper is characterized by its left alignment, single spacing within paragraphs, and double spacing between paragraphs, creating a clean and professional appearance. This formatting is common in business letters to save space and maintain a structured layout.
