10 Useful Tips for Writing Applications

In my previous article I have tried to provide the reader with some guidelines on writing personal letters. Though we know that the urge for writing personal letter is gradually dying down, the case is not the same with that of the writing applications. Everyone has to write applications in his life for various purposes. We are to write applications for situations, seeking help, asking for redress of some grievances, praying for some amenities and so on. Hence we should write these applications in such a way that the persons addressed feel inclined to go through them with interest. Therefore, it is necessary for us to know how to write correct applications.

Here follow 10 useful and necessary tips for writing applications:

1. The letter of application should be written in the form of business letter. The heading containing the address of the applicant and the date of sending is not used in applications. Otherwise, an inside address which contains the name or designation and address of the person, firm or organization to whom the letter is addressed, is included at the top right hand corner of the sheet.
2. The letter of application should contain a subject field in which the subject matter of the application should be written in a phrase (not a complete sentence). This subject field should preferably be underlined and written just between the inside address and the salutation. For example, Sub: Application for the post of Assistant Manager.
3. The salutation of application should be in agreement with the number and gender of the person or persons to whom the letter is addressed. For example, if the name is masculine and singular, the form of address should be ‘Dear Sir’; if it be masculine and plural, the form of address should be ‘Dear Sirs’; in case of a lady it should be ‘Madam’; and if a ladies’ concern is addressed, the salutation should be ‘Mesdames’.
4. The applicant should include a short introduction stating whether he is replying to an advertisement or applying on his own responsibility. In other words, he should clearly state the source of information.
5. An application for job should contain brief but full information about the applicant’s age, educational qualifications, experiences and special aptitudes, if any.
6. In the closing part of a job application, an applicant should give references and testimonials to assure his prospective employer that he will do the justice to the job if it be offered to him.
7. The letter of application should always be precise and dignified in language. They should also be brief and explicit. Regarding the style of writing it can be said that they should always be formal. An applicant should never introduce any irrelevant matter to his application. Use of colloquial expression is strictly prohibited here.
8. In a letter of application the address of the applicant and the date of sending are generally written at the left hand bottom corner of the sheet just parallel to the applicant’s signature.
9. The application should be written in a clear and legible hand or typed. The applicant should always be careful to keep the tidiness and neatness of his application.
10. Errors in grammatical construction, spelling, punctuation and use of capitals should be avoided very carefully.

The letter of application is still very much relevant in this present world and has not lost his flavor like that of the personal letter. Writing application is, no doubt, an inseparable part of our everyday life.

Also read: http://writinghood.com/style/how-to/12-useful-tips-for-writing-personal-letter/