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Usenet Posted 21 years ago
Usage
My Dear
I from a land where we only use "Dear" in letters among family members, close relatives and people we love. But obviously Americans used it in business dealings (Also surprised to see people calling strangers "honey" and "sweetie") I'd like to know more about the word usage of "Dear" in workplace email.
First, is it common to address the same sex with "Dear"? I'm a guy and I'm straight. I don't feel comfortable to start my email to this guy I know at accounting with "Dear John". It's touchy to me.
Then I'm fine to sent emails started with "Dear Mary" to this Mary at Finance now and then. I don't have problems with that and she seems to take it well. But I have to say that I addressed female coworkers with "Dear ..." because I want to show my respect and my niceness to them. I don't actually know them well. Because then I would just started with "Hey Mary" or "Hi Jill" as if she is my buddy.
Then comes to situations like job employment. I don't have a hard time to send a "Dear" thank-you email to a female who interviewed me or a senior male who's much older than me. But I don't feel comfortable to send a "Dear" email to a guy who's about my age. But then I don't feel a email says "Hi Steve, I really like the job that we discussed." show enough respect to Steve who might become my boss later on. Do you agree with me? What's a good way to handle this?
If a female manager hires me and my email to her during the job interviews has always been "Dear Mary", is there a time I should stop that and switch to a more relaxed "Hi Mary"? When would that be?
Thanks.
First, is it common to address the same sex with "Dear"? I'm a guy and I'm straight. I don't feel comfortable to start my email to this guy I know at accounting with "Dear John". It's touchy to me.
Then I'm fine to sent emails started with "Dear Mary" to this Mary at Finance now and then. I don't have problems with that and she seems to take it well. But I have to say that I addressed female coworkers with "Dear ..." because I want to show my respect and my niceness to them. I don't actually know them well. Because then I would just started with "Hey Mary" or "Hi Jill" as if she is my buddy.
Then comes to situations like job employment. I don't have a hard time to send a "Dear" thank-you email to a female who interviewed me or a senior male who's much older than me. But I don't feel comfortable to send a "Dear" email to a guy who's about my age. But then I don't feel a email says "Hi Steve, I really like the job that we discussed." show enough respect to Steve who might become my boss later on. Do you agree with me? What's a good way to handle this?
If a female manager hires me and my email to her during the job interviews has always been "Dear Mary", is there a time I should stop that and switch to a more relaxed "Hi Mary"? When would that be?
Thanks.
Top answer
[nq:1]I from a land where we only use "Dear" in letters among family members, close relatives and people we love. [/nq] "Dear" isn't too commonly used in email, even though it's standard in traditional written correspondence. In email it's generally seen as too formal.
- [nq:1]I from a land where we only use "Dear" in letters among family members, close relatives and people we love.
- [/nq] "Dear" isn't too commonly used in email, even though it's standard in traditional written correspondence.
- In email it's generally seen as too formal.
- Especially so for intra-workplace email.
- [/nq] In a traditional letter of a non-informal sort, yes.
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29 Answers
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[nq:1]I from a land where we only use "Dear" in letters among family members, close relatives and people we love. ... people calling strangers "honey" and "sweetie") I'd like to know more about the word usage of "Dear" in workplace email.[/nq]
"Dear" isn't too commonly used in email, even though it's standard in traditional written correspondence. In email it's generally seen as too formal. Es
"Dear" isn't too commonly used in email, even though it's standard in traditional written correspondence. In email it's generally seen as too formal. Es
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[nq:1]I from a land where we only use "Dear" in letters among family members, close relatives and people we love. ... feel comfortable to start my email to this guy I know at accounting with "Dear John". It's touchy to me.[/nq]
Your subject line says "My dear" and that is only used to express actual affection (or deep sarcasm). But plain old "Dear" lost any sense of sentiment ages ago. You can
Your subject line says "My dear" and that is only used to express actual affection (or deep sarcasm). But plain old "Dear" lost any sense of sentiment ages ago. You can
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[nq:1]I from a land where we only use "Dear" in letters among family members, close relatives and people we love. ... feel comfortable to start my email to this guy I know at accounting with "Dear John". It's touchy to me.[/nq]
It's going to depend on the purpose of the e-mail. If it's a quick note to John confirming an appointment, then "John . . . I'll see you tomorrow at 10." is probably OK
It's going to depend on the purpose of the e-mail. If it's a quick note to John confirming an appointment, then "John . . . I'll see you tomorrow at 10." is probably OK
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[nq:1]I from a land where we only use "Dear" in letters among family members, close relatives and people we love.[/nq]
Where's that?
