Linked Questions
13 questions linked to/from "Dear Sir or Madam" versus "To whom it may concern"
14
votes
3
answers
135k
views
"Dear Sir (or Madam)" when gender unknown? [duplicate]
When writing a formal letter addressed to someone whose gender is unknown, how important is it to use "Dear Sir or Madam", instead of "Dear Sir"?
I was taught that "Dear Sir" is an acceptable gender-...
- 3,631
5
votes
3
answers
38k
views
Formal salutation to a group [duplicate]
I need to write a formal letter to a group of people consisting of two females and two males. One of the females is unmarried.
"Dear Sirs" must be out of the question. "Dear Madam / Miss / Sirs" ...
- 51
0
votes
1
answer
17k
views
"Dear Madam / Sir" vs. "Dear All" [duplicate]
When writing a letter to officials you don't know the sex of, do you say Dear Madam / Sir or Dear All?
How do you avoid the fact that you don't know the sex of the official(s) to whom you are writing?...
- 1,500
-2
votes
1
answer
21k
views
How should I begin and end an email to an institution (like a Consulate) to request some information? [duplicate]
I'm wondering how I should start and end a letter requesting information from a Consulate. Dear Department / Dear Service / Dear Sir/Madam and Yours faithfully?
0
votes
0
answers
614
views
How do I address a letter when I do not know the name or gender of the person I am writing to? [duplicate]
If I write a letter to someone I have not written to before, I do my best to discover their name and use the appropriate title and their surname.
I recently needed to write to the administration ...
- 101
0
votes
1
answer
70
views
What's a proper greeting to use when writing a formal e-mail to a university? [duplicate]
I think the preferred option is to use "Dear Professor XYZ", but what should one use when the identity of the recipient is unknown?
- 1
11
votes
2
answers
94k
views
What is the correct greeting to use in a formal email addressed to a department/team/company?
If the email were to be addressed to a specific person, you could write "Dear [Name]".
But is it appropriate to write "Dear [Team / Department / Company]"?
For example, "Dear Service Desk," and "...
- 2,296
10
votes
4
answers
22k
views
Gender neutral alternative to Sir/Madam
This question has been asked on this website before—but one example was closed as off topic, and the other specifically regarded use in a letter.
My context requires the use of speech, as if ...
- 11.3k
2
votes
5
answers
77k
views
Official e-mail
How should I begin an official e-mail if I don't know who I am writing to? I mean, normally I would write "Dear x", but when I have to send an e-mail to an institution, what should I write?
- 31
1
vote
2
answers
3k
views
Gender Neutral Salutation /Honorific
In the context of addressing an unknown individual in an email/letter, how does one include persons belonging to the broad gender spectrum?
For instance, in binary terms Dear Mam/Sir was the norm for ...
- 113
3
votes
1
answer
3k
views
How does one formally address and email when the gender of the recipient is unknown?
What is the correct way to address the recipient of a professional email, when only the last name of the person is known? Would it be more polite to say, for example "Dear Mr/s Smith" or "Dear A. ...
- 31
0
votes
1
answer
4k
views
To Whom It May Concern, what's the best way to address a group?
I write emails to groups of individuals from time to time, and when I don't/can't address anyone in particular, I will begin the letter with
To Whom It May Concern,
Is this the best way to ...
- 551
2
votes
2
answers
2k
views
How to use title in salutation, when recepient's name is unknown
I'm sending a formal letter to an adjudicator but do not know his or her name. What would be the most appropriate salutation?
Dear Adjudicator:
Dear adjudicator:
Dear sir or madam:
To whom it may ...
- 2,920