As the world is now one, in which e-mails, text messaging and social networking make up a vast proportion of our daily contact, the art of letter writing is rapidly dying out. However, here is how to correctly head an envelope. Firstly, make sure the envelope is the right way up. The easiest way to do this is, to open the flap of the envelope and lay it down on the table in front of you. This way, you know, you are writing on the correct side of the envelope. The first stage of heading an envelope is to find the exact centre of the envelope by measuring it with a ruler. Put a small pencil dot so you don't lose your spot. Starting at this dot, write the name of the person to whom you are writing the letter. Make sure it is clear, legible and correctly spelled. If required, draw some horizontal straight lines about half an inch apart, to make sure your writing is straight and the same size throughout. Immediately below the first letter of the recipient's name, write their address. On the first line, write their house/office number or house name and the street. Directly under the number, write the town in which they live/work. Directly under this, write their state/county and directly under this, write their zip code/post code. In all, there should be five lines of writing, all starting in a vertical line, down the vertical centre of the envelope. The stamp, if it is not a prepaid envelope or a freepost address, should be placed in the top right hand corner of the envelope. It should be an eighth of an inch from the top of the envelope, and a quarter of an inch from the right hand side of the envelope.
