# To whom it may concern - or - To whom it may pertain? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 23, 2011, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-whom-it-may-concern-or-to-whom-it-may-pertain/582906 "2011-05-23T15:27:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-whom-it-may-concern-or-to-whom-it-may-pertain/582906/1 "2011-05-23T15:27:08Z")
I am not someone who wishes to always remain standard when it comes to formal correspondence, so this question is not so much about grammar, but about appropriateness. I am writing an inquiry to an organization that I have no affiliation with, I am looking to do some business with these people and I do not have a contact name for the particular division I am writing to. So my question is: Can I start the letter with “To whom it may pertain” and still sound good, or should I go with the old standby of “to whom it may concern”? As this is IMHO, does anyone else have anything out of the ordinary they’d like to share in relation to official correspondence? Something that may go outside the box? Something that gets away from the old standbys? ---
**Author:** ![Sateryn76](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Sateryn76](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sateryn76)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-whom-it-may-concern-or-to-whom-it-may-pertain/582906/2 "2011-05-23T15:30:17Z")
If it is in the firm of correspondence, I would go with addressing the letter to the company, and using “Dear Sir or Madam” as the salutation. To whom it may concern sounds aggressive/cold to me. ---
**Author:** ![Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimmy_Gibbler)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-whom-it-may-concern-or-to-whom-it-may-pertain/582906/3 "2011-05-23T17:08:20Z")
> [@Phlosphr](#): > > I am not someone who wishes to always remain standard when it comes to formal correspondence, so this question is not so much about grammar, but about appropriateness. I am writing an inquiry to an organization that I have no affiliation with, I am looking to do some business with these people and I do not have a contact name for the particular division I am writing to. So my question is: > > Can I start the letter with “To whom it may pertain” and still sound good, or should I go with the old standby of “to whom it may concern”? > > As this is IMHO, does anyone else have anything out of the ordinary they’d like to share in relation to official correspondence? Something that may go outside the box? Something that gets away from the old standbys? Instead of a devising a zany salutation, perhaps a better use of your mental effort and inquiries would be to obtain the real names of the people who should receive your correspondence at this organization. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-whom-it-may-concern-or-to-whom-it-may-pertain/582906/4 "2011-05-23T17:11:13Z")
I always though of “pertain” as being a reference to a cause or situation as opposed to a person or group of people. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-whom-it-may-concern-or-to-whom-it-may-pertain/582906/5 "2011-05-23T17:25:39Z")
> [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](#): > > Instead of a devising a zany salutation, perhaps a better use of your mental effort and inquiries would be to obtain the real names of the people who should receive your correspondence at this organization. 😉 This would be best. “To Whom It May Concern” is the business equivalent of “Current Resident” and decreases the chance that your letter will be taken seriously. (“Pertain” would be no better, IMO.) But, if you absolutely can’t find a name, at least find a title and add “Dear Sir or Madam.” Example: \*XYZ Company Attn: Director of Widget Wrangling Dear Sir or Madam:\* This has a better chance to actually get in front of somebody who can address your issue. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-whom-it-may-concern-or-to-whom-it-may-pertain/582906/6 "2011-05-23T18:35:41Z")
Your proposed correspondence is the equivalent to business junk mail, which all gets thrown away, just like at home.