TheWordDearDisappearinginEmails

(22ndJanuary,2011)
TheWallStreetJournal(WSJ)hasraisedanissueofletterwritingetiquettemanyolderpeoplehavelongbeenawareofthe
disappearanceoftheopeningwordDearinemails.WSJreporterDionneSearcysaidtimeshavechangedregardingthistraditional
greeting.ShewrotehowAbrahamLincolnstartedan1863letter,MydearGeneral.PresidentLincolnalsostartedletterstoMrs
Lincoln,DearWife.MsSearcycomparedthistoarecentemailtoreportersfromGiselleBarry,aspokeswomanforaU.S.
politician,thatstartedHey,folks.SearcysaystheuseofDearisgoingthewayofsealingwaxandthehandwrittenletter.Ms
Barrybelievespeoplearenolongerusingitbecauseitistoointimate.
TheWSJquotesbusinessetiquetteexpertLydiaRamseywhobelievespeoplewhodonotstartemailswithDearwilllackpolish.
Shesays:Itsetsthetoneforthatbusinessrelationship,anditshowsrespect.Emailissoimpersonalitneedsallthehelpitcanget.
JeanBrokeSmith,anetiquetteteacheragrees.ShewritesontheBBCwebsite:We'relosingtheartofletterwriting.Emailsare
becomingliketextseveryoneisabbreviating.Ifwedon'tgetahandleonit,futuregenerationswon'tbeabletospellatall.English
teacherKatieCraigoffersthefollowingadvice:Theruleis,addressyourreaderasyouwouldinthecontextwithwhichyouare
replacingtheemail.Thesamegoesfortheminefieldofsigningoffamail.

Basicphrases
Thankyou.
Thanks.
Thanksalot.
Thankyouverymuch.
Thankyou.Thatsverykindofyou.
Thankyou.Youresohelpful.
Thanksforyourkindwords.
Thankyouforcomingheretoday.

Email English

Situations
Thisisafantasticcar.Thankyou.
Wouldyoulikeasandwich?Oh,thankyou,thatwouldbegreat.
Anotherglassofjuice?No,thankyou.
Verypolite,formal
Howkindyouaretohelpme.Thankyouverymuch.
Thankyouforspendingtimewithme.
Thankyoufortakingthetroubletohelpme.Idoappreciateit.
Manythanksforyourassistanceinourproject.
Written,formal
Manythanksforyourletter/email.
Iwassopleasedtohearfromyou.
Igreatlyappreciateyourkindwords.
Iamverythankfulthatyouareconsideringmyproblem.
Thankyouforyourconsideration.
Acceptingthanks
Thatsallright.
Yourewelcome.
Dontmentionit/Notatall./Itsnothing./(Its)mypleasure.
Thanksalotforyourhelp,youreverykind.Dontmentionit.
Thanksalotforlookingafterthechildren.Itsmypleasure.Ilovechildren.
Thanks,Jane.Icouldnthavemanagedwithoutyourhelp.Noproblem.

SALUTATIONS:Whichdoyouwantto
use?Ranktheseandshareyourrankingswith
yourpartner.Puttheoneyoumostwantto
useatthetopatthetop.Changepartnersand
shareyourrankingsagain.

Yo!

Dear

Hello

Mydearest
darling

Towhomit
mayconcern

Sir/Madam

Hi

Nosalutation

English Politeness

Please
Sometimescalledthe"magicword,"
Thankyou
Whensomeonedoessomethingforyouorgivesyousomething,say"thankyou."IntheUnitedKingdom,taandcheerscanalsobe
used.Whenyouarereallypleased,youcansaythankyouverymuch.
Therearethreedifferentexpressionsthatyoucanusetorespondtothankyou:
you'rewelcomebasic
mypleasureexpressestheideathatyouwerehappytodoit
don'tmentionitinformal
Sure,dontworryaboutit,noproblem,thatsok,thatsalright
Apologizing
PardonmeExcuseme
Thesecanbeusedifyoubumpintosomeoneorneedtogetsomeone'sattention,aswellasifyouwanttoaskforinformation.
I'msorrytobotheryou
Thisisonlyusedwhenyouwanttoaskforinformation(andismorepolitethan"pardonme"and"excuseme").
I'msorry
Usethiswhenyouhavemadeamistake.

SpecialExpressions
Blessyou
Thisisapoliteexpressionusedaftersomeonesneezes.
Cheers
Whenmakingatoast(whereyouclinkyourglassestogetherwithfriendsorfamily),"cheers"istheexpressionusedmost.

Titles
Whentalkingtoaman,youwilleitherusesir(ifyoudon'tknowhisname)orMisterplushislastname.
Whentalkingtoawomanwhoismarriedorover30yearsold,usema'am(ifyoudon'tknowhername)orMrs.plusherlastname.
Whentalkingtoawomanwhoisunmarriedorunder30,usemiss(ifyoudon'tknowhername)orMissplusherlastname.
IntheUnitedStates,thereisanothertitlewhichisusedbywomenwhofeelthattheirageandmaritalstatusdoesnotneedtobepartof
theirtitle:Ms.
(pronouncedmizz)

Words for women and men girls and boys

Girl, chick, lady, gal,
Boy, guy, dude, fella, gent
Rude words
Bitch,
Asshole, jerk,