Final answer:
The salutation is the part of a business letter that includes the greeting and addresses the recipient, marking the correct answer as b. salutation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The salutation is the part of a business letter that greets and addresses the person to whom you are writing. The correct option is b. salutation.
In composing a business letter, after including the sender's address and the date, the next element is the salutation. This is a polite greeting that uses the recipient's title or honorific, such as Mr., Ms., Dr., etc., followed by their surname. For example, you'd write "Dear Dr. Smith:" if you were addressing Dr. John Smith. The salutation sets the tone for the letter and is a sign of respect towards the recipient. If you're unsure of the recipient's name, a generic "To Whom It May Concern:" is commonly used. The salutation is followed by a colon and a blank line before beginning the body of the letter, which outlines the main purpose and content.
The salutation is an important part of a business letter as it sets the tone for your communication and shows respect to the recipient. Using the correct salutation is essential in maintaining professional and polite correspondence.