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In other instances, such as writing a letter or email to express a grievance, you might not be concerned about directing your complaint to a specific person. For instance, if you do your research and do not locate a specific recipient for your correspondence, you are justified in using To Whom It May Concern, which will still present your letter or email as respectful. Occasions remain in which using it still can make sense. Going Back to the Original QuestionĪlthough it’s typically better to use an alternative greeting today, we won’t say that you should never write To Whom It May Concern. Among those who view them as such, your letter or email could inspire a more-positive reaction from the start. Here are some other ways you can open a letter today:Įach of these could be perceived as more directed and engaging than To Whom It May Concern. Often when people begin a letter or email with To Whom It May Concern, they do so because they cannot think of a more appropriate greeting. The good news is that there are other approaches to suit contemporary preferences. Beginning correspondence with To Whom It May Concern could give the impression that we did not make the effort to find out who would want to read the letter when such information is available. We also live in a time when finding names and other contact details is easier than ever. For one thing, many people consider it to be too old-fashioned. In recent years this has become less preferred. Another common salutation in the same spirit was Dear Sir or Dear Madam. For instance, if you had been writing to the manufacturer of your favorite product, this could have been a proper opening to your letter. This greeting used to be frequent because it was a formal, respectful way to approach written communication with people whose identity or familiarity might not be known. We will address that topic and more in this discussion. You might be seeing it used less often these days, which might lead you to wonder when the salutation is proper to include in a letter or email. The classic letter opening To Whom It May Concern was once incredibly common and popular. Forgetting to address your reader with this pronoun actually comes across as quite rude and, if they don’t know you’re not a native speaker, could cost you the job/promotion/hotel booking/etc.īelow is a quick example of a real-life situation which would require you to use the formal “Lei” address, without expecting it back.When Should You Use To Whom It May Concern? The main problem is, honestly, remembering to use it in the first place.
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Instead of “Tu”, just use “Lei”, and conjugate everything accordingly, right? Kind of. Any formal letter should ALWAYS use the formal address – otherwise, it’s not formal, is it?Īt first glance, this all seems pretty simple.
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It’s also known as the Formal Address.ĭifferent countries use different pronouns to address someone formally, and it’s usually used for bosses at work, customers if you work in a shop or restaurant, or anyone who’s older than you. That, my friends, is thanks to a concept that – thankfully – doesn’t exist at all in the English language. So why does it keep popping up all over formal documents and letters? So, if you know even the most basic Italian, you’ll know already that “Lei” means “She” or “Her” in English.