2. OFFICIAL LETTERS
The official letters are letters sent by officials of the government or by the officials of various
governmental and non-governmental organizations in that capacity and under cover and virtue of
their office. Official letters are most popular in the relations of the officials of the diplomatic
missions in the receiving state with their counterparts, the public and cultural workers, business
circles, etc.
2.1. Private Letters of Semi-Official Character
Private letters of semi-official character are informal letters widely used for correspondence by
diplomats occupying different official positions. These letters can be divided into several groups.
Some of them are:
A: Letters of invitation. (Exhibits 1-14)
B: Letters expressing thanks. (Exhibits 1 — 11)
C: Letters declining invitation. (Exhibits 1—3)
D: Letters with requests and inquiries. (Exhibits 1—5)
Official and semiofficial letters alongside other forms of communication convey the
impression of a country (government, mission) in the way they are displayed, the language and the
tone used, and the quality and printing of the letterheaded paper. High standards in a government’s
correspondence in the form of letters suggest similarly high standards in diplomatic relations
generally.
The first point to which the sender of a letter should pay attention is that the addressee's
name is spelled correctly and that he is given his correct title (rank or office). This, in fact, is no
more than the demands of ordinary politeness.
Titles preceding full names in a written address normally are not abbreviated with the
exception of “Mr.”, “Mrs.”, and “Dr.”.
Designations of degrees, fellowships, and military service branch used after a name are
abbreviated. Academic degrees and religious orders should be used in the following sequence:
religious orders, theological degrees, doctoral degrees, honorary degrees. More than three degrees
after a name are never used. Example:
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