[nq:1]But obviously Americans used it in business dealings (Also surprised to see people calling strangers "honey" and "sweetie") I'd like to know more about the word usage of "Dear" in workplace email. First, is it common to address the same *** with "Dear"?
Where's that?
[nq:1]But obviously Americans used it in business dealings (Also surprised to see people calling strangers "honey" and "sweetie") I'd like to know more about the word usage of "Dear" in workplace email. First, is it common to address the same *** with "Dear"?
00
[nq:2]I from a land where we only use "Dear" in ... more about the word usage of "Dear" in workplace email.[/nq]
[nq:1]"Dear" isn't too commonly used in email, even though it's standard in traditional written correspondence. In email it's generally seen as too formal. Especially so for intra-workplace email.[/nq]
Maybe so, but there are those of us who still use it frequently when addressi
[nq:1]"Dear" isn't too commonly used in email, even though it's standard in traditional written correspondence. In email it's generally seen as too formal. Especially so for intra-workplace email.[/nq]
Maybe so, but there are those of us who still use it frequently when addressi
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[nq:2]It's touchy to me.[/nq]
[nq:1]Then you're a fool.[/nq]
Sheesh! The guy asked an honest question about usage in a language he's not that familiar with. I thought that's what the NG was for.
Why jump all over him?
jkl
[nq:1]Then you're a fool.[/nq]
Sheesh! The guy asked an honest question about usage in a language he's not that familiar with. I thought that's what the NG was for.
Why jump all over him?
jkl
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[nq:2]Then you're a fool.[/nq]
[nq:1]Sheesh! The guy asked an honest question about usage in a language he's not that familiar with. I thought that's what the NG was for.[/nq]
That is what this NG is supposed to exist for.
[nq:1]Why jump all over him?[/nq]
Good question! It *** me off too.
Franke: EFL teacher & medical editor
For email, replace numbers with English alp
[nq:1]Sheesh! The guy asked an honest question about usage in a language he's not that familiar with. I thought that's what the NG was for.[/nq]
That is what this NG is supposed to exist for.
[nq:1]Why jump all over him?[/nq]
Good question! It *** me off too.
Franke: EFL teacher & medical editor
For email, replace numbers with English alp
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[nq:1]He has an emotional block here, not an intellectual problem.[/nq]
According to what everyone suggests that "Dear" can safely be used for same sexes in email and letters, I guess you are right on the target. You really know what my problem is.
Now how can I get over my emotional block?
According to what everyone suggests that "Dear" can safely be used for same sexes in email and letters, I guess you are right on the target. You really know what my problem is.
Now how can I get over my emotional block?
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[nq:1]I from a land where we only use "Dear" in letters among family members, close relatives and people we love. ... feel comfortable to start my email to this guy I know at accounting with "Dear John". It's touchy to me.[/nq]
Dear Bruno,
Using 'Dear' in an address is very different from calling a person 'dear'. It is merely a formality and forms part of a set phrase; it's meaning can no
Dear Bruno,
Using 'Dear' in an address is very different from calling a person 'dear'. It is merely a formality and forms part of a set phrase; it's meaning can no
00
[nq:1]I from a land where we only use "Dear" in letters among family members, close relatives and people we love.[/nq]
This fits the usage in China to a tee. Some Westerner who is learning Chinese invariably looks up "dear" in an English-Chinese dictionary and addresses a casual Chinese acquaintance in this manner in his first Chinese letter. Usually some tactful Chinese comes along pretty soo
This fits the usage in China to a tee. Some Westerner who is learning Chinese invariably looks up "dear" in an English-Chinese dictionary and addresses a casual Chinese acquaintance in this manner in his first Chinese letter. Usually some tactful Chinese comes along pretty soo
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