Word Choice – Company Name

BizWritingTip reader: “When you close a business letter, does it still need to include the company name typed under the closing line? It seems like it duplicates the letterhead.”

BizWritingTip response: Before letterhead, the courts required companies to put their name somewhere on the document to show they stood behind the correspondence. Most organizations placed it under the closing line.

With the use of letterhead, the custom is outdated. I see very few organizations doing it nowadays. I agree with you. It unnecessarily duplicates information.

Your closing box only needs your name, title, unit or division reference if appropriate, and your phone number if you want the reader to be able to contact you directly.