What should follow after addressing the recipient's name in a letter?

In formal letter writing, particularly in the context of the Occupational English Test (OET), it is standard to follow the recipient's name with a comma. This practice is consistent with conventional business letter formatting, where the salutation typically appears as "Dear [Recipient's Name]," and the comma serves to indicate a pause before the body of the letter begins.

Using a comma in this context creates a friendly yet respectful tone, which is particularly important in professional correspondence. It establishes the relationship between the sender and the recipient and sets the stage for the communication that will follow.

While other punctuation marks such as the colon or semicolon might be considered in different contexts, they are less common in standard letter writing. A period does not serve as an appropriate separator in this situation, as it does not allow for the necessary transition into the subsequent text. Thus, the use of a comma after the recipient's name aligns with established writing conventions, ensuring clarity and professionalism in the letter.