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Anonymous Posted 14 years ago
Letter Writing

HELP: Using Asterisk in Business Letter

Hello,

I am writing a professional letter and within the the body of the text, I insert an asterisk that indicates a specific reference number, which I have inserted at the end of the letter next to the follow-up asterisk.

e.g.

On October 7*, I visited your office for second time. Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah.

Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah.

Sincerely,

Jane Doe
Company Manager

*Reference number for second date of service: 012345678

Is this the correct way to insert an asterisk in a business letter? I appreciate your help!

-Mabel
  

Top answer

It is not very businesslike: it requires the reader to search. Put the information in the text: On October 7th (Ref no. 012345678), I visited your office for the second time.

  • It is not very businesslike: it requires the reader to search.
  • Put the information in the text: On October 7th (Ref no.
  • 012345678), I visited your office for the second time.
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3 Answers
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It is not very businesslike: it requires the reader to search. Put the information in the text:

On October 7th (Ref no. 012345678), I visited your office for the second time.
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Thank you for your speedy help! I have another question.
How would you properly place the comma?

"My son, Elijah (5 years old), was admitted to the emergency room."

Or

"My son, Elijah (5 years old,) was admitted to the emergency room."
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Oh, the first one certainly if I had to choose...but again, personally I would re-cast:

My 5-year-old son Elijah was admitted...

Then you need no commas and no brackets, and the reader can get on with your message instead of struggling through all the punctuation.

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