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Post by antharro on Jan 19, 2007 4:07:20 GMT
Wonder if someone can help me out here, please.
When you're writing to someone, you don't know if that person is a Miss, Ms, or Mrs, and you're not on first name terms, what's the correct manner to address said person?
Thanks!
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Colin
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Post by Colin on Jan 19, 2007 4:42:40 GMT
To whom it may concern?
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Post by antharro on Jan 19, 2007 5:30:19 GMT
Mmm, too vague, I think. I know the person's name, I just need to know how to address them... |
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Post by Hutch on Jan 19, 2007 6:55:06 GMT
I would say that much depends on context. To keep within the frames of reference of this forum, are you reporting the loss of your oyster card or asking the station assistant’s hand in marriage?!  “Dear Ms Surname/Yours sincerely” if you know that much of her details. “Dear Madam/Yours faithfully” is usually far too formal and should possibly be used only on letters of complaint to TfL! Nice and chatty – or better still using email – just use “Hello/Best regards” |
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Phil
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RIP 23-Oct-2018
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Post by Phil on Jan 19, 2007 9:57:32 GMT
Hutch has it. If you know the surname you can always use Dear Ms ...... for a female (with 'yours sincerely'). If not it's Dear Madam (with 'yours faithfully' (or 'yours truly') to end with).
If you don't know the gender it's 'Dear Sir or Madam' and again 'yours faithfully' or 'yours truly' (interchangeable: your choice) to sign off with.
And for email (again just choice) I start with 'Hi,' even if I don't know them, and finish with 'regards'
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 19, 2007 11:58:34 GMT
I was always told if you were unaware of if writing to a male/ female you should write "sirs".
My English teacher also taught us the DSYF acronym. Which being a 13 year old at the time I remembered by "Don't Screw Your Friend. "
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 19, 2007 12:56:54 GMT
I seek the definition of DSYF. I believe the manner in which you remembered it central-simon, has possibly more than one meaning.
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Chris M
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Post by Chris M on Jan 19, 2007 13:53:50 GMT
DSYF = Dear Sir ... Yours Faithfully.
Meaning that if you start a letter "Dear Sir" (or "Dear Madam") - i.e. you don't know the name of the person you are writing to, then you end the letter with "Yours Faithfully". In contrast, if you do know the name of the person, e.g. "Dear Simon", "Dear Mrs Brown", etc. then you finish the letter with "Yours Sincerely".
Chris
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Oracle
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Post by Oracle on Jan 19, 2007 14:15:25 GMT
You can always get away with the "American" salutation of Dear Sir/Madam and Yours truly. But always Dear Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms X, and Yours sincerely, or again Yours truly. Otherwise, in your case, may I suggest Dear Ms X, and Best wishes? Then sign your first name, say "Fred" on top of the words say "FRED BLOGGS". That way she knows that she is being invited to address you as "Dear Fred", and she knows your surname to address any reply to.
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