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Post by myshelly on May 10, 2024 1:06:47 GMT
Say you are writing a very formal business email, such as to apply for a job or to follow up about a job.
In the past I would write
Dear Ms. Smith:
Or Dear Mr. Jones:
What would you write if you are unsure of the recipient’s gender or did not want to assume their gender?
If you are writing a formal letter, such as a recommendation to an institution, that in the past you would have addressed as
Dear Sir or Madam
How would you write that now if the institution is particularly likely to value gender inclusivity?
Yes, I have googled and looked at suggestions. I am wanting pea opinions on what you have seen or sounds best.
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Post by busy on May 10, 2024 1:14:45 GMT
You could use the old standby To Whom It May Concern.
Do you know anything about who it's going to? Like a position title? Dear Admissions Representative (or whatever the title is) would work.
I wouldn't use anything that implies any gender, since that will almost certainly only include male and female.
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Post by katlady on May 10, 2024 1:16:05 GMT
Dear First Name Last Name
Dear Sirs/Madam
To whom it may concern
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Post by Laurie on May 10, 2024 1:26:00 GMT
To Whom It May Concern
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Post by myshelly on May 10, 2024 1:42:25 GMT
Everything I’ve read (and I agree) says NOT to use
To Whom It May Concern
Because it sounds so generic/impersonal/like you haven’t done any research about the company.
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Post by busy on May 10, 2024 1:58:18 GMT
Everything I’ve read (and I agree) says NOT to use To Whom It May Concern Because it sounds so generic/impersonal/like you haven’t done any research about the company. When being inclusive isn't a priority, I agree. When it is... there's not another great solution. If you don't know who is reading the letter - even the position or department - I'm not aware of any way to properly address male, female, and non-binary potential readers. If you're the candidate/applicant, then I think not doing research about the company is a big deal but even if you do research, you still may not being able to suss out who's going to be reading your letter. You can prove your research in the letter itself. If you're recommending the candidate/applicant, I don't think not doing research about the company is a huge deal. |
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Post by AussieMeg on May 10, 2024 3:33:11 GMT
Everything I’ve read (and I agree) says NOT to use To Whom It May Concern Because it sounds so generic/impersonal/like you haven’t done any research about the company. I agree with this, it's impersonal and outdated. I also HATE Dear Sir / Madam. Some of the purchasing people at one of our biggest customers send their orders addressed to us as "Dear Sir or Madam" and it irritates me immensely. We've been working with these people for over twenty years, we are well past the Sir or Madam stage. When I send a group email to the people from that company, I always use "Hi Team". I haven't had to send a very formal email such as the scenario described in the OP, so I'm not really sure how I would address it. We tend to be a lot more casual here, and nobody ever uses sir or ma'am IRL. If I knew the name of the person, I would most likely address it to Dear Firstname. |
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samantha25
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,184 
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Post by samantha25 on May 10, 2024 4:16:02 GMT
What about To Human Resources of the company or to the head of the dept. Not exactly sure of where you are sending a letter.
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mich5481
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,765
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Post by mich5481 on May 10, 2024 4:27:32 GMT
See if you can find them on LinkedIn- a number of people include their pronouns, so that may be helpful.
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Post by myshelly on May 10, 2024 4:27:56 GMT
What about To Human Resources of the company or to the head of the dept. Not exactly sure of where you are sending a letter. If the company/institution just says Send resume to bsmith@institution.org But does not give that person’s title or department Or if a student asks for a letter of recommendation for a job |
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Post by gillyp on May 10, 2024 4:28:44 GMT
To whom it may concern was going out of fashion in the 60s/70s. The last time I wrote it was on a general recommendation for an employee a long time ago. My understanding is that general recommendations are not a thing these days, I.e. when I was recruiting I was told to take no notice of unsolicited recommendations.
I would use Dear ‘first name’’last name’ or Dear ‘initial’’last name’ or Dear ‘Mx.last name’ if I’d not been able to find any indication by Googling, LinkedIn etc..
