Anonymous

“I recently wrote a letter of explanation to a board of members who oversee the disbursement of financial aid to university students. Not knowing their names / gender / position / titles, I used the phrase, "To whom it may concern:". I double-checked with the English department before sending my statement and I was told that it was perfectly fine to use this phrase.

”

I do not think this use is quite correct. "To whom it may concern" should only be used where the person who is to read the letter is unknown. That is not the same as not knowing someone's name. In this case you knew who your letter was going to - the board.

I think you had two options:

1. To address the letter to the board and start: "Dear Sirs" or "Dear members of the Board".

2. To address it to the secretary to the board and start: "Dear Sir" or "Dear Madam" (if you know the sex of the secretary) or "Dear Sir or Madam" (if you do not).

Generally, the use of "To whom it may concern" should be restricted to references and other letters of recommendation or letters intended to give information that will influence a decision and which are going to be read by someone who has not solicited it from the person who is writing it e.g.

To whom it may concern

Anne Jones was employed by me for three years. She is an excellent secretary and thoroughly reliable. I would not hesitate to recommend her.

To whom it may concern

John Smith was my tenant for five years. The rent was always paid on time and at the end of the tenancy he left the premises in a clean and tidy condition.

It may also be used to start a letter addressed to no one in particular, but intended to convey some information of interest e.g.

To whom it may concern

The Buttercup Estate, Newtown

We act for Acme Builders Limited who are entitled to enforce certain restrictions imposed in respect of the above estate. The company no longer has any interest in the estate and has therefore confirmed that it will not seek to enforce any of the restrictions.  Their consent is deemed to be given to permit anything which would be a breach of such restrictions and accordingly application need not be made for consent.

i mean tha the proble is depends on the people that u used to know how to regest the proble in that face them so that they try to get to the people to help them in the problem hat the faced them and then they play some thing tat u r to get unkidaable thing andd may facethan in the coming life and they dont know it so let do it by our self .

it will be handing as to a good thing to our life help as in many thing  and thanks for the opporinaty,

You need to rewrite this. It's impossible to understand.

Best wishes, Clive

Since no-one seems to want to quote a "rule", let me offer the opinion that it's really just a matter of the style you like best. Personally, I wouldn't capitalize every word.

Let me draw your attention to the suggestions earlier in the thread that this form of salutation is rarely used, except for "open"letters of reference.

I've provbably only written 'To whom it may concern' 3 or 4 times in the last 10 years, which is why I don't think about it in terms of "rules". Are you sure you are going to use it appropriately? 

Best wishes, Clive