What is the main purpose of the heading in a letter?

The main purpose of the heading in a letter is to establish the sender's identity and often includes essential details such as the sender's address and the date. This component serves as the formal introduction of the document, allowing the recipient to immediately recognize who is sending the letter and when it was sent. By including these elements, the heading helps create a clear context for the communication that follows, enhancing the letter's formal structure and providing important reference information for both the sender and recipient.

Other options, while relevant to different aspects of a letter's structure, do not pertain specifically to the function of the heading. For instance, providing a conclusion or summarizing the content would relate more to the body or closing of the letter rather than its heading. Articulating the message clearly also pertains to the main body of the letter, where the detailed communication occurs. Thus, the heading's primary role is to introduce the sender and establish the foundational context for the correspondence.