At this point, the size doesn’t actually matter as we are going to set the dimensions from within the text box properties.

Then click anywhere in your document and draw a small text box. To insert a new text box click insert > text box > draw text box You could just as easily the address directly onto the document, using paragraph formatting to set the address block alignment.

With my template, I chose to use a text box, as I feel that this will eliminate user error with accidentally moving the text box and upsetting the alignment. Then using either paragraph formatting or a text box or frame we want to position our address. To begin, open a new Microsoft Word document. It is positioned 2cm from the left side of the envelope and 1.2cm from the bottom of the envelope. The standard window (a left-hand window) size and position is the same for all commercial window envelopes, regardless of the size of the envelope. It’s important to remember that it’s possible that the window positioning could vary slightly depending upon the manufacturer, but on the whole, these measurements should work for most envelopes. Now that’s fine for those of us who have these great letter typing/folding skills, but what about those who don’t, your clients for instance? As a result of this conversation, I was then asked if I could create a template letterhead for my client, so that they can make sure they always get their address block in the correct place so I thought I’d share it with you. Perhaps it’s an inbuilt secretarial sixth sense? No, I doubt it, it’s more likely to be the numerous years of trial and error, frustration and wasted paper back when I was an employed secretary! I just KNOW where to put it so that it lines up with the window as equally I just KNOW where exactly to fold the letter so that it folds tidily. I was asked “what are the measurements for placing the address block in a letter in the correct place so that they show in a window envelope?” Well, I thought, surely it’s just one of those things that you know. Yet recently, I was asked a question that I actually didn’t know the answer to. Writing and printing letters in Microsoft Word is a fairly simple task that all virtual assistants must know how to do.

Print address on envelope template