Final answer:
A 'caption' is not part of a letter to the editor format. Standard elements include the inside address, greeting, and salutation among others. Instead of a caption, a subject line might be included to state the letter's main point.
Step-by-step explanation:
When writing a letter to the editor, certain elements are considered standard: the writer's return address, the date, the inside address (which includes the recipient's name, title, organization, and physical address), a greeting, the body of the letter, a closing, and the writer's signature and typed name. One element that does not belong to the conventional format for a letter to the editor is the 'caption.' The caption is more commonly associated with images, figures, or tables within articles and documents, and not typically found in personal or business correspondence such as letters to the editor. Instead, letters may include a subject line to indicate the main point of the letter.
After the inside address, the next part of the letter format is the salutation, such as 'Dear Dr. Smith,' followed by a colon. It should reflect the name used in the inside address. The body of the letter then follows, written in a professional tone using a business font. When the recipient's name is unknown, the salutation 'To Whom It May Concern' can be used.