# Business Letter Salutation—Need Help Fast **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 26, 2008, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/business-letter-salutation-need-help-fast/461265 "2008-08-26T00:33:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2008, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/business-letter-salutation-need-help-fast/461265/21 "2008-08-28T00:40:11Z")
[QUOTE=Zoe] (re: pumps and pantyhose) Right. The person hiring you has never heard of those things. [/QUOTE] Assuming you’re being sarcastic, that _was_ my point; there is a place for formality and convention. > [@](#): > > Oh why not?..Then slash a burning _Z_ at the bottom for your signature and have your letter delivered by pipers from the King’s Own Scottish Borderers. Be sure to enclose a photo of you on your Harley. And, as you obviously understand, there is also a place for fun. Still, your suggestion may cross the line to pretension; perhaps a white gloved uniformed footman would strike the right note. No photographs, though; that’s unprofessional. (I actually use Mesdames et Messieurs when I am royally pissed; that’s my version of ‘Pardon my French’). > [@](#): > > Remember that if you don’t know the recipient’s name, end with “Yours faithfully” instead of “sincerely”. I did not know that. Thank you for another piece of utterly useless antiquated trivia. Sincerely. ---
**Author:** ![rbroome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@rbroome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rbroome)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2008, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/business-letter-salutation-need-help-fast/461265/22 "2008-08-28T12:08:26Z")
[QUOTE=Really Not All That Bright] Hell if I know. I don’t know why not knowing the recipient’s name makes you faithful, either. I’m just saying that’s the convention. [/QUOTE] thanks. I didn’t realize that. Conventions don’t have to make sense. The goal is to make the reader comfortable. We would still be using wax seals if that accomplished the goal. The important thing is to be able to fit in to the norm if you wish to. Knowing something like the above is useful. For those who don’t wish to fit in-great. Now they know what not to do. Everybody wins. I appreciate the information. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2008, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/business-letter-salutation-need-help-fast/461265/23 "2008-08-28T13:33:54Z")
[QUOTE=rbroome] thanks. I didn’t realize that. [/QUOTE] No problem. Just to muddy the waters a bit further, a habit I’ve adopted from my boss is ending letters with “Sincerely yours” (or whatever yours) instead of “Yours sincerely”… it just looks _right-er_. I’ll also throw out the occasional “Very truly yours” for people I know well- clients we do a lot of work with, mostly. N.B. If you want to be really ridiculously formal, you can end with “I am…” or “I remain…” (for someone you know) “…Sincerely yours”, or whatever. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2008, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/business-letter-salutation-need-help-fast/461265/24 "2008-08-28T14:12:12Z")
[QUOTE=j666] Still, your suggestion may cross the line to pretension; perhaps a white gloved uniformed footman would strike the right note. [/QUOTE] I’m reminded of an episode of that classic British Comedy _The Goodies_, in which they started a Pirate Radio Station and then expanded into a Pirate Post Office. The Pirate Post Office’s First Class Mail service involved one’s letter being delivered on a silver platter by a white-gloved footman in Regency dress (with wig and breeches), having been driven there in a Jaguar. 😃 I’ve long been fond of “Gentlemen” or “Sirs” when addressing a letter to a group that is entirely (or nearly entirely) male (say, the management committee of the local RSL), but the problem is that I invariably end up hearing the letter in my head being read by Cartman in a Robert E. Lee outfit. 😃 :smack: “Dear Sir/Madam” is still a safe default as a generic salutation, IMHO. I’m not so sure about signing off with “I remain etc.”, though, as it sounds like something you’d imagine Blackadder writing with a quill on parchment. I’ve always used “Yours Faithfully”, “Yours Sincerely”, or “Kind Regards”, depending on context and who I’m writing to. YRMV, of course… ---
**Author:** ![jasonh300](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/46a35a/32.png) [@jasonh300](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasonh300)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2008, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/business-letter-salutation-need-help-fast/461265/25 "2008-08-29T01:25:23Z")
[QUOTE=Caractacus Pott] As usual, I’m a bit late to the game, but I learned in grad school (early 2000’s) that business letters could be started \*\*Dear _Company Name_: \*\* [/QUOTE] As a business owner, I’ve almost invariably found that when I get a letter with “Dear _Company Name_” in it, it goes straight into the circular file. This (usually) means that it was written with some kind of mail-merge program that did not have complete information. I’ve never had a real person (non bulk-mailer) write me a letter with “Dear _Company Name_”. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2008, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/business-letter-salutation-need-help-fast/461265/26 "2008-08-29T01:29:34Z")
