Modern way to start a formal letter?

tjhook · 22-02-2022 05:28PM #1

A few days ago I wrote an email to a company and as is my habit when writing a formal letter, began with "Dear Sir./Madam".

I got the response today, and it was helpful and friendly. Under the respondent's signature was "They|Them|Theirs".

That got me thinking. Is there a more "inclusive" acceptable way to start a formal letter? Preferably one that isn't any more clunky than the old "Dear Sir/Madam" (which itself is somewhat clunky)? I don't think anybody's going to be offended by "Dear Sir/Madam", it's more curiosity really. If somebody was minded to avoid gendered language, does formality have to be done away with?

Donald Trump · 22-02-2022 05:29PM

I usually begin my more formal communications with:

"Oi, dickhead"

tjhook · 22-02-2022 05:31PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118674028#Comment_118674028

Yes but we're not all writing to Eir customer support...

thefallingman · 22-02-2022 05:38PM

good god have we really come that far, this him his or they them theirs is so pathetic i mean really wtf is wrong with this world, Dear sir/madam is perfect op or to whom it may concern if you are that bothered by it

growleaves · 22-02-2022 05:43PM

Dear They,

I hope this finds them well, I am writing in relation to...

zell12 · 22-02-2022 05:46PM

Dear Esteemed Person, I am scribing this...

Forever awaiting your reply, T J Hook

HeidiHeidi · 22-02-2022 05:48PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118674071#Comment_118674071

It's absolutely exhausting.

iffandonlyif · 22-02-2022 05:52PM

It’s an interesting question. I imagine the addition of ‘Madam’ once riled purists used to ‘Dear Sir’ only. Perhaps we can expect Sir/Madam/Other in future!

But increasingly I find myself beginning my letters with just, ‘Hello, …’

NedsNotDead · 22-02-2022 05:53PM

Hello/Dear Friend

growleaves · 22-02-2022 05:53PM

Dear Xir/Ze/Sir/Madam,

mrcheez · 22-02-2022 05:56PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118674154#Comment_118674154

What if he's not your friend, buddy?

seamus · 22-02-2022 05:56PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058234277/modern-way-to-start-a-formal-letter

"To whom it may concern"

That was the way I was taught in the 90s to address any letter when you didn't know who would be dealing with it.

It's both old-fashioned and inoffensive.

If it's a less formal email, I usually go with "Hi there" or just "Hi".

In any case, as you can see by the OP, this notion that there are an army of people out there screaming about being offended by pronouns, is all in snowflakes' heads.

In the real world where someone has a preferred pronoun, they politely note it.

tjhook · 22-02-2022 05:58PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118674145#Comment_118674145

I can imagine starting an email with "Hello", but I'm not sure about a letter. Having said that, I can't even remember the last letter I wrote. Can a person even buy writing paper any more?

Apiarist · 22-02-2022 06:03PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118674182#Comment_118674182

I think you may find some writing paper in the Art supplies section of Eason's. Or you can print your letter on the normal printer paper ;)

turbot · 22-02-2022 06:08PM

Consider

Yo, wassup?

Innit?

Isit?

Fallout2022 · 22-02-2022 06:16PM

'Greetings puny earthling'

thefallingman · 22-02-2022 06:25PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118674173#Comment_118674173

What if he's not your buddy, guy ?

NedsNotDead · 22-02-2022 07:02PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118674173#Comment_118674173

I like to think everyone is my friend

MrMusician18 · 22-02-2022 07:11PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058234277/modern-way-to-start-a-formal-letter

I have only once come across someone's pronouns professionally here in Ireland on an email. A woman that identifies as a woman.

Ostensibly it's a declaration for inclusivity, but is it not more of a political declaration these days of what side of the social justice fence you sit on? Especially when it's stating the obvious.

Does it even have a place in a professional setting? Can you really control what other people call you?

Economics101 · 22-02-2022 07:16PM

We should start a campaign by those who find "they, them" offensive or even traumatic. Sauce for the goose....

Oh, wait. If a majority are offended, that's probably Ok, but if it's a minority, sinn sceal eile.

Amias · 22-02-2022 07:19PM

To whom it may concern,

or

Dear Sir/ Madam,

pickarooney · 22-02-2022 08:07PM

I don't really understand putting third person pronouns in a signature when you're only going to be using second person pronouns to address them.

Archeron · 22-02-2022 10:59PM

Foolish mortals. Nice and neutral.

Minier81 · 22-02-2022 11:04PM

A chara?

looksee · 22-02-2022 11:21PM

I just put A chara into Google translate to see what it actually translates to (my friend).

So then I put in is mise le meas but as a non-Irish speaker I spelled the last word incorrectly and got a note from GT - 'translate from Samoan?' (it is I, with respect, or respectfully yours).