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<body id="top" lang="en">
<a name="Letters" class="anchor"></a>
<a name="Letters-1" class="anchor"></a>
<h2 class="chapter">Letters</h2>

<a name="index-letters_002c-writing" class="anchor"></a>
<a name="index-writing-letters" class="anchor"></a>

<p>Synopsis: 
</p>
<div class="example">
<pre class="example">\documentclass{letter}
\address{<var>senders address</var>}   % return address
\signature{<var>sender name</var>}
\begin{document}
\begin{letter}{<var>recipient address</var>}
\opening{<var>salutation</var>}
  <var>letter body</var>
\closing{<var>closing text</var>}
\end{letter}
   ...
\end{document}
</pre></div>

<p>Produce one or more letters.  
</p>
<p>Each letter is in a separate <code>letter</code> environment, whose argument
<var>recipient address</var> often contains multiple lines separated with a
double backslash,&nbsp;(<code>\\</code>).  For example, you might have:
</p>
<div class="example">
<pre class="example"> \begin{letter}{Ninon de l'Enclos \\
                l'h\^otel Sagonne}
   ...
 \end{letter}
</pre></div>

<p>The start of the <code>letter</code> environment resets the page number to 1,
and the footnote number to 1 also.
</p>
<p>The <var>sender address</var> and <var>sender name</var> are common to all of the
letters, whether there is one or more, so these are best put in the
preamble.  As with the recipient address, often <var>sender address</var>
contains multiple lines separated by a double
backslash&nbsp;(<code>\\</code>).  LaTeX will put the <var>sender name</var>
under the closing, after a vertical space for the traditional
hand-written signature.
</p>
<p>Each <code>letter</code> environment body begins with a required
<code>\opening</code> command such as <code>\opening{Dear Madam or Sir:}</code>.
The <var>letter body</var> text is ordinary LaTeX so it can contain
everything from enumerated lists to displayed math, except that commands
such as <code>\chapter</code> that make no sense in a letter are turned off.
Each <code>letter</code> environment body typically ends with a
<code>\closing</code> command such as <code>\closing{Yours,}</code>.
</p>
<a name="index-_005c_005c-for-letters" class="anchor"></a>
<p>Additional material may come after the <code>\closing</code>.  You can say who
is receiving a copy of the letter with a command like <code>\cc{the
Boss \\ the Boss's Boss}</code>.  There&rsquo;s a similar <code>\encl</code> command for
a list of enclosures.  And, you can add a postscript with <code>\ps</code>.
</p>
<p>LaTeX&rsquo;s default is to indent the sender name and the closing above it
by a length of <code>\longindentation</code>.  By default this is
<code>0.5\textwidth</code>. To make them flush left, put
<code>\setlength{\longindentation}{0em}</code> in your preamble.
</p>
<p>To set a fixed date use something like
<code>\renewcommand{\today}{1958-Oct-12}</code>.  If put in your preamble
then it will apply to all the letters.
</p>
<p>This example shows only one <code>letter</code> environment.  The three lines
marked as optional are typically omitted.
</p>
<div class="example">
<pre class="example">\documentclass{letter}
\address{Sender's street \\ Sender's town}
\signature{Sender's name \\ Sender's title}
% optional: \location{Mailbox 13}
% optional: \telephone{(102) 555-0101}
\begin{document}
\begin{letter}{Recipient's name \\ Recipient's address}
\opening{Sir:}
% optional: \thispagestyle{firstpage}
I am not interested in entering a business arrangement with you.
\closing{Your most humble, etc.,}
\end{letter}
\end{document}
</pre></div>

<p>These commands are used with the <code>letter</code> class.
</p>


<hr>
<a name="g_t_005caddress" class="anchor"></a>
<a name="g_t_005caddress-1" class="anchor"></a>
<h3 class="section"><code>\address</code></h3>

<a name="index-_005caddress" class="anchor"></a>

<p>Synopsis: 
</p>
<div class="example">
<pre class="example">\address{<var>senders address</var>}
</pre></div>

<p>Specify the return address, as it appears on the letter and on the
envelope.  Separate multiple lines in <var>senders address</var> with a
double backslash,&nbsp;<code>\\</code>.
</p>
<p>Because it can apply to multiple letters this declaration is often put
in the preamble.  However, it can go anywhere, including inside an
individual <code>letter</code> environment.
</p>
<p>This command is optional: if you do not use it then the letter is
formatted with some blank space on top, for copying onto pre-printed
letterhead paper.  If you do use the <code>\address</code> declaration then it
is formatted as a personal letter.
</p>
<p>Here is an example.
</p>
<div class="example">
<pre class="example">\address{Stephen Maturin \\
         The Grapes of the Savoy}
</pre></div>


