What is a formatting requirement for a business letter?

• A. Single-spaced with the date placed below the return address
• B. Double-spaced throughout
• C. Single-spaced with the date above the return address
• D. Double-spaced with the date below the return address

Answer: (A)

Formatting a business letter properly relies on a clean, predictable header and concise spacing. In the standard layout, the return address appears at the top, followed by the date, then the recipient’s address. Spacing is kept single-spaced within paragraphs, with a single blank line between sections, which makes the letter compact and easy to read. Having the date below the return address keeps the header in a familiar, logical top-to-bottom order that readers expect in formal correspondence. Double-spaced throughout would waste space and look overly loose for professional letters, and placing the date above the return address would disrupt the conventional header sequence. So the best choice is single-spaced with the date placed below the return address.