OT: Question Please Help

Atrocities · #1 December 21st, 2005, 04:15 PM

I am sending a letter to a company about some service they provided. The person I am contacting is a women and I don't recall how to word the greating. I don't know if she is married or not so that also factors into it. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks guys.

Who do I do it?

Dear Mrs. Smith
Dear Jane Smith
Dear Miss Smith
Dear Ms Smith?

Greybeard · #2 December 21st, 2005, 04:23 PM

If you don't know whether the lady is married or not, I would use, "Dear Ms. Smith" (provided that her last name is Smith =|%^)> )

Atrocities · #3 December 21st, 2005, 04:53 PM

Thanks.

CaptainAL · #4 December 21st, 2005, 05:25 PM

Damn, looks like my kid lost my Little Brown Handbook. I have seen it "Dear Ms./Mrs. Smith". I can't confirm that is correct at the moment though.

CaptainAL · #5 December 21st, 2005, 05:41 PM

Found the book, and Greybeard is correct. Use Ms.

Thermodyne · #6 December 21st, 2005, 05:51 PM

I would address it to Jane Smith. And start the letter with just "Jane"

If I am paying them for the service, then I want to be sure that they know their place in the pecking order.

Example:

Jane,

I am very upset with the results of the service call preformed by your techs last week. As you well know our contract specifies that the service techs will provide all parts, tools, and supplies yada yada yada

For a more polite letter it's Ms. Unless you have been introduced or are replying to correspondence that was signed Mrs.

Renegade 13 · #7 December 21st, 2005, 10:32 PM

Or if you don't know the sex of the person to whom you are talking, beginning with:

"Dear Sir or Madam,"

is a good way to start. Even if you do know the gender of the person you're trying to talk to, Sir and Madam can still go a long way. I know I use it when writing a letter to try to get a job or whatever.