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Post by katlady on May 10, 2024 4:40:10 GMT
Send resume to bsmith@institution.org Dear B. Smith Or if a student asks for a letter of recommendation for a job If it is a generic letter of recommendation, just to have on hand, then "To Whom It May Concern". If it is for a specific job/company, the student should have a person of contact that they can give you. |
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Post by busy on May 10, 2024 6:03:10 GMT
What about To Human Resources of the company or to the head of the dept. Not exactly sure of where you are sending a letter. If the company/institution just says Send resume to bsmith@institution.org But does not give that person’s title or department Or if a student asks for a letter of recommendation for a job “Dear B. Smith, “ is what I’ve seen recommended. No assumption of gender or pronouns. |
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Post by KiwiJo on May 10, 2024 6:31:50 GMT
If the company/institution just says Send resume to bsmith@institution.org But does not give that person’s title or department Or if a student asks for a letter of recommendation for a job Could you telephone the company and ask the receptionist for B. Smith’s honorific or title? Even their first name may give you a clue how to address the letter. |
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Post by busy on May 10, 2024 7:29:12 GMT
If the company/institution just says Send resume to bsmith@institution.org But does not give that person’s title or department Or if a student asks for a letter of recommendation for a job Could you telephone the company and ask the receptionist for B. Smith’s honorific or title? Even their first name may give you a clue how to address the letter. Do not assume gender by name!!! |
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Post by littlemama on May 10, 2024 10:29:23 GMT
Everything I’ve read (and I agree) says NOT to use To Whom It May Concern Because it sounds so generic/impersonal/like you haven’t done any research about the company. I agree with this, it's impersonal and outdated. I also HATE Dear Sir / Madam. Some of the purchasing people at one of our biggest customers send their orders addressed to us as "Dear Sir or Madam" and it irritates me immensely. We've been working with these people for over twenty years, we are well past the Sir or Madam stage. When I send a group email to the people from that company, I always use "Hi Team". I haven't had to send a very formal email such as the scenario described in the OP, so I'm not really sure how I would address it. We tend to be a lot more casual here, and nobody ever uses sir or ma'am IRL. If I knew the name of the person, I would most likely address it to Dear Firstname. No one here uses Sir or Madam either. It was used im formal commumications when I was younger, but I have never heard it used in a formal setting ever. |
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Post by Merge on May 10, 2024 12:49:46 GMT
I might exclude a salutation altogether, TBH. I'm not sure young adults were even taught or ever use the sort of letter writing format I was taught. Why not just put the date at the top and proceed with, "I am submitting this letter in application for" or "I am writing to recommend" or some similar verbiage?
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Tearisci
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,268
Nov 6, 2018 16:34:30 GMT
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Post by Tearisci on May 10, 2024 13:49:40 GMT
I wrote "Dear Hiring Manager" on my cover letters
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Post by **GypsyGirl** on May 10, 2024 15:02:36 GMT
Could you telephone the company and ask the receptionist for B. Smith’s honorific or title? Even their first name may give you a clue how to address the letter. Assuming gender by name is exactly what I’m trying to avoid. This. With so many gender neutral names in use now, that is not a given anyway. Even with the feminine spelling of my first name, I still get things addresses to Mr. Toni - and it annoys the heck out of me. |
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Post by cmpeter on May 10, 2024 15:21:50 GMT
Dear First Name Last Name (if you have both)
Hello (if you don’t)
Dear First Name if you only have that
Dear Mx. if you only know the last name and wanted to be more formal.
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Post by Darcy Collins on May 10, 2024 15:27:46 GMT
Agree that actually just using their name seems to be the most common - and for generic letters of recommendation most are saying to Whom it May Concern as it's generic and everyone knows it.
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Post by ScrapbookMyLife on May 10, 2024 15:36:21 GMT
I would use >> Dear First name Last name
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3boysnme
Full Member
Posts: 405
Aug 1, 2023 13:28:26 GMT
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Post by 3boysnme on May 10, 2024 15:39:54 GMT
Dear Hiring Manager, (or other job title if you have one)
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Post by Bridget in MD on May 10, 2024 20:54:05 GMT
What about To Human Resources of the company or to the head of the dept. Not exactly sure of where you are sending a letter. We have addressed something as Dear Hiring Manager... |
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