[QUOTE=Martini Enfield] I’m not so sure about signing off with “I remain etc.”, though, as it sounds like something you’d imagine Blackadder writing with a quill on parchment. I’ve always used “Yours Faithfully”, “Yours Sincerely”, or “Kind Regards”, depending on context and who I’m writing to. YRMV, of course… [/QUOTE] I did say if you want to be ridiculously formal. IME, it’s only used by very old lawyers, and people writing to the editor of _Motor Sport_ (UK) magazine. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2008, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/business-letter-salutation-need-help-fast/461265/27 "2008-08-29T01:56:56Z")
[QUOTE=Really Not All That Bright] No problem. N.B. If you want to be really ridiculously formal, you can end with “I am…” or “I remain…” (for someone you know) “…Sincerely yours”, or whatever. [/QUOTE] Well, hell, let’s just bring back: "… In closing, I remain Your most humble and obedient servant, " [Definitely need the white gloved footman for that, but I would prefer him in a simple black suit rather than the brocade coat and powdered wig. But that’s just me.] On a more serious note, remember to use ‘Sentence case’, not ‘Title Case’ for the closing; that’s one of those things that the people who care do care about. Even ‘RSVP’, instead of “R.s.v.p.”, brings a shudder of revulsion. [If you really want to be pretentious, use 'The favor of a response is requested." on invitations.] ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2008, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/business-letter-salutation-need-help-fast/461265/28 "2008-08-29T02:48:01Z")
[QUOTE=j666] On a more serious note, remember to use ‘Sentence case’, not ‘Title Case’ for the closing; that’s one of those things that the people who care do care about. Even ‘RSVP’, instead of “R.s.v.p.”, brings a shudder of revulsion. [/QUOTE] Is this more from the bizarre schooling you mention in the other thread? Because I’ve never heard of this, can’t find any references to it, and don’t believe it for a second. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2008, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/business-letter-salutation-need-help-fast/461265/29 "2008-08-29T02:55:01Z")
[QUOTE=Exapno Mapcase] Is this more from the bizarre schooling you mention in the other thread? Because I’ve never heard of this, can’t find any references to it, and don’t believe it for a second. [/QUOTE] For which, the first part? That’s also how I’ve been taught, and what I remember reading in the old-ish style guides sitting around the house during my youth. In other words, “Sincerely yours,” instead of “Sincerely Yours,” unless I’m misunderstanding what is meant by “sentence case.” [One reference.](http://www.berkshirepublishing.com/blog/?p=505) > [@](#): > > 1. Type e-mail or letter closings in sentence case, with only the first word capitalized. Don’t think of them as Book Titles. The correct form is “Best regards,” not “Best Regards.” I have a feeling I’m sticking my finger in the dyke with this one because I see it in e-mails from England as well as the United States, and I puzzle over where it came from. Does the capitalized version seem more formal, or more final? As for “R.s.v.p.,” I’m not sure about that one. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2008, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/business-letter-salutation-need-help-fast/461265/30 "2008-08-29T02:59:07Z")
[One reference for “R.s.v.p.”](http://www.failedsuccess.com/index.php?/weblog/comments/what_is_rsvp/) > [@](#): > > R.s.v.p is an abbreviation for R�pondez s’il vous plait which is French for “Please Respond”. R.s.v.p is the correct form to use on an engraved invition, that is, ensuring that the “R” is capitalized and the rest of the letters are lowercase. You must also make sure that a period seperates each letter. Many event planners incorrectly use the abbreviation with variations such as R.S.V.P and RSVP, the nerve of some people! > > On wedding or other formal invitations, you may also use the phrase “The favour of a reply is requested”. When issuing an informal invitation, especially to a large party or one not including a meal, you may use the phrase “Regrets Only” which only requires the invitee to inform you if they plan “not” to attend. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2008, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/business-letter-salutation-need-help-fast/461265/31 "2008-08-29T03:03:16Z")
[QUOTE=Washoe] What is the current accepted generic business letter salutation? [/QUOTE] Greetings Asshat: Be sure you put the colon. A comma makes it a personal letter. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2008, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/business-letter-salutation-need-help-fast/461265/32 "2008-08-29T03:09:07Z")
