atw: Re: Australian Standards for Letters

Well found, Rod!
Now that I see this, I realise that the AMS layout would probably REALLY freak out Christine's target audience, as it's the style that omits both the salutation (Dear Fred) and the 'complimentary close' (Yours sincerely).
I understand that research in the UK by a large govt dept showed that most recipients of this style did not notice the omissions.
Despite that findimg, the omitted features are still expected in most (Aussie) correspondence, so I do NOT recommend AMS Simplified Letter style for most ordinary situations.
However, I see that the site on which you found this link, Rod, also had example of Block Style/Open Punctuation which is how I'd describe most Australian current usage. http://www.wausau.k12.wi.us/east/Student%20Files/BE2005/Reference%20Manual%20Final/BusinessLetterBlock.htm (or navigate back to it from the AMS page).
Christine, some ammo for you: this example of Block Style (no indented paras or Inside Address) and Open Punctuation (no commas at line endings of formal parts of the letter) is so old that it still includes 'Reference Initials' - from the days of typing pools, eh!
What all this really shows is that it's important to view corro in the same way an effective author views any communication: what's the purpose, what's the audience - and take it from there. 

ros
__

Ros Byrne
WORDS THAT WORK
Training & Coaching in Workplace Communication
http://www.canberra.edu.au/pmp/program/courses/words-work




On 28/10/2008, at 10:33 AM, Rod Stuart wrote:


Is this of any help?
<http://www.wausau.k12.wi.us/east/Student%20Files/BE2005/Reference%20Manual%20Final/AMSBusinessLetter.htm > 

2008/10/28 Christine Kent <christine_kent@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Hi Ros
Can you do me a favour if you get the time - can you dig out your old AP style guide and see if it says anything about letter layout? I think we may 
have found the culprit. 1970s would be about right for these teachers.

Christine



-----Original Message-----
From: austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Ros Byrne
Sent: Tuesday, 28 October 2008 8:54 AM
To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: atw: Re: Australian Standards for Letters

Good point about address layout, Daryl!

The link didn't work for me, but if others are interested, go to the
Australia Post homepage (http://www.auspost.com.au) and put Address
Format in the search box.

ros

PS:  Speaking of fossilesque matters, I still have my old hard-copy of
the Australia Post Style guide from the 1970s - the kind that had the
manual updates stuffed in front instead of being filed in the correct
section etc.     Memories...   :)
__

Ros Byrne
WORDS THAT WORK
Training & Coaching in Workplace Communication
http://www.canberra.edu.au/pmp/program/courses/words-work




On 28/10/2008, at 7:23 AM, Daryl Colquhoun wrote:

>> Question 1 - Does anyone know where I can find Australian Standards
>> for the layout and presentation of letters (correspondence).
>
> Interestingly enough, the German standard relating to this very
> thing was for several decades DIN's (German Institute for
> Standardization) best-seller. (I learned this by looking at the
> display at the DIN's headquarters; I can't find a web reference.) So
> naturally I thought Australia would have one. However, enquiries of
> SAI Global, including a phone call, suggest that there is no such
> standard. I suggest that you trawl their website yourself and ring
> them, to double-check.
>
> I note Brian's sad comments (quaintly phrased in terms of an
> obsolete unit of measure). Still, if want to have a go as
> browbeating fossilesque colleagues, you could refer to Australia
> Post. They don't make standards but they are explicit on at least
> how to set out the address; see
http://www.auspost.com.au/BCP/0,1467,CH2092
> ~MO19,00.html.
>
>
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--
Rod Stuart
6 Brickhill Drive
Dilston, TAS 7252, Australia
<rod.stuart@xxxxxxxxx>
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