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Best answer by
Anonymous
+
121651
Wed, 27 Jul 05 12:31 AM
The correct usage of 'faithfully' and 'sincerely' is taught in junior school English. If addressed Dear Sir or Madam then it is 'faithfully' or to a named person 'sincerely'.
However, today I have been rebuked by my new boss for using 'sincerely' instead of 'faithfully' when the salutation is Dear Sir. Why did he do this?
Well, in my two previous companies I was told it was 'old fashioned' and 'sincerely' would suffice especially 'Sincerely' if the salutation is Dear Sir in a new modern world where formality is now more relaxed, 'faithfully' is to be used only if the letter is a legal document or appertaining to strictest business formalities.
So, in a marketing letter to an unknown recipient it acceptable to sign off Yours Sincerely with a capital. My last company (British owned marketing company) paid for me to attend a course to be fed this information and my previous company was an American owned British based company, both of these companies abided by this ruling.
Today I have had my wrists slapped and been fed a great deal of sarcastic feedback, as though I am some sort of moron, as I abided by a newly introduced relaxed discipline. My current company is a marketing/sales company.
I was also taught that in an effective marketing letter it is a marketing ploy to always add on a P.S. even if it is a business letter. The rules are now more flexible but it is not always easy to confirm what is correct or otherwise. Feeling very miffed..........yours truly 
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Best answer by
Mister Micawber
+
121659
Wed, 27 Jul 05 01:20 AM
Dear Miffed,
I do sympathize with you, and I am glad you have brought your
unfortunate experience to our attention, because throughout this
discussion, the most obvious and pragmatic of advice-- 'ask your
superior what s/he prefers'-- was not offered. Still,
wrist-slapping and sarcasm seem less than adult reactions.
We have seen a wide range of opinions here, so it is evident that usage
varies enormously. Those who are trying to sell themselves or
their product or service must choose the option, formal or friendly,
which they think most appropriate to their needs, and those who are
employed by others should check company policy in this as in many
matters.
Sincerely yours,
MM
Joined on
Wed, Aug 4 2004
Yokohama
Veteran Member
30,493
'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master-- that's all.'
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anita_a,
4 yr 105 days ago
That's a good one! ![Big Smile [:D]](/emoticons/emotion-2.gif) ![Wink [;)]](/emoticons/emotion-5.gif)
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Tallulah Tam
+
121665
Wed, 27 Jul 05 01:45 AM
Dear Miffed,
It is always safest just to follow the company protocol, after all they are paying your wages. You have been told now how they want you to end their letters. If you need further clarification just tell your boss you don't want to make the mistake again so could he/she please explain exactly what it is that they would like. It is not your job to teach them what is in or out, just make sure that if they ever change their minds that they tell you about it.
Don't waste time feeling miffed, shrug it off. C'est la vie! Perhaps your firm has traditional, rather old fashioned customers, so this is the way it conducts its business. Its all a matter of preference. Personally I prefer old fashioned courtesy. People everywhere assume they can call you by your first name without asking permission, over familiarity is spreading like weeds in a garden. Except in the medical profession. Have you noticed how the doctor immediately calls you by your first name while you are expected to respectfully address him as "doctor" that's discrimination! I have taken to calling my doctor by his first name. But I digress......
Joined on
Sun, Jul 17 2005
Alabama, USA (British)
Full Member
234
If at first you don't succeed sky-diving is not for you.
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goldmund
+
121806
Wed, 27 Jul 05 02:43 PM
Dear Tallulah Tam,
It is also possible to change the policy of an employer, no? ![Smile [:)]](/emoticons/emotion-1.gif)
But it is only a convention. It was «this» yesterday, and I think it will be «that» tomorrow.
Kind regards,
Goldmund
Joined on
Fri, Jun 10 2005
Regular Member
581
«Tout homme peut dire véritablement; mais dire ordonnément, prudemment et suffisamment, peu d'hommes le peuvent.» - Michel de Montaigne
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Tallulah Tam
+
121841
Wed, 27 Jul 05 04:27 PM
"To my mind there are onlt two rules to English usage: write what you mean in as short and clear a way as possible, and never use multiple exclamation marks at the end of a sentence. (In fact, never use exclamation marks, you probably don't need it.) "
Dear Guest,
The above statement is probably correct in a business setting, however I do not agree with your statement generally.
Exclamation marks are used to denote emotion. How else can one show feelings on paper? Here in this forum we have emoticons, to show emotion, but prose generally would be very boring without exclamation marks!
I have used one at the end of that sentence as an illustration to denote that that is what I think. It is a statement which either implies a question, what do YOU think about that? Or begs an answer. It also could imply that I have made a dogmatic statement I believe to be correct and I EXPECT you to agree with me. That is usually the case when multiple exclamation marks are used. Strictly speaking my use of an exclamation mark at the end of that particular sentence was incorrect, they are better saved for, Good God! or A fine friend you have turned out ot be! or You've burnt the cakes again! (But who's strict?)
With regard to wrting being short and clear, Shakespeare is neither short nor clear.
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Anonymous,
4 yr 104 days ago
Good advice MM, said boss must have had second thoughts a today he brought me a hot sausage roll wrapped in a paper napkin and a cup of tea. (No comments please)
My intention was not to whinge, but to try to establish on this forum from my peers and betters what is correct. The more I read this thread the more confused I have become, because although we try to keep to an acceptable degree of formality and correctness, it appears that some companies are paying heavy amounts of money to break the rules of learning and tradition and correctness of English usage.
Thank you for your input. No, I was not trying to tell my boss what to do, it is just that over 100 letters had been prepared for mailing. Again, no comments. Miffed ...also now known as BusyBee.
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MrPedantic
+
121946
Thu, 28 Jul 05 12:35 AM
I wouldn't be pleased to find 'kind(est) regards' at the bottom of a letter from a bank manager or solicitor. I'd be inclined to take Goldmund's line.
Though I don't mind what people stick at the bottom of emails. It's usually a mess down there anyway. Weblinks, plugs, emoticons, tripe about eating the email if you receive it in error, irritating feedback requests, etc. And then the twelve indented FYIs in reverse order.
Back to shards, I say.
MrP
Joined on
Tue, Oct 12 2004
Veteran Member
13,616
...opella forensis / adducit febris...
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Tallulah Tam
+
122130
Thu, 28 Jul 05 03:50 PM
Goldmund, I think if the employer has paid to send you on a course to learn the correct way to write letters, ( I could have said a correspondence course) and then when you come back and put what you have learned into practice to be met by sarcastic comments when you apply what you have learned is justifiable cause to stand up to your employer. But if you join a company with prior knowledge different from the standard company policy, unless you have been specifically hired to teach them, or they are open to change, then it is your job to conform to their standard or the same sort of thing Busy Bee talked about is likely to happen.
In other words, don't try to teach your grandma how to suck an egg (exclamation mark) Unless you want it all over your face.
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