[QUOTE=Exapno Mapcase] Is this more from the bizarre schooling you mention in the other thread? Because I’ve never heard of this, can’t find any references to it, and don’t believe it for a second. [/QUOTE] **Trust me on this**. Never 'Sincerely Yours, "; it’s "Sincerely **y** ours, " (except I don’t think anyone does use 'Sincerely yours, ". Help me out,\*\* NRATB\*\*, isn’t “Sincerely **yours** ” less formal? When does one use the less formal version of a formal closing?). “RSVP”? A thousand times no. “R.s.v.p.” Except, it is only used on invitations, and if you are inviting people to a nice party, they aren’t prone to quibble. However, if you are sending out invitation to a fancy (and expensive) fund-raiser, keep this in mind. “The favor of …”: Advanced pretension. This implies, “I am so pretentious I can not only eschew the false pretension of using the abbreviation of a French phrase correctly, I will find an excuse to use a ridiculous word like ‘eschew’.” Then we have the whole ‘to u or not u’ controversy. Favor or favour? Honor or honour? ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2008, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/business-letter-salutation-need-help-fast/461265/33 "2008-08-29T03:32:40Z")
I read the second sentence as being a special case of the first. I.e. you can’t use all cap abbreviations in business letter closings because sentence case must be used for all things. That made - and still makes - no sense to me. If you were referring to two totally separate issues, then no problem. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2008, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/business-letter-salutation-need-help-fast/461265/34 "2008-08-29T03:50:32Z")
Australia would appear to be different. Here, you should not use “To whom it may concern” except in one context: writing a reference for someone, because a reference is something not written to anyone in particular but to anyone to whom it may be shown. Using “To whom it may concern” on any other letter just _screams_ “I am a newbie to the ways of business” in an Australian context. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2008, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/business-letter-salutation-need-help-fast/461265/35 "2008-08-29T03:50:34Z")
[QUOTE=Exapno Mapcase] I read the second sentence as being a special case of the first. I.e. you can’t use all cap abbreviations in business letter closings because sentence case must be used for all things. That made - and still makes - no sense to me. If you were referring to two totally separate issues, then no problem. [/QUOTE] Same issue, two applications, that’s all. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2008, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/business-letter-salutation-need-help-fast/461265/36 "2008-08-29T12:32:58Z")
Either find the name of the person, use the company name, or just use “Dear Sir.” In this day and age, I don’t think any woman is offended by “Sir.” ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2008, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/business-letter-salutation-need-help-fast/461265/37 "2008-08-29T12:48:57Z")
[QUOTE=pulykamell] I don’t think I’ve ever seen “Yours faithfully” on a letter ever. That would look a bit quaint, to my eyes. These days, from my experience, it seems that some variant of “Regards” is the most popular closer, next to “sincerely.” [/QUOTE] No, that’s pretentious. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![BaneSidhe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c5a1d2/32.png) [@BaneSidhe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BaneSidhe)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2008, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/business-letter-salutation-need-help-fast/461265/38 "2008-08-29T13:09:48Z")
[QUOTE=Johnny L.A.] ‘Darling Fascist Bully-Boy…’ [/QUOTE] Woohoo! Another “Young Ones” fan 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2008, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/business-letter-salutation-need-help-fast/461265/39 "2008-08-29T13:42:07Z")
[QUOTE=j666] **Trust me on this**. Never 'Sincerely Yours, "; it’s "Sincerely **y** ours, " (except I don’t think anyone does use 'Sincerely yours, ". Help me out,\*\* NRATB\*\*, isn’t “Sincerely **yours** ” less formal? When does one use the less formal version of a formal closing?). “RSVP”? A thousand times no. “R.s.v.p.” Except, it is only used on invitations, and if you are inviting people to a nice party, they aren’t prone to quibble. However, if you are sending out invitation to a fancy (and expensive) fund-raiser, keep this in mind. “The favor of …”: Advanced pretension. This implies, “I am so pretentious I can not only eschew the false pretension of using the abbreviation of a French phrase correctly, I will find an excuse to use a ridiculous word like ‘eschew’.” Then we have the whole ‘to u or not u’ controversy. Favor or favour? Honor or honour? [/QUOTE] I use sentence case because that’s how I was taught to do it, and because… well, because it isn’t a title. I can’t provide a reference for that, though. The R.s.v.p. thing I can’t help you with, because on the (extremely rare) occasions when I need to put RSVP on something, I put the whole phrase on there, in italics: _Repondez, s’il vous plait_. 'Course, you could always avoid the problem entirely by putting “Regrets only”. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/business-letter-salutation-need-help-fast/461265.md?page=1)