enclosed please find...
Formal business writing for “it's in this envelope.” Until the middle of the 20th century, businesses corresponded in formal—some would say stilted—language. “Enclosed please find” was one phrase that, although still used by some law firms and insurance companies, is well on its way to join such archaisms as “in hand,” ult. for “ultimo” (meaning “last month” as in “I have your letter of the 15th ult. in hand . . .”), inst. for “instant” or this month, and prox. for “proximo” or next month. Perhaps e-mail abbreviations like LOL, IOW, and TTFN will someday be considered just as quaint.
Endangered Phrases by Steven D. Price Copyright © 2011 by Steven D. Price