The use of "Dear" in a letter opening...
Jake
Hi folks,
I've noted that in email at least, the use of "Dear" in the opening ,
e.g., "Dear John," seems to have lost popularity, even in much
business correspondence. "Hi, John", "Hello John" or simply "John"
seems much more common nowadays.
I'm a retailer in an online business, and when I write to a new
customer, I usually use "Dear Mr Smith", thinking that this level of
formality is appropriate when corresponding with a new customer.
Later, after he has placed a few orders with me, I may take the
liberty of addressing him "Dear John" - or if I've had an informal
chat with him at some stage, "Hi John" seems appropriate.
Have I got it about right do you think? Or should I be ditching the
"Dear" altogether when corresponding with customers? I should mention
that I am based in the UK, but most of my customers are in North
America, while some are here in the UK. I get the feeling that it's
the Americans who are most uncomfortable with the use of "Dear", but I
could be wrong.
Thanks for your opinions,
Jake
Harvey Van Sickle
> Hi folks,
> I've noted that in email at least, the use of "Dear" in the
> opening , e.g., "Dear John," seems to have lost popularity, even
> in much business correspondence. "Hi, John", "Hello John" or
> simply "John" seems much more common nowadays.
>
> I'm a retailer in an online business, and when I write to a new
> customer, I usually use "Dear Mr Smith", thinking that this level
> of formality is appropriate when corresponding with a new
> customer. Later, after he has placed a few orders with me, I may
> take the liberty of addressing him "Dear John" - or if I've had an
> informal chat with him at some stage, "Hi John" seems appropriate.
>
> Have I got it about right do you think? Or should I be ditching
> the "Dear" altogether when corresponding with customers? I should
> mention that I am based in the UK, but most of my customers are in
> North America, while some are here in the UK.
As one in the UK, I'd say you've got it about right for my taste. I
still expect new business contacts to use "Dear Mr Van Sickle" until
they've received a letter back from me which signs off with my
forename.
I wouldn't take offence at "Dear Harvey" or "Harvey," -- although the
latter still strikes me as tad abrupt -- but if an initial letter came
to "Hi, Harvey", I'd find it a bit overly familiar.
--
Cheers, Harvey
Ottawa/Toronto/Edmonton for 30 years;
Southern England for the past 21 years.
(for e-mail, change harvey to whhvs)
Mark Wallace
In a written letter, never, ever, miss off the "Dear". If I receive a
letter without "Dear Mr. ~~", but just with "Mr. ~~", I start looking around
for snipers and have my car checked for bombs.
In an e-mail, never use "Dear", and don't do anything to encourage its use.
E-mail is snappy, happy, and friendly. We'd like to keep it that way.
--
Mark Wallace
-----------------------------------------------------
For the intelligent approach to nasty humour, visit:
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Eric Walker
>I've noted that in email at least, the use of "Dear" in the
>opening, e.g., "Dear John," seems to have lost popularity,
>even in much business correspondence. "Hi, John", "Hello John"
>or simply "John" seems much more common nowadays.
>
>I'm a retailer in an online business, and when I write to a
>new customer, I usually use "Dear Mr Smith", thinking that
>this level of formality is appropriate when corresponding with
>a new customer. Later, after he has placed a few orders with
>me, I may take the liberty of addressing him "Dear John" - or
>if I've had an informal chat with him at some stage, "Hi John"
>seems appropriate.
>
>Have I got it about right do you think? Or should I be
>ditching the "Dear" altogether when corresponding with
>customers? I should mention that I am based in the UK, but
>most of my customers are in North America, while some are here
>in the UK. I get the feeling that it's the Americans who are
>most uncomfortable with the use of "Dear", but I could be
>wrong.
It is difficult to try to speak for an entire nation, but my
sense of it is that Americans, at least, are thoroughly
accustomed to receiving business letters addressed in the form
"Dear Mr. Smith". It may be that the younger generations,
apparently having largely been raised to regard civility with
fear and loathing, might find that form uncomfortable, but I
doubt that even they do, as it is so very common.
