What is the modern way to start " Dear Sir"?

Question

I am conscious that often when writing to a Company, "Dear Sir" might not be appropriate as often the recipient may be female. Is there a more correct start?

Answer 1

Dear Sir/Madam



To Whom It May Concern

Answer 2

If you can find out the name of the person who will act on your letter, then use their name, eg Dear Mrs Smith. If you do this, then you end the letter Yours sincerely.



It's perfectly OK to write Dear Sir or Dear Sir or Madam or Dear Sir/Madam. Then end the letter Yours faithfully.

Answer 3

I have only very recently retired from teaching English, and for at least the past 20 years I have had to include letter writing on the syllabus, simply because so many young people don't know how to do it. I feel really sorry for them because sometimes they jeopardise their chances of employment or further education etc because they write (1) very bad CVs, and (2) very bad covering letters. So I have drummed into numerous students the correct way of addressing and writing letters of various kinds, and so far, they have all done well at it - the rules are few and simple (I tell them). 'Dear Sir' always ends with 'Yours faithfully' and 'Dear Mr Smith' always ends with 'Yours sincerely'. If you don't know the name of the person you're writing to (and you should) then you write 'Dear Sirs' or 'Dear Sir/Madam' and always end with 'Yours faithfully'.

Just read that through and what a pedantic sort of prude I sound! Actually, I really had a lot of fun with lots of students when they had to write a whole range of letters - they could be hilarious, and that was fine by me, as long as they really knew the 'correct' way to do it.

Answer 4

When writing to a company... Dear Sirs



If writing to an individual in a company... Dear Sir/Madam

Answer 5

Why is proper etiquette seen as archaic? Proper etiquette should always be striven for.



If the gender of the party to whom the correspondence is unknown, then "Dear Sir or Madam" (note: No slashes, hashmarks, semi-colons, colons, or other such nonsense ... just the word OR in between) is totally proper no matter what era we live in.



If the recipient is offended, that is not your fault nor responsibility. You are being proper, and that is always correct.



Have a great day!

Answer 6

Modern or not i will always address someone in a letter as Dear Sir/ Madam

Answer 7

I'd agree with both Veritas and Sailors Wife, if you're writing to an inanimate object like a company, Dear Sir is fine, ended with Yours faithfully.

If you're being specific, for instance writing to the Personnel Manager, it pays to give the company a quick ring to find that person's name, then you can say Dear Mr Smith, or whatever, ended with Yours sincerely. Shows you know what you're talking about and you've done your homework!

Answer 8

Technically, you are writing to the company, which doesn't have a sexual orientation, therefore, use of the generic and gender free term 'sir' should still be OK. Don't let PC or sexual politics override common sense.



If you were writing to an individual, but were unaware of the sex, then dear sir/madam is OK.

Answer 9

Dear Sir or Madam,

Answer 10

To whom It May Concern



Also, if you know the name of the person you are writing to, you end with yours sincerely



If you do not know and say Dear Sir or Madam or To Whom It May Concern, you end with yours faithfully.....just a pet hate of mine!



EDIT: Val, strange we both posted same point! I wrote small f and s too but deleted it...I rated you for keeping it in. :-)

Answer 11

The best thing to do is get the name of the person to whom you are sending the letter. You can call the HR department if it is about a position there and get the name and title of their head of HR. Or you can simply call the receptionist and tell them you are sending correspondence regarding ??? and ask to whom you should address it.



As a last resort, you can use a subject or reference line so that the salutation is omitted. If you add a line under the recipients address like this



RE: EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT POSITION



you don't have to worry about the "Dear whomever" line.

Answer 12

Dear Sir or Madam



Yours faithfully.



If you know their name write that and finish Yours sincerely.

Answer 13

Dear Sir/Madam,



Quite sufficient thank you.



bobthe browser, I gave you the point because you made me laugh.

Answer 14

I write 'Dear Sir/Madam'

Answer 15

If you're writing to a company, the correct salutation is "Dear Sirs". Anything else is wrong. If you think that's too old fashioned, don't put any salutation.

Answer 16

"Dear Sir/ Madam" is the accepted way.

Answer 17

or.. dear sir or madam if you dont know who it is... or try finding out the name of the person you're writing to...

or...



dear production manager

dear editor...

Answer 18

you just put Dear sir/madam

Answer 19

"Dear Sir or Madam,"





or





"To Whom it May Concern:"

Answer 20

Dear Sir/Madam.



sign off with Yours faithfully (small f)



if you know the persons name it would be Dear Mr ....... or Mrs ....... and you would sign off Yours sincerely (small s)

Answer 21

elouise N has it right!

Dear Sir is always appropriate

Answer 22

i never say "DEAR"-always "Sir"

Answer 23

Oi

Answer 24

How's it swinging.

Answer 25

The classic "How's she cuttin'?"

Answer 26

Hi dude,,,hows you going,,,,