Final answer:
The civilian format of the date is used in the parts of a cover letter and other formal correspondence. The date should be formatted according to the recipient's country's standard and be the first line of the letter. Other elements follow in a specific order, with the entire document using block formatting for a professional appearance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The civilian format of the date is typically used in the parts of a cover letter or any formal correspondence. When including the date in your letter, the format should be acceptable in the recipient's country. For example, in the United States, you would use 'January 1, 2010', while in Europe, you would use '1 January 2010'. It is important to not abbreviate the month. The date is placed as the first line in your letter and is followed by a blank line before the next section. When constructing a cover letter, after the date, the following elements should be included: return address, inside address, greeting, body, closing, and your typed name.
Understanding time zones and the date line is also crucial, especially in historical contexts or international communication. For instance, the bombing of Pearl Harbor happened on December 7, 1941, in the United States but is recorded as December 8, 1941, in Japan due to the International Date Line.
In block formatting for business letters, everything should be aligned to the left, and the letter should be single-spaced with double spacing between paragraphs. Using a readable business font like Times New Roman or Arial size 11-12 is recommended. Remember to use a professional greeting such as 'Dear Mr./Mrs./Ms./Dr.' followed by the addressee's last name or 'Dear Hiring Committee:' if no contact is known.