Letters are the most widely and commonly used means of written communication. It is perhaps the most traditional written tool for conveying message. When someone writes or prints message on a piece of paper and sends it to others, it is called letter. Letter can be sent directly hand to hand or by means of post or mail or by using any other electronic media. Despite the availability of various modern quick and convenient means of transmitting message, letters are as important today as they were centuries ago. Its usefulness and importance are still increasing with the growth of business.
According to Oxford Dictionary, “A letter is a written message addressed to a person or an organization usually put in an envelope and sent by post.”
By nature, letters are of two types namely- personal letter and business letter. The letter written to relatives or friends for exchanging personal matters is called pentagonal letter. On the other hand, the letter that contains business-related information is known as business or commercial letter.
From the above discussion, we can say that a letter is a written or printed message on a piece of paper which is compiled by someone and sent to others with a view to providing them with those written or printed messages.
Meaning of Commercial Letter or Business Letter
The letter that contains business-related information is called commercial letter or business letter. Through this letter, businesspersons exchange business-related information among them. Such letters are written to various business firms, business associations, government offices, banks, customers, suppliers, and employees’, etc. business letters are generally aimed at selling goods, obtaining information or advice, making inquiry, mollifying the injured feelings or customers, placing orders for goods, reminding customers for payment of dues etc. Some definitions on business letter are quoted below-
According to Hanson, “The letters which are exchanged among businessmen in connection with business affairs are called business or commercial letters”
In the language of Weston, “Commercial correspondence is a system of conducting business transactions by means of writing.”
In conclusion, we can say that the letters which are written among the businessmen for exchanging business-related information are known as business letters or commercial letters.