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Joined: Jun 2002
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How many letters today start with Dear Sir or Madam?
well, at least letters that I write, I am afraid. the question how to start a letter if you know that there will be a person (a secretary, an officer, a scientist) who will open it but you don't know his/her name. we were taught this "Dear Sir/Madam" formula, which I know is awfully formal but would "to whom it may concern" be better?
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Joined: Mar 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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I get around that by writing "Greetings." But that's just me....
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Joined: Dec 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Greetings was the standard opening to a WWII draft notice. Family lore has it that my grandmother always wondered what they were weeping about.
Greet was Scots for weep
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Joined: Sep 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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This may sound a little anal but, if I'm sending a letter, I always get the name of the person I need to send it to.
It is extremely easy for the recipient of a letter to throw it away when it is addressed to Sir or Madame – difficult if it starts, Dear Mr. Burns.
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Joined: Jun 2002
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but if an ad says "send your CV to Human Personel Department"? where do I get the name of the officer who happens to open my letter?
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Joined: Mar 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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In that case, I would still go with "greetings."
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Joined: Mar 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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but if an ad says "send your CV to Human Personel Department"? where do I get the name of the officer who happens to open my letter? Well, you could call the company and ask. Failing that, I'd put Dear Sir or Madam. Or Dear Madam or Sir. But I'm old-fashioned; there's always "Yo!". 
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Joined: Jun 2002
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greetings it is then. but I'm surprised that everybody uses the same form of address...
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Joined: Dec 2002
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journeyman
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journeyman
Joined: Dec 2002
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OK, here's from someone who occasionally works in the mail room at my place of employment. First of all, the envelope generally gets tossed. The HR person is not an officer, and she may or may not look at a CV or resume right away - it is given to a secretary and filed somewhere unless there is an active search for new personnel at that time.
I also play receptionist for a short time each day, and when we get questions about HR we tell the name of the correct person - spell it - give the address - whatever it takes. My guess is that the HR person likes being addressed by her name better that Sir/Madam, but if the CV looked good it probably wouldn't matter too much. But, that's one job I don't get to do - they NEVER ask me about hiring or firing (and I have big opinions about it, too!).
What sane person could live in this world and not be crazy? -Ursula K. Le Guin, author (1929- )
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Joined: Mar 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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I have big opinions about it, too!). Overlooking their hidden treasure, are they? 
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