Salutations & Closing in Letters

Dear Reader: Dear Reader, Dear Ms. Reader:

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Reader: Hi Reader, Reader,

Rules for Business Letters

o The standard way to open a business letter is with Dear, the person's name (with or without a title), and a
colon, like this:
Dear Louise: Dear Ms. Chu: Dear Mr. and Dr. Paige: Dear Professor Amato: Dear Patrick:

o The standard way to open a social business letter is with Dear, the person's name (with or without a title), and
a comma, like this:
Dear Nigel, Dear Dr. Tarabi, Dear Reverend Jans,
A social business letter is social or personal rather than business-focused; for example, letters of condolence,
personal congratulations (for weddings, births, promotions, and other celebrations), and thank you.

o If you don't know the reader well or if the letter or the relationship is formal, use a title and a last name (Dear
Ms. Browne). Otherwise, use the first name (Dear Gila).

o Unless you are certain that a woman prefers Miss or Mrs., use the title Ms.

o If you are writing to two people, use both names in your salutation, like this:
Dear Mr. Trujillo and Ms. Donne: Dear Alex and Drenda,

o Never spell out the titles Mr., Ms., Mrs., and Dr. Do spell out these titles and similar ones:
Professor, Dean, Sister, Rabbi, Imam, Senator, Governor, Captain, Admiral, Judge

o If you don't know a person's gender, use the full name rather than a title:
Dear Dana Simms: Dear T.K. Spinazola:

o If you don't know a person's name or gender, avoid "To whom it may concern." Instead, use the job title or a
generic greeting:
Dear Recruiter: Dear Claims Adjustor: Dear Sir or Madam:

If you are writing to a company rather than any specific individual, use the company name: Dear Syntax Training: (This
is considered slightly informal.)

For a simplified business letter, do not use a salutation. Instead use a subject in all capital letters, followed by the body
of the letter, like this:

WAYS TO BEGIN A BUSINESS LETTER

I am writing to share information about standard letter openings to. . . .
Simplified business letters are perfectly acceptable but not common.
Closing
Here are some common ways to close a letter. Use a comma between the closing and your handwritten name (or
typed in an email). If you do not use a comma or colon in your salutation, leave out the comma after the closing
phrase:
Yours truly,