Left or Right alignment of a letter?

Question

I've changed quite a lot of schools and in most of them, they taught to align a everything of a any letter (formal/informal) on the left side. I'm in a dillema because recently in my new school, they're teaching to align the header and footer on the right side (of formal letter) while the body on the left side only. Moreover they're saying to specify "sender's address" before the date in an informal letter. Afaik, the sender's address is supposed to be specified only in formal letters. Will anyone please clear the confusion here?

Answer 1

There is no official standard for things like this...

When taking a course in school, do it the teacher's way.

When you are out on on your own, do it your way!!

Answer 2

In very formal letter style, i.e., business correspondence, you may align the address at the top to the left, follow it with your reference line and your salutation, then the body of the letter and at the end, your closing:

123 Poplar Street

Chicago, IL 99999

June 19, 2019

RE: My application for your engineering position

Dear Mrs. Boss:

We spoke on Wednesday, June 16, 2019, and I requested some time to consider your kind offer of employment. My husband and I have decided that we would be willing to relocate to Chicago if your firm could offer us financial support for the expenses involved in the move.

Therefore, I am hereby notifying you that I am ready an willing to begin organizing the engineering project we discussed this last Wednesday.

Please reply to this acceptance letter if you can offer us the support requested.

Sincerely yours,

Student Name,

Engineering Position Applicant

On the other hand, when you wish to be a little more informal or more 'relaxed' in your impression, you may adopt the indentation style herein demonstrated:

12345 Highway 730

Umatilla, OR 97882

June 16, 2019

Susan Long

456 Lindon Way

Buffalo, NY 99999

Dear Mrs. Long,

We enjoyed meeting you and your lovely family. Our visit at the coast was especially refreshing thanks to your kindness.

After we have returned from our trip to France, we want to extend an invitation to you and your family to come to our home in Oregon for an extended stay.

We will be corresponding with you as soon as we have returned.

Truly yours,

The Deich Family

Note that the more informal the correspondence is, the deeper the indentation is. Usually it is five spaces in, but you could expand that to as much ten spaces.