Six signs of turf.

* Many turf letters contain the word "headquarters" just below the address line, as in "The Bellingham Herald Headquarters." This doesn't always mean turf, but it's often a tip off that you should do some checking.

* An e-mail letter formatted with the writer's address at the top like a business letter. Most people who e-mail letters don't adopt such a formal approach, but website forms often generate this format. Again, it's not definitive, just a clue.

* Letters that just sound too much like press releases. You've read both. Trust your gut and check it out. Well-written leads are a real giveaway.

* Most turf letters are generated by websites and consequently are unlikely to come as e-mail attachments.

* Letters that contain lots of numbers often turn out to be turf. They might discuss things like approval ratings, number of new jobs created, or amounts of toxins released into the environment. The numbers also often tend to be unattributed to any source.

* Contact information can be a clue. People who use fictitious names sometimes also use obviously phony addresses and phone numbers.