--
Cordially,
Eric Walker
My opinions on English are available at
http://owlcroft.com/english/
Peacenik
news:rjnyxrebjypebsgpb...@news.individual.net...
> It is difficult to try to speak for an entire nation, but my
> sense of it is that Americans, at least, are thoroughly
> accustomed to receiving business letters addressed in the form
> "Dear Mr. Smith". It may be that the younger generations,
> apparently having largely been raised to regard civility with
> fear and loathing,
It seems to me that the younger generations were raised to regard formality
as stuffy and distant, and familiarity as the norm. I have no objections to
this.
> might find that form uncomfortable, but I
> doubt that even they do, as it is so very common.
Usually I use "Dear Mr. So-and-so" when first introducing myself to
strangers through email, and then I respond to subsequent emails according
to how they respond to mine.
--
Chris
Eric Walker
>"Eric Walker" <ewa...@owlcroft.com> wrote in message
>news:rjnyxrebjypebsgpb...@news.individual.net...
>> It is difficult to try to speak for an entire nation, but my
>> sense of it is that Americans, at least, are thoroughly
>> accustomed to receiving business letters addressed in the
>> form "Dear Mr. Smith". It may be that the younger
>> generations, apparently having largely been raised to regard
>> civility with fear and loathing,
>
>It seems to me that the younger generations were raised to
>regard formality as stuffy and distant, and familiarity as the
>norm. I have no objections to this.
[...]
The equation of civility and formality is by no means exact;
but, if if we take the equation as perfect--as that statement
implies it is--then that sentence directly translates (in
salient part) to:
"[T]he younger generations were raised to regard
civility as stuffy and distant, and incivility as the
norm."
With which I agree.
Mark Wallace
Whilst you're waiting for a chance to talk informally, so are they.
Forget the "Dear", and talk e-mail style.
Peacenik
news:rjnyxrebjypebsgpb...@news.individual.net...
> On Sat, 27 Sep 2003 19:59:13 GMT, Peacenik wrote:
>
> >"Eric Walker" <ewa...@owlcroft.com> wrote in message
> >news:rjnyxrebjypebsgpb...@news.individual.net...
>
> >> It is difficult to try to speak for an entire nation, but my
> >> sense of it is that Americans, at least, are thoroughly
> >> accustomed to receiving business letters addressed in the
> >> form "Dear Mr. Smith". It may be that the younger
> >> generations, apparently having largely been raised to regard
> >> civility with fear and loathing,
> >
> >It seems to me that the younger generations were raised to
> >regard formality as stuffy and distant, and familiarity as the
> >norm. I have no objections to this.
>
> [...]
>
> The equation of civility and formality is by no means exact;
> but, if if we take the equation as perfect--as that statement
> implies it is--then that sentence directly translates (in
> salient part) to:
>
> "[T]he younger generations were raised to regard
> civility as stuffy and distant, and incivility as the
> norm."
>
> With which I agree.
I don't consider there to be any correlation between formality and civility.
--
Chris
Mark Wallace
Something you should know about Eric:
*He* decides what words are synonymous, and we all have to agree with him,
or he plasters us with dozens of 800-word postings full of made-up and/or
antiquated garbage that supports his position.
Formality = Civility?
The Hell it does.
But if it would shut Eric up, I'd agree that Banana = Thursday.
Eric Walker
[...]
>I don't consider there to be any correlation between formality
>and civility.
Since we were speaking of "the younger generations", that makes
eminent sense. Perhaps in time your opinion will alter.
Perhaps it will not. On such small things do the directions of
a civilization depend.
Mark Wallace
> On Sun, 28 Sep 2003 14:07:37 GMT, Peacenik wrote:
>
> [...]
>
>> I don't consider there to be any correlation between formality
>> and civility.
>
> Since we were speaking of "the younger generations", that makes
> eminent sense. Perhaps in time your opinion will alter.
> Perhaps it will not. On such small things do the directions of
> a civilization depend.
Our Father, who art in Heaven
Hit this prat with a lightning bolt, willya?