# How Should You Address the Mayor?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-you-address-the-mayor/50313>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 16, 2001, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-you-address-the-mayor/50313 "2001-01-16T13:59:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\
**Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-you-address-the-mayor/50313/1 "2001-01-16T13:59:07Z")

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I’m writing a letter to the mayor (a woman) of my city. How should she be addressed?

Dear Madame Mayor

Dear Mrs. Mayor

Dear Mrs. Hasara (her name)

Dear Mayor Hasara

Dear Karen 😉

* * *

Thank you.

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**Author:** ![Trout\_Mask\_Replica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a88e57/32.png) [@Trout\_Mask\_Replica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trout_Mask_Replica)\
**Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-you-address-the-mayor/50313/2 "2001-01-16T14:17:29Z")

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‘Dear Mayor X’ is correct, according to  
[this page](http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0001618.html).

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**Author:** ![screech-owl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@screech-owl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/screech-owl)\
**Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-you-address-the-mayor/50313/3 "2001-01-16T14:26:18Z")

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According to my copy of “The Essential Writer’s Companion” (3 book set with a desk dictionary and thesaurus):

Forms of address do not always follow set guidelines; the type of salutation is often determined by the relationship between correspondents or by the purpose and content of the letter…

In formal salutations, when the addressee is a woman, “Madam” should be subsituted for “Sir”. When the salutation is informal, "Mrs. or “Ms.” or “Miss” should be substituted for “Mr.” If a woman addressee has previously stated a preference for a particular form of address, this form should be used.

**Form of Address (envelope)**  
The Honorable \<first and last name\>  
Mayor of \<city\>

**Salutation**  
Dear Mayor \<last name\>:

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**Author:** ![bernse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@bernse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bernse)\
**Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-you-address-the-mayor/50313/4 "2001-01-16T14:26:54Z")

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I believe in Canada its “Lord” or “Worship”…or something utterly ridiculous like that.

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**Author:** ![Shiva](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@Shiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shiva)\
**Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-you-address-the-mayor/50313/5 "2001-01-16T15:00:20Z")

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[Harry](http://www.zikas.com/mayor.html). 😉

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**Author:** ![Xerxes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/d2c977/32.png) [@Xerxes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xerxes)\
**Post date:** [January 17, 2001, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-you-address-the-mayor/50313/6 "2001-01-17T14:06:59Z")

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Brown paper, string and a large indelible marker.

Works for me.