Cover Letters Key Terms

Some key terms for understanding, writing and reading cover letters

By J. Stoltzfus, writer/programmer LOCAL CITIZEN

The cover letter is a ubiquitous document in today's contract-oriented business world. As companies and businesses link up to offer new products and complete new projects, a cover letter is often the important first step to an eventual agreement or contract. Learning about some of the very basic key terms and elements of cover letters can help a business on either side of the equation to figure out what works best in a cover letter document.

Cover letter samples

A cover letter sample or template is a document that includes some basic elements that a user can change to make it a uniquely personal cover letter. These tools are popular with those just beginning to draft these kinds of business documents.
Try: Get details on cover letter samples from JobStar.

Font

The font is the style of the letters that will be printed onto a cover letter. Beginners or anyone else writing a cover letter should think about the font choice as it has an effect on the reader.
Try: See the definition of a font at Webopedia. Get tips for cover letter fonts from the English Club online.

White space

Another big issue in drafting cover letters is white space. White space is the amount of page that is not covered by text. Learning about using white space will give writers an edge in creating competitive cover letters.
Try: Learn more about white space at A List Apart.

Electronic cover letter

The electronic cover letter is an ever more popular option for cover letter writers. Jobs that are advertised over the Internet often receive electronic cover letters in response.
Try: See more on electronic cover letters (bottom of page) at CareerBuilder. Or get more electronic cover letter tips from sites like Quintessential Careers.

Personal proposal cover letter

The personal proposal cover letter is aimed at getting a certain idea into the head of the recipient. These kinds of cover letters differ a bit from the conventional job-oriented cover letter. While a job cover letter is generally in direct response to a business ad, a proposal cover letter can come from out of the blue.
Try: See more on proposal cover letters from the Seibert Group.

Formal and informal cover letters

The difference between formal and informal cover letters indicates another way that cover letters are different solutions for varying situations. The job type cover letter mentioned earlier is an example of a formal cover letter where there is no prior communications between the two parties. Informal cover letters are letters that are used in situations where two parties share a goal or can assume some familiarity.
Try: Find more on formal and informal cover letters from the Business Writing Institute.