Although I presume that the majority of our readers have
the ability to correspond gracefully through letters, I do not find it amiss to
offer a few reminders of habits in writing that are considered bad form. I
shall refer frequently to the highly informative book “Good Form” in England.
First, it is ill-mannered not to mention the name of a
recipient in a letter’s address. Simply calling someone a friend is not enough.
The actual name of the person you are writing to absolutely has to be included.
Similarly, letters should not be signed using titles, including “Mrs.” Only
your actual name should be used.
I have encountered the occasional lady who, though
possessing great intelligence, fails to use proper spelling and grammar in her
personal letters. No matter what the level of formality is, proper use of
language is indispensable.
Some may be surprised to hear that including an R.S.V.P. on invitations is certainly not
proper. It is actually offensive because it suggests that the recipient does
not have the manners to respond without being told to do so. It is much better
to demonstrate through invitations that you think highly of your friends.
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