Advertising - LEO without ads? LEO Pur
LEO

It looks like you’re using an ad blocker.

Would you like to support LEO?

Disable your ad blocker for LEO or make a donation.

 
  •  
  • Forum home

    Language lab

    Addressing somebody formally in a letter

    Topic

    Addressing somebody formally in a letter

    Comment
    Hello there,

    in a business letter you may address your partner whose name you do not know as "Dear Sir or Madam". The appropriate complimentary close is "Yours faithfully" - I was told.

    "Dear Mr Miller" corresponds to "Yours sincerely"

    I wonder if "Dear Sir or Madam" and "Yours sincerely" would also be possible.

    Thanks for your help.

    Ben
    AuthorBen22 May 07, 21:28
    Comment
    yes.

    "Yours sincerely", or just "sincerely" is completely appropriate in that context and is actually more common than "faithfully"
    #1Author Todd (275243) 22 May 07, 21:32
    Comment
    The standard rule in BE is that letters beginning "Dear Sir / Madam" must be signed off "Yours faithfully", never "Yours sincerely". This is what I was taught in school back in the 1980's.

    However, the convention is disregarded as often as it's observed.
    #2AuthorSteve22 May 07, 21:50
    Comment
    Agree with Steve. In my opinion the rule still applies in formal business letters, at least we still apply it in the translation agency I work for, but we use British English. I think this might be another AE/BE issue.
    #3Authorpuffin (240485) 22 May 07, 21:55
    Comment
    In AE style it doesn't matter whether you know the person's name, but in (traditional) BE style it does.

    AE:

    Dear Mr./Ms. X:
    Dear personnel manager:

    Sincerely,
    Sincerely yours,


    BE:

    Dear Mr/Ms X:

    Yours sincerely,



    Dear Sir or Madam:

    Yours faithfully,


    Of course you can break the rule, but if you're taking a test on the format of a business letter, it would be better not to. (-:
    #4Author hm -- us (236141) 22 May 07, 22:02
     
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  
 
 
 
 
 ­ automatisch zu ­ ­ umgewandelt