Enclosure vs Attachment: Which One to Use in Your Job Application
Enclosures belong to printed and PDF letters, attachments belong to emails. Here is the difference, a quick rule for choosing, and how to word each one.
By Resume Creator Team · Published · 2 min read
An enclosure is a document that comes with a printed or PDF letter. An attachment is a file sent with an email. They mean the same thing, extra documents sent along with your main message, but each belongs to a different format.
For the full explanation of the letter version, read what is an enclosure in a cover letter.
The short rule
- Sending a letter (printed, or a PDF cover letter): use an enclosure line.
- Sending an email: use attached in the body of the message.
- Uploading to a job portal: use neither. The form already lists your documents.
Side by side
| Enclosure | Attachment | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Printed letter or PDF cover letter | |
| Where you write it | Below your signature | In the body of the email |
| Wording | Enclosure: Resume | Please find my resume attached |
| Abbreviation | Encl. or Enc. | None needed |
| Formality | Formal | Standard for email |
| Tone in 2026 | Traditional, expected in formal letters | Default for most applications |
Examples
Enclosure in a letter
Sincerely,
Meera Iyer
Enclosures: Resume Portfolio link sheet
Attachment in an email
Subject: Application for Content Writer, Meera Iyer
Dear Ms. Kapoor,
Please find my resume and writing samples attached. I would welcome the chance to discuss the role.
Best regards, Meera Iyer
Which one do employers expect?
Most applications today go through email or a portal, so you will use "attached" far more often than "enclosure". The enclosure line still matters in a few cases:
- Formal PDF cover letters for government, legal, academic or large corporate roles.
- Printed applications handed in at an office or career fair.
- Letters that travel with a physical document, such as certified copies.
If the job advert does not say, an email with attachments is the safest default.
A common hybrid
Many candidates attach a PDF cover letter to an email. In that case you can do both:
- Mention the attachments in the email body.
- End the PDF cover letter with a short enclosure line.
This reads as thorough, not repetitive, because the two serve different readers: the email body for quick scanning, the PDF for the formal record. If you are unsure whether to write the cover letter in the email or attach it, see should I attach a cover letter or write it in the email.
Quick checklist before you send
- The file names are clear, for example
Meera-Iyer-Resume.pdf. - The number of documents listed matches the number actually included.
- PDF is used unless the employer asked for Word.
- The wording matches the format: "enclosure" for letters, "attached" for emails.
Build the document that goes inside
Whichever word you use, the resume itself does the real work. Choose a free template and download an ATS-friendly PDF with no sign-up.
- enclosure
- attachment
- cover letter
- job application
