Form letter
Encyclopedia
A form letter is a letter written from a template, rather than being specially composed for a specific recipient. The most general kind of form letter consists of one or more regions of boilerplate text
interspersed with one or more substitution placeholders.
Although form letters are generally intended for a wide audience, many form letters include stylistic elements or features intended to appear specifically tailored to the recipient — for example, they might be signed by autopen
and utilize features such as mail merge
to automatically insert the names of individual recipients.
or politician
s.
Other form letters are used to notify candidates as part of an application process, such as acceptance or rejection letters from publishing companies, colleges or prospective employers.
Boilerplate (text)
Boilerplate is any text that is or can be reused in new contexts or applications without being changed much from the original. Many computer programmers often use the term boilerplate code. A legal boilerplate is a standard provision in a contract....
interspersed with one or more substitution placeholders.
Although form letters are generally intended for a wide audience, many form letters include stylistic elements or features intended to appear specifically tailored to the recipient — for example, they might be signed by autopen
Autopen
An autopen is a machine used for the automatic signing of a signature. The reason for employing an autopen is typically emotive, intending to form a compromise between making every signature by hand, and printing a reproduction of the signature, which is perceived as impersonal by the...
and utilize features such as mail merge
Mail merge
Mail merge is a software function which allows to create multiple documents from a single template form and a structured data source.-History:This technique of merging data to create gave rise to the term mail merge....
to automatically insert the names of individual recipients.
Uses
Form letters are often used as replies from people who get large amounts of correspondence, such as celebritiesCelebrity
A celebrity, also referred to as a celeb in popular culture, is a person who has a prominent profile and commands a great degree of public fascination and influence in day-to-day media...
or politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
s.
Other form letters are used to notify candidates as part of an application process, such as acceptance or rejection letters from publishing companies, colleges or prospective employers.