Legal English

Re: To Whom It May Concern

Anonymous — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 02:29:50 GMT

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.

Re: To Whom It May Concern

Yoong Liat — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 15:41:29 GMT

Osee

Does this have something to do with that people like putting "longer" words at the end to draw attention. For example, when starting a speech, people say "Ladies and Gentlemen," where the world gentlemen is longer than the word ladies. While in "Dear Sir or Madam", Madam is longer than Sir. Just for fun.

I think the reason for writing "Dear Sir/Madam" is that in the past, when we didn't know whether the Director, Manager, etc was a man or a woman, we wrote "Dear Sir'. Later it was felt that it was unfair to write 'Dear Sir' because the person in authority might be a woman. In older grammar books, the advice is to write 'Dear Sir'.

Formerly, when we wrote 'he', it was understood that opposite sex was included. But nowadays we write he/she, he or she, or s/he.

A woman uses Ms if she doesn't want us to know whether she is married. Formerly, only 'mankind' was found in dictionaries. Nowadays, 'humankind' is also found.

If I'm not wrong, the above came about because of Women's Liberation.

This is my opinion. Other members may disagree.

Re: To Whom It May Concern

Osee — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 20:00:57 GMT

Does this have something to do with that people like putting "longer" words at the end to draw attention. For example, when starting a speech, people say "Ladies and Gentlemen," where the world gentlemen is longer than the word ladies. While in "Dear Sir or Madam", Madam is longer than Sir. Just for fun.

Re: To Whom It May Concern

Clive — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 19:47:33 GMT

Hi,

It's just a convention, and not very meaningful at all.

Clive

Re: To Whom It May Concern

Osee — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 18:15:04 GMT

Hi Clive,

I usually start my letter by "Dear Madam or Sir." I have noticed many times that natives started letters by "Dear Sir or Madam." I do not understand this because I thougth it is against both the "lady first" thing and the fact letter M preceding letter S.

Regards, Osee

Clive

Hi Forbes,

I'd be reluctant to just say to English learners that it's for writing a letter to someone whose identity you don't know. With a definition that simple, I'd prefer to say that you should write 'Dear Sir or Madam'.

Best wishes, Clive

Re: To Whom It May Concern

Yoong Liat — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 15:47:47 GMT

Anonymous
This is really very simple:
Use Dear Sir/Madam when you know (or can assume) the position of the person you are writing to but not their name or gender. Use To whom it may concern when you don't even know their position. If you use To whom it may concern end with Yours faithfully.

Endi

Hi Endi

Who taught you what you posted? Which book, etc tells you that?

In BrE, when we write Dear Sir / Madam, we write Yours faithfully above the signature.

Re: To Whom It May Concern

RayH — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 15:41:48 GMT

Honie
Hi

I would like to know, we can use this phrase or not "to whom this may concern" instead of "to whom it may concern"

if using it, that wrong or not?

thank you in advance

Honi

No. Don't modify standard phases and terms. Everyone knows, and expects to see, the standard wording. Changing it just causes confusion (or worse).

Re: To Whom It May Concern

Yoong Liat — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 15:32:12 GMT

Yoong Liat

Anonymous
When using "to whom it may concern" in writing a letter are the first letters all capitalized?

Only 'The' is capitalized.

It should be Only 'To' is capitalized.

Re: To Whom It May Concern

Clive — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 19:12:56 GMT

Hi guys,

I'd like to mention a point I offered some time ago. 'To whom it may concern' is so rarely used that I don't remember the last time I ever used it. Perhaps half a dozen times in my entire life. Other people have also noted that in this thread that it is not often, even rarely, used, but I feel that readres may be overlooking this advice.

There seems to be so much interest in this phrase that I am concerned that English learners are going to start large numbers of letters in a way that is totally inappropriate.

Best wishes, Clive

Re: To Whom It May Concern

Yoong Liat — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 18:46:15 GMT

Anonymous
When using "to whom it may concern" in writing a letter are the first letters all capitalized?

Only 'The' is capitalized.

Re: To Whom It May Concern

Yoong Liat — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 18:37:43 GMT

Honie

Hi

I would like to know, we can use this phrase or not "to whom this may concern" instead of "to whom it may concern"

if using it, that wrong or not?

Honi

to whom this may concern (You have to use 'To whom it may concern'. Note no capitals needed except for 'To'.)

Re: To Whom It May Concern

Feebs11 — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 18:25:12 GMT

To whom it may concern is only applicable in situations where the writer is asked to provide some kind of reference or document which the subject will be able to use at any time.

It is totally incorrect to use this as the start of a letter to a company. The question of how many people are likely to read the letter is immaterial.

Re: To Whom It May Concern

Anonymous — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 00:59:49 GMT

I most certainly agree with this statement. In addition, if it is likely that multiple people will read the letter, and the letter is impersonal, I think that the phrase is perfectly legitimate. "Dear Sir or Madam" is just a bit too personal for certain letters.

That said, situations in which this phrase must be used are undoubtedly rare. Still, in some cases, "To Whom It May Concern" is the best alternative.

As for "Yours faithfully," I might have seen this closing used once in my lifetime. The phrase "Sincerely" is much more common, at least in the U.S. (Or at least in Massachusetts.)

Re: To Whom It May Concern

Grammar Geek — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 20:51:43 GMT

Hello Anon,

I not only have read a great many letters, but I have written a great many as well. In North American, you are far more likely to find a letter ending "Sincerely," than anything else.

Perhaps you didn't mean it to be so, but the tone of your post is quite rude and hostile. I hope you'll take the time to read though other posts here.

Re: To Whom It May Concern

Anonymous — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 20:20:37 GMT

You clearly don't read or write many letters. People in North America and the UK use 'Yours faithfully' when ending a letter that has been started with 'Dear Sir/Madame' - that's the rule!