Salutation on letter

Question

This subject may have been discussed exhaustively (or possibly, ad nauseam) so feel free to tell me but what is the preferred way nowadays to address a business letter? The problem arises because, for some people whose position but not name is known, "Dear Sir" is inappropriate. For example, there is no reason to presume that the editor of a newspaper is male. "Dear Sir or Madam" sounds very stilted and "Greetings" is reminiscent of a US draft notice (g). For myself, I rather dislike being addressed as "Dear James" by someone I do not know and "Dear James Silverton" seems ridiculous. Even if one knows a name, I also gather that not all women like being addressed as Ms.

James V. Silverton
Potomac, Maryland, USA

Usenet · Accepted Answer

[nq:1]This subject may have been discussed exhaustively (or possibly, ad nauseam) so feel free to tell me but what is ... is no reason to presume that the editor of a newspaper is male. "Dear Sir or Madam" sounds very stilted[/nq]
It still sounds OK to me; perhaps as "Dear Sir/Madam".
[nq:1]and "Greetings" is reminiscent of a US draft notice (g). For myself, I rather dislike being addressed as "Dear James" ... seems ridiculous. Even if one knows a name, I also gather that not all women like being addressed as Ms.[/nq]
Like you, I find "Dear (first name)" overfamiliar, and prefer "Dear Mr X".
As for "Dear Ms X", I don't hesitate to use this when I don't have any indication of a preferred title. I figure if someone doesn't like "Ms", it's up to that person to indicate what title they want me to use: I'm not a mind reader, but I still retain the right to use formal rather than informal forms of address.

Cheers, Harvey
Ottawa/Toronto/Edmonton for 30 years;
Southern England for the past 22 years.
(for e-mail, change harvey.news to harvey.van)

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]This subject may have been discussed exhaustively (or possibly, ad nauseam) so feel free to tell me but what is the preferred way nowadays to address a business letter?[/nq]
First, let me ask, what kind of business letter? My word processor sets up my templates for me and I usually have no problem with formatting.

I also usually know who the person is I am sending it to, and if it is the Director of Advocacy at my old employer, I list her title on the heading, and then in the body of the letter, write
Dear C
If it is my Executive Editor, or Poetry Editor, I again list their title on the heading, and write
Dear T
What is the big deal here? I usually skip Mr or Ms altogether, even if I do not know the individual, and if Dear is inappropriate, I'd write

To James Silverton:
I am writing this letter to inform you that I charge .02 cents per word to draft business correspondence for those individuals who have no idea how to draft business correspondence..
Sincerely,
Joanne M. Marinelli
I am not big on stilted formal address. Perhaps others are.

Usenet · Answer

~~snip~~
[nq:1]I am not big on stilted formal address. Perhaps others are.[/nq]
I'm not big on stilted formal address, but formal address has its place. Babies and bathwater thing.
"Stilted", of course, is in the eye of the beholder: in my books, "Dear Mr X" doesn't look at all stilted if it's sent to someone the writer doesn't know personally.
(I find it so deeply presumptuous for someone I've never met to address me by my first name that if it's a salesman, they've automatically that second lost the sale.)

Cheers, Harvey
Ottawa/Toronto/Edmonton for 30 years;
Southern England for the past 22 years.
(for e-mail, change harvey.news to harvey.van)

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]What is the big deal here? I usually skip Mr or Ms altogether, even if I do not know the individual, and if Dear is inappropriate, I'd write To James Silverton:[/nq]
Thanks, but I still don't like "Dear James" in formal correspondence from people I don't know! In any case that's not how my friends would address me (g). I also know that this usage creates a bad first impression with many other people. "To James Silverton" seems a possibility but, to tell the truth, I rather like "Greetings!"

I'm not talking about e-mail where I have got used to "Dear James" but I find actually prefer just "James".

James V. Silverton
Potomac, Maryland, USA

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]This subject may have been discussed exhaustively (or possibly, ad nauseam) so feel free to tell me but what is ... seems ridiculous. Even if one knows a name, I also gather that not all women like being addressed as Ms.[/nq]
I don't live in the U.S.A. so the following suggestion might or might not suit.
How about addressing the person by position? For example:

"Dear Editor"
"Dear Vice-President"
"Dear Guardian of Paper Clips"

Peter Duncanson
UK (posting from a.e.u)

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]What is the big deal here? I usually skip Mr ... and if Dear is inappropriate, I'd write To James Silverton:[/nq]
[nq:1]I'm not talking about e-mail where I have got used to "Dear James" but I find actually prefer just "James". James V. Silverton Potomac, Maryland, USA[/nq]
I thought you meant a business letter on good bond paper, not email. I do not format email for business correspondence, but I will use the person's title and name in the email if I do not know them. I recently tracked down an American Lampedusa scholar, and simply wrote Dear Professor xx. I wanted her book on Lampedusa for my own citations in my essay

Sorry I cannot be of anymore help, but I do not write Secretaries of State, and I am not perturbed if grant foundations address me as Ms. Joanne Marinelli, or just Dear Joanne Marinelli.
I might be less puzzled if I knew what the circumstances were, to worry you over the salutation.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]I thought you meant a business letter on good bond paper, not email.[/nq]
[nq:1]I do not format email for business correspondence, but I will use the person's title and name in the email ... Joanne Marinelli. I might be less puzzled if I knew what the circumstances were, to worry you over the salutation.[/nq]
Yes, I was simply trying to bring myself up to date on current written business letters. Sometimes, I really want a reply and I'm not just letting off steam (g)!
Jim.

James V. Silverton
Potomac, Maryland, USA

Usenet · Answer

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what is the preferred way
[nq:1]nowadays to address a business letter? The problem arises because, for some people whose position but not name is known, ... name, I also gather that not all women like being addressed as Ms. James V. Silverton Potomac, Maryland, USA[/nq]
When I have had to send out a business letter (usually a cover letter for a resume), I have found "Good Day!" works well on its own, even if I know the person's name. Of course, here in the U.S., it's not a common expression, and draws some attention to itself. Use it with your own discretion.

Peace,
Tor

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Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]This subject may have been discussed exhaustively (or possibly, ad nauseam) so feel free to tell me but what is ... seems ridiculous. Even if one knows a name, I also gather that not all women like being addressed as Ms.[/nq]
You can take solace in that few people read the opening line.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]What is the big deal here? I usually skip Mr or Ms altogether, even if I do not know the individual, and if Dear is inappropriate, I'd write[/nq]
"Dear" is almost always appropriate in UK l;etter-writing, and does not indicate familiarity or any degree of friendliness. It's only omitted in the most formal of official letters, which begin with plain "Sir" or "Madam". followed by "I have the honour to submit the diocuments ..."

The most alarming letters and even threatening letters about debts or tax arrears were formerly "Dear Sir, I regret to ... Yours faithfully" and now have the impertinence to start "Dear Mr Jones, I am sorry to inform you ..." and end "Yours sincerely". (I should add that it is some time since my affairs were so confused as to call for this kind of intervention. They don't even send me a tax form these days, presumably because any tiny extra tax they might be able to exact wouldn't pay for all the time I used to take up at their office.)
Alan Jones
Alan Jones

Salutation on letter

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