salutation for email, snail mail, etc
salutation for email, snail mail, etc
(OP)
Last week I needed to professionally contact some folks from links on the i-net. Some in Canada, UK, USA.
First names do not always or maybe never reveal gender. We know a waitress named Brett and that is fine -- just never heard it before tagged onto a female. And once upon a time there was a guy named Sue -- "how do you do?."
I googled and found out that 32% say we should be politcally correct in addressing folks genderwise as in Dear Ms etc. 68% said we should use the old male refrain Dear Sir or Gentlemen rather than try to be politically correct -- blah blah blah.
I gave up and used: Greetings,
in my salutation because I had no clue as to gender.
First names do not always or maybe never reveal gender. We know a waitress named Brett and that is fine -- just never heard it before tagged onto a female. And once upon a time there was a guy named Sue -- "how do you do?."
I googled and found out that 32% say we should be politcally correct in addressing folks genderwise as in Dear Ms etc. 68% said we should use the old male refrain Dear Sir or Gentlemen rather than try to be politically correct -- blah blah blah.
I gave up and used: Greetings,
in my salutation because I had no clue as to gender.
Design for RELIABILITY, manufacturability, and maintainability





RE: salutation for email, snail mail, etc
If being informal, that is simply using their names, first only or first and last, with no gender specific salutation whatsoever, is not acceptable, then play it safe and use 'Greetings' or the horribly trite 'To whom it may concern'...
John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:
To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.
RE: salutation for email, snail mail, etc
RE: salutation for email, snail mail, etc
If first name only is too informal, just use the full name as the greeting.
Dear Met Man,
If you are talking to Germans, put "Dear" in front so they don't get offended.
Dear Sir or Madam,
I know this sounds like junk mail but trust me it isn't.
RE: salutation for email, snail mail, etc
Off topic, my pet peeve is ending a letter/email with "Thanks", when I'm not being asked to do anything.
RE: salutation for email, snail mail, etc
John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:
To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.
RE: salutation for email, snail mail, etc
http://julianh72.blogspot.com
RE: salutation for email, snail mail, etc
"If you are talking to Germans, put "Dear" in front so they don't get offended."
I communicate with our Santiago (Chile) office quite a bit, and we use English as an almost-common language. (Their English is a heck of a lot better than our Spanish!) A few of them prefix their e-mails to multiple recipients with "Dears" (rather than "Dear Sirs / Madams" or whatever). I haven't corrected them, because I find it quite endearing!
@ JohnRBake:
Don't forget that John Wayne's real name was Marion Morrison.
http://julianh72.blogspot.com
RE: salutation for email, snail mail, etc
John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:
To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.
RE: salutation for email, snail mail, etc
RE: salutation for email, snail mail, etc
John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:
To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.
RE: salutation for email, snail mail, etc
NX 7.5.5.4 with Teamcenter 8 on win7 64
Intel Xeon @3.2GHz
8GB RAM
Nvidia Quadro 2000
RE: salutation for email, snail mail, etc
- Steve
RE: salutation for email, snail mail, etc
RE: salutation for email, snail mail, etc
RE: salutation for email, snail mail, etc
There is not much worse than getting bad news in an emal that ends with "Cheers!"
Your castings are delayed by 3 months.
Cheers!
We need you to work Saturdays for the rest of the year.
Cheers!
RE: salutation for email, snail mail, etc
John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:
To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.
RE: salutation for email, snail mail, etc
• I did call first but no answer so I left voice mail.
• Just because you are on Linkedin does not mean that everyone else in the world is. I am not on Linkedin – a little too old fashioned.
• I took the time to do a google search for possibly a consensus of acceptable protocol for salutation – you saw the results in the OP.
• I took the trouble to post it here just for giggles – we did get a few. Actually I am interested in your opinions and most folks on this forum strive to give responsible answers.
• I considered just using the full names without Dear, or Ms. or Mr. or Sirs but it just seemed a little cold.
• Some of the area codes were in different time zones so good morning or good afternoon did not quite fit. Could have written, “good day First name Last name” but that seems really dry.
• At least one respondent agreed that Greetings was OK.
• We receive email from one vendor who always uses “Dear whoever” but it seemed a little formal or maybe too informal (personal) depending on individual personalities. However, now that I see the responses here and especially that it is poor form to not use “Dear” in Germany, maybe this is the best salutation. Even given the following because we can’t please everybody.
• ““I am always tempted to say "Don't call me dear". Offense goes both ways.””
I close my emails with, “Best Regards” because that is exactly what I mean and I will continue to do so unless a superior tells me different.
Too many stupid faux pas have been committed by me on this website and elsewhere so I am just trying to grow a little.
Thank everybody for your help.
Design for RELIABILITY, manufacturability, and maintainability
RE: salutation for email, snail mail, etc
My comment was not about the general use of 'Dear', but rather when it is used sometimes by itself without anything following it. For instance, advice is given to someone, and they come back with "Dear, what do you mean?" It happens sometimes on this site, and I don't think by Germans.
RE: salutation for email, snail mail, etc
NX 7.5.5.4 with Teamcenter 8 on win7 64
Intel Xeon @3.2GHz
8GB RAM
Nvidia Quadro 2000
RE: salutation for email, snail mail, etc
Thanks I see what you mean and that is good to know. So far, no respondents here are offended with "Dear" used in the traditional sense.
Design for RELIABILITY, manufacturability, and maintainability
RE: salutation for email, snail mail, etc
RE: salutation for email, snail mail, etc
Design for RELIABILITY, manufacturability, and maintainability
RE: salutation for email, snail mail, etc
RE: salutation for email, snail mail, etc
I let go with a good old "Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha!"
I think the guy in the next cube thinks I've lost it.