This document discusses spaces in formal documents. It defines three types of spaces: space between words, spacing between paragraphs, and margins between text and the paper edges. It provides guidelines for formatting a professional letter, including double spacing throughout, triple spacing before the closing, and five spaces before the signature. The top and bottom margins can be adjusted to balance the text on the page, with less space at the bottom for longer letters. Paragraph spacing can be single, 1.5, or double spaced.

1. SPACES
SPACES IN FORMAL DOCUMENTS

2. SPACE
 Space – The space between each word
or symbol
 Spacing – The space between each
paragraph
 Margins – The space between text and
edge of paper, along each side of the
paper
Lesson Connection: 02-2 Spaces in Formal Documents
SLH1013 - Professional English
Tuesday, October 29, 2013

3. Top Margin
Professional Letter
FORMATTING
 Double Space
Margins
 Double Space
Spacing
 Triple space before
the closing
 Five spaces before
the signature
Left Margin
 1.5 spaces before
bulleted lists
1.5
 Double Space
1.5
Right Margin
 Double Space
between paragraphs
 Double Space
 Double Space
 Double Space
 Double Space
 Triple Space
 Five Spaces
 Triple space before
the end matters
SLH1013 - Professional English
 Triple Space
Bottom or End Margin
Tuesday, October 29, 2013

4. Adjustable Spacing
Top Space – The space
between letterhead and
heading can be adjusted
to balance the whole body
of text on the paper
SLH1013 - Professional English
Tuesday, October 29, 2013

5. Professional Letter
FORMATTING
Adjustable Space
Adjustable Top
Space
The space between
letterhead and
heading can be
adjusted to
balance the whole
body of text on the
paper
SLH1013 - Professional English
Tuesday, October 29, 2013

6. Adjustable Spacing
Bottom Space – The space
between the last line of text and
the paper edge should be equal
(for short letters) or less (for
long letters) than the top space
SLH1013 - Professional English
Tuesday, October 29, 2013

7. Professional Letter
FORMATTING
Adjustable Space
Adjustable Top
Space
In long letters,
the space
between the last
line of text and
the paper edge
should be less
than the top
space.
Adjustable Space
SLH1013 - Professional English
Tuesday, October 29, 2013

8. Adjustable Spacing
 Paragraph Spacing – The space
between lines in one paragraph can be
single, 1.5, or double.
 The purpose is to balance the whole
body of text on the piece of paper.
SLH1013 - Professional English
Tuesday, October 29, 2013

9. NOTES
 Email signature space – An email with
no penned signature uses only 2
spaces before the signature line.
 Text Length – Limit a business letter to
1 page or less.
 Emails VS Letters – A formal email
uses the same rules as a formal letter.
SLH1013 - Professional English
Tuesday, October 29, 2013