<hr>
<a name="g_t_005ccc" class="anchor"></a>
<a name="g_t_005ccc-1" class="anchor"></a>
<h3 class="section"><code>\cc</code></h3>

<a name="index-_005ccc" class="anchor"></a>
<a name="index-cc-list_002c-in-letters" class="anchor"></a>

<p>Synopsis:
</p>
<div class="example">
<pre class="example">\cc{<var>name0</var> \\ 
     ... }
</pre></div>

<p>Produce a list of names to which copies of the letter were sent.  This
command is optional.  If it appears then typically it comes after
<code>\closing</code>.  Put the names on different lines by separating them
with a double backslash, <code>\\</code>, as in:
</p>
<div class="example">
<pre class="example">\cc{President \\
    Vice President}
</pre></div>


<hr>
<a name="g_t_005cclosing" class="anchor"></a>
<a name="g_t_005cclosing-1" class="anchor"></a>
<h3 class="section"><code>\closing</code></h3>

<a name="index-_005cclosing" class="anchor"></a>
<a name="index-letters_002c-ending" class="anchor"></a>
<a name="index-closing-letters" class="anchor"></a>

<p>Synopsis:
</p>
<div class="example">
<pre class="example">\closing{<var>text</var>}
</pre></div>

<p>Produce the letter&rsquo;s closing.  This is optional, but usual.  It appears
at the end of a letter, above a handwritten signature.  For example:
</p>
<div class="example">
<pre class="example">\closing{Regards,}
</pre></div>


<hr>
<a name="g_t_005cencl" class="anchor"></a>
<a name="g_t_005cencl-1" class="anchor"></a>
<h3 class="section"><code>\encl</code></h3>

<a name="index-_005cencl" class="anchor"></a>
<a name="index-enclosure-list" class="anchor"></a>

<p>Synopsis:
</p>
<div class="example">
<pre class="example">\encl{<var>first enclosed object</var> \\ 
       ... }
</pre></div>

<p>Produce a list of things included with the letter. This command is
optional; when it is used, it typically is put after <code>\closing</code>.
Separate multiple lines with a double backslash, <code>\\</code>.
</p>
<div class="example">
<pre class="example">\encl{License \\
      Passport}
</pre></div>


<hr>
<a name="g_t_005clocation" class="anchor"></a>
<a name="g_t_005clocation-1" class="anchor"></a>
<h3 class="section"><code>\location</code></h3>

<a name="index-_005clocation" class="anchor"></a>

<p>Synopsis:
</p>
<div class="example">
<pre class="example">\location{<var>text</var>}
</pre></div>

<p>The <var>text</var> appears centered at the bottom of the page.  It only
appears if the page style is <code>firstpage</code>.
</p>

<hr>
<a name="g_t_005cmakelabels" class="anchor"></a>
<a name="g_t_005cmakelabels-1" class="anchor"></a>
<h3 class="section"><code>\makelabels</code></h3>

<a name="index-_005cmakelabels" class="anchor"></a>

<p>Synopsis:
</p>
<div class="example">
<pre class="example">\makelabels   % in preamble
</pre></div>

<p>Optional, for a document that contains <code>letter</code> environments.  If
you just put <code>\makelabels</code> in the preamble then at the end of the
document you will get a sheet with labels for all the recipients, one
for each letter environment, that you can copy to a sheet of peel-off
address labels.
</p>
<p>Customize the labels by redefining the commands <code>\startlabels</code>,
<code>\mlabel</code>, and <code>\returnaddress</code> (and perhaps <code>\name</code>) in
the preamble.  The command <code>\startlabels</code> sets the width, height,
number of columns, etc., of the page onto which the labels are printed.
The command <code>\mlabel{<var>return address</var>}{<var>recipient
address</var>}</code> produces the two labels (or one, if you choose to ignore the
<var>return address</var>) for each letter environment. The first argument,
<var>return address</var>, is the value returned by the macro
<code>\returnaddress</code>.  The second argument, <var>recipient address</var>, is
the value passed in the argument to the <code>letter</code> environment.  By
default <code>\mlabel</code> ignores the first argument, the <var>return
address</var>, causing the default behavior described in the prior paragraph.
</p>
<p>This illustrates customization.  Its output includes a page with two
columns having two labels each.
</p>
<div class="example">
<pre class="example">\documentclass{letter}
\renewcommand*{\returnaddress}{Fred McGuilicuddy \\
                               Oshkosh, Mineola 12305}
\newcommand*\originalMlabel{}
\let\originalMlabel\mlabel
\def\mlabel#1#2{\originalMlabel{}{#1}\originalMlabel{}{#2}}
\makelabels
  ...
\begin{document}
\begin{letter}{A Einstein \\
               112 Mercer Street \\
               Princeton, New Jersey, USA 08540}
  ...
\end{letter}
\begin{letter}{K G\&quot;odel \\
               145 Linden Lane \\
               Princeton, New Jersey, USA 08540}
  ...
\end{letter}
\end{document}
</pre></div>

