Page:The practice of typography; correct composition; a treatise on spelling, abbreviations, the compounding and division of words, the proper use of figures and nummerals by De Vinne, Theodore Low, 1828-1914.djvu/183

 separate line, if space will allow. When the composition is solid and more space cannot be allowed, run the salutation in the first paragraph as a sideheading, making it a part of the first line of the letter. Put a colon after the salutation, but never follow it with the dash, which is not needed, for this dash has no value and is but the unthinking mark of a writer who is undecided concerning the point that is proper, and who uses the dash at a venture. This salutation is usually set in italic, although it is never so italicized by the writer, and does not need that distinction in type. The roman lower-case is always to be preferred.

When the address is very long, as it is in a formal petition to a legislature or a municipality, and is not followed by any complimentary phrase, italic lower-case may be used for all words in the address. When the address makes more than one line, the second and third lines should be in hanging indention. The paragraphs of a letter set solid or single-leaded in roman or italic are best presented with the ordinary indention of one or two ems. The wide paragraph indention sometimes made by penmen is tolerable only in script or in any character which has the long ascenders and descenders that make wide spaces between lines.

One signature, set in small capitals, is usually