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Anonymous Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
Comma vs. colon on greeting line of letter
For a non profit business fundraiser would I use a comma or a colon on the greeting line?
Top answer
I'm assuming you mean a line that says "Dear <name>". I wouldn't bother with any punctuation. I'd just write it like this: Dear Mr Smith Blah blah...
- I'm assuming you mean a line that says "Dear <name>".
- I wouldn't bother with any punctuation.
- I'd just write it like this: Dear Mr Smith Blah blah...
- A comma after the name is possible, but I personally think it looks cleaner and less fussy without.
- A colon definitely does not seem right.
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6 Answers
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I'm assuming you mean a line that says "Dear <name>". I wouldn't bother with any punctuation. I'd just write it like this:
Dear Mr Smith
Blah blah...
A comma after the name is possible, but I personally think it looks cleaner and less fussy without. A colon definitely does not seem right.
The content of the letter (the fact that it's a busines
Dear Mr Smith
Blah blah...
A comma after the name is possible, but I personally think it looks cleaner and less fussy without. A colon definitely does not seem right.
The content of the letter (the fact that it's a busines
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And yet on this side of the Atlantic, we certainly put a comma after the greeting in an informal letter and a colon after the greeting in a business letter.
Dear Mary,
It was so nice to hear from you.
Dear Ms. Smith:
Thank you for your letter of June 28, 2008.
You choice is whether it's a business letter or a friendly one. If you use a first name (Dear Mar
Dear Mary,
It was so nice to hear from you.
Dear Ms. Smith:
Thank you for your letter of June 28, 2008.
You choice is whether it's a business letter or a friendly one. If you use a first name (Dear Mar
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Whoops. I was too broad in my "this side of the Atlantic." Sorry!!
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Grammar GeekAnd yet on this side of the Atlantic, we certainly put a comma after the greeting in an informal letter and a colon after the greeting in a business letter.
Right... perhaps there are UK/US differences then. I don't recall ever seeing a colon used in this way, and I've never been aware of any convention that makes a distinction between busines
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I agree with Wordy.
Many, many years ago, a comma was needed in BrE. Nowadays, there is, indeed, a difference between British and American English. In AmE a comma is needed, but in BrE, a comma is no longer required.
Other examples are is Mr, Mrs, Dr etc. The British have for many, many years dropped the full stop, but in AmE, a full stop is needed.
Many, many years ago, a comma was needed in BrE. Nowadays, there is, indeed, a difference between British and American English. In AmE a comma is needed, but in BrE, a comma is no longer required.
Other examples are is Mr, Mrs, Dr etc. The British have for many, many years dropped the full stop, but in AmE, a full stop is needed.
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