http://www.englishforums.com/English/FormalGeneralBusinessLetterWriting-EnglishLanguage/Forum5.htmFormal Letter writing questions, how to write a cover letter, general, business, official, reference, character, leave, sponsorship, invitation, CV, writing to an English company, Learn how to start and end a letter in the English language.enCSMOD (Build: 3260.39585)http://www.englishforums.com/English/Dear/bxbd/post.htm#8979Wed, 24 Sep 2003 15:16:20 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:8979wumanfu0http://www.englishforums.com/English/Dear/bxbd/post.htm#8979http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments5-8979.xmlfrom Pocket Fowler's Modern English Usage. <br />Dear , as part of a formal greeting at the beginning of a letter, was introduced in the 15c in various formulas. Dear Sir and Dear Madam have become the <br />most formal types, with Dear Mr Jones and Dear Mrs/Miss/Ms Jones serving as more socially neutral alternatives. Increasingly people are using the full <br />name as in Dear John Smith or Dear Jane Smith, or (especially in circular letters) a descriptive name as in Dear Customer or Dear Colleague, in order to <br />avoid the need for a title, which is a welcome tendency. <br />Personally, I’ve noticed these trends: <br />1 In business communication, folk prefer open punctuation. Keep the ‘Dear….’ But remove the comma and keep everything tight to the left margin <br />2 regarding email, the dear or even ‘hi’ is dropped: a heading, the body of the message and a signature plate <br />3 If I was really following this for a reason, I’d use a style manual appropriate to my region <br />http://www.englishforums.com/English/Dear/bnmh/post.htm#8881Tue, 23 Sep 2003 12:48:48 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:8881Guest3http://www.englishforums.com/English/Dear/bnmh/post.htm#8881http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments5-8881.xmlWhat are the various ways by whom a most informative letter can be written. I oftenly fail to write such letters. <br />arfathttp://www.englishforums.com/English/Dear/bghn/post.htm#6779Wed, 03 Sep 2003 12:09:25 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:6779maj2http://www.englishforums.com/English/Dear/bghn/post.htm#6779http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments5-6779.xmlIf it's an email I usually use hi. What about you?http://www.englishforums.com/English/Dear/bghv/post.htm#6770Wed, 03 Sep 2003 10:19:24 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:6770sac4http://www.englishforums.com/English/Dear/bghv/post.htm#6770http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments5-6770.xmlhihttp://www.englishforums.com/English/Dear/bvzc/post.htm#6156Thu, 28 Aug 2003 23:30:52 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:6156pieter4http://www.englishforums.com/English/Dear/bvzc/post.htm#6156http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments5-6156.xmlThanks W. , I just wanted to show to some colleagues- teachers how wonderful this site is. A bit late , though.:);)http://www.englishforums.com/English/Dear/bvvv/post.htm#6141Thu, 28 Aug 2003 22:17:48 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:6141Woodward5http://www.englishforums.com/English/Dear/bvvv/post.htm#6141http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments5-6141.xmlDear Sir/Madam, or <br />To whom it may concern, (this is quite formal)http://www.englishforums.com/English/Dear/bvdh/post.htmThu, 28 Aug 2003 15:09:50 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:6127pieter6http://www.englishforums.com/English/Dear/bvdh/post.htmhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/comments5-6127.xmlHow do you start a letter when you don't know the person's gender?