<p>The first column contains the return address twice.  The second column
contains the address for each recipient.
</p>
<a name="index-package_002c-envlab" class="anchor"></a>
<a name="index-envlab-package" class="anchor"></a>

<p>The package <code>envlab</code> makes formatting the labels easier, with
standard sizes already provided.  The preamble lines
<code>\usepackage[personalenvelope]{envlab}</code> and <code>\makelabels</code>
are all that you need to print envelopes.
</p>

<hr>
<a name="g_t_005cname" class="anchor"></a>
<a name="g_t_005cname-1" class="anchor"></a>
<h3 class="section"><code>\name</code></h3>

<a name="index-_005cname" class="anchor"></a>

<p>Synopsis:
</p>
<div class="example">
<pre class="example">\name{<var>name</var>}
</pre></div>

<p>Optional.  Sender&rsquo;s name, used for printing on the envelope together
with the return address.
</p>

<hr>
<a name="g_t_005copening" class="anchor"></a>
<a name="g_t_005copening-1" class="anchor"></a>
<h3 class="section"><code>\opening</code></h3>

<a name="index-_005copening" class="anchor"></a>
<a name="index-letters_002c-starting" class="anchor"></a>

<p>Synopsis:
</p>
<div class="example">
<pre class="example">\opening{<var>salutation</var>}
</pre></div>

<p>Required.  Follows the <code>\begin{letter}{...}</code>. The argument
<var>salutation</var> is mandatory.  For instance:
</p>
<div class="example">
<pre class="example">\opening{Dear John:}
</pre></div>


<hr>
<a name="g_t_005cps" class="anchor"></a>
<a name="g_t_005cps-1" class="anchor"></a>
<h3 class="section"><code>\ps</code></h3>
<a name="index-_005cps" class="anchor"></a>
<a name="index-postscript_002c-in-letters" class="anchor"></a>

<p>Synopsis:
</p>
<div class="example">
<pre class="example">\ps{<var>text</var>}
</pre></div>

<p>Add a postscript.  This command is optional and usually is used after
<code>\closing</code>.
</p>
<div class="example">
<pre class="example">\ps{P.S. After you have read this letter, burn it. Or eat it.}
</pre></div>


<hr>
<a name="g_t_005csignature" class="anchor"></a>
<a name="g_t_005csignature-1" class="anchor"></a>
<h3 class="section"><code>\signature</code></h3>

<p>Synopsis:
</p>
<div class="example">
<pre class="example">\signature{<var>first line</var> \\
            ... }
</pre></div>

<a name="index-_005csignature" class="anchor"></a>

<p>The sender&rsquo;s name.  This command is optional, although its inclusion is
usual.
</p>
<p>The argument text appears at the end of the letter, after the closing.
LaTeX leaves some vertical space for a handwritten
signature. Separate multiple lines with a double
backslash,&nbsp;<code>\\</code>.  For example:
</p>
<div class="example">
<pre class="example">\signature{J Fred Muggs \\
           White House}
</pre></div>

<p>LaTeX&rsquo;s default for the vertical space from the <code>\closing</code> text
down to the <code>\signature</code> text is <code>6\medskipamount</code>, which is
six times <code>\medskipamount</code> (where <code>\medskipamount</code> is equal to
a <code>\parskip</code>, which in turn is defined by default here to
0.7em).
</p>
<p>This command is usually in the preamble, to apply to all the letters in
the document.  To have it apply to one letter only, put it inside a
<code>letter</code> environment and before the <code>\closing</code>.
</p>
<p>You can include a graphic in the signature as here.
</p>
<div class="example">
<pre class="example">\signature{\vspace{-6\medskipamount}\includegraphics{sig.png}\\
             My name}
</pre></div>

<p>For this you must put <code>\usepackage{graphicx}</code> in the preamble
(see <a href="latex2e_22.html#Graphics">Graphics</a>).
</p>




<hr>
<a name="g_t_005ctelephone" class="anchor"></a>
<a name="g_t_005ctelephone-1" class="anchor"></a>
<h3 class="section"><code>\telephone</code></h3>

<a name="index-_005ctelephone" class="anchor"></a>

<p>Synopsis:
</p>
<div class="example">
<pre class="example">\telephone{<var>number</var>}
</pre></div>

<p>The sender&rsquo;s telephone number.  This is typically in the preamble, where
it applies to all letters.  This only appears if the <code>firstpage</code>
pagestyle is selected.  If so, it appears on the lower right of the
page.
</p>




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