TS 1390

TS 1390 is a document- layout standard for business correspondence prepared on a typewriter, covering the arrangement of business letters, envelopes and telegrams so that they present a uniform and consistent appearance. In practical terms, it addresses the visual organization of the page and related carrying documents rather than the wording of the message itself. The standard excludes the layout of official letters and of private letters written by hand or on a typewriter.

What layout means in business correspondence

In general technical use, letter layout refers to the fixed placement of elements such as margins, date lines, addressee information, salutations, signature areas and envelope address blocks. Standards of this kind help different organizations produce documents that are easy to read, recognize and process, even when the content and sender differ. The result is visual consistency across routine communication forms.

What this standard groups together

• Typewritten business letters
• Envelopes used with business correspondence
• Telegrams
• Uniformity and similarity in form
• Official letters and private letters are outside the scope

As a documentation standard, TS 1390 focuses on presentation rules rather than on message drafting. Its value lies in making correspondence easier to handle in office workflows such as filing, distribution and quick identification. For users dealing with older administrative document practices, it represents a controlled model for the outward form of business communication.