How do you start a letter Dear Sir or Madam?

– Sir/Madam – you start your letter with “Dear Sir or Madam” when you don’t know to whom your letter should be addressed; for example, if you’re writing to the general university admissions department and don’t know exactly who would be responsible for the handling of your enquiry.

Which comes first sir or madam?

In Dutch and French I know this equivalent is evenly less used but formally correct, so why should English be any different?!

Do you start a formal letter with dear?

Start with the word “Dear” Although in certain situations it is appropriate to use “Greetings” or “Hello” prior to the name of the recipient, using the word “Dear” at the beginning of a business letter is the preferred professional approach. When in doubt, use “Dear.”

Is Dear Madam Sir?

Dear Sir/Madam vs. To Whom It May Concern In this (rare) situation, you should use Dear Sir or Madam and not To Whom It May Concern. Dear Sir or Madam implies that you have one specific person in mind for this letter, but do not know their name, title, or gender.

Is there a comma after Dear Sir Madam?

In British English, the greeting is always followed by a comma: If you are writing to a firm or an institution, and you have no name, you may use the greeting Dear Sir/Madam. The closing always takes a comma: Yours lovingly, or.

Is it OK to start an email with Dear sir or Madam?

Avoid using “Dear Sir/Madam” in emails as well. Emails are less formal than cover letters, so starting with “Dear Sir or Madam” feels even more out of place. It’s always best to address an email directly to the recipient. Here’s what the problems with “Dear Sir or Madam” boil down to: It’s generic and lazy.

Can you use dear sir madam in a cover letter?

Dear Sir/Madam Cover Letter vs. Dear Sir/Madam Email. You should avoid using Dear Sir/Madam in emails as well as in cover letters. Cover letters are notably more formal than emails, but some of the same rules apply, especially if you are writing to someone for the first time.

Should I start a formal letter with dear to whom it may concern?

To Whom it May Concern is very impersonal, as it suggests you are just throwing your words out there for anyone who cares to read them, rather than writing to a particular person. Originally Answered: Should I start my formal letter with “Dear Sir, dear Madam” or “Dear Madam, dear Sir” if I don’t know who is the person who will receive it?

How do you use dear sir or madam in a sentence?

So if you are going to buck the trend and use “Dear Sir or Madam” anyways, here’s how to use it correctly. The proper punctuation is to capitalize each letter except in the word “or”, as in: Using a colon after salutations is acceptable in formal situations, so you can also write “Dear Sir or Madam” with a colon: