business letter question

Jack · Post by **Jack** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 4:30 pm

I am writing a business letter to somebody I don't know. The title of the person is "Chair, Suchandsuch Committee." I don't know his or her name. After I type my address, the date, then their address, do I address it to "Dear Chair,"? That seems weird but all the info I've found online says to...

s1m0n · Post by **s1m0n** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 4:44 pm

Will discrete googling find you the name of the chair?

If not, addressing the furniture is indeed the way to go.

Jack · Post by **Jack** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 4:48 pm

s1m0n wrote:Will discrete googling find you the name of the chair?

If not, addressing the furniture is indeed the way to go.

I tried for a loooong time. ANd I can't find the name of the person. I'm going to write "Dear Chair:" if I can't find the name by tomorrow (I'm going to the library and asking my friend who works reference; he may happen to know because he's been there forever)...would "chairperson" be better than "chair?"

kkrell · Post by **kkrell** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 5:49 pm

Dear Chairperson,

or

Dear Sir or Madam,

brewerpaul · Post by **brewerpaul** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 6:07 pm

I'd go with a simple and tasteful "Yo,wassup?"

Jack · Post by **Jack** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 6:09 pm

brewerpaul wrote:I'd go with a simple and tasteful "Yo,wassup?"

I don't think that's meant to be spelled.

djm · Post by **djm** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 7:15 pm

Then make your intention clear by simply saying, "To the Chair of .... ,"

djm

s1m0n · Post by **s1m0n** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 9:23 pm

Jack wrote:..would "chairperson" be better than "chair?"

No. 'Chair' is a little ugly and little ridiculous, but chairperson is all that AND mealy-mouthed.

peeplj · Post by **peeplj** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 9:34 pm

I would go with either "Dear Sir or Madam," or "To Whom it May Concern."

--James

Charlene · Post by **Charlene** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 10:31 pm

So am I the only one who, while reading this, hears Neil Diamond singing "and no one heard at all, not even the chair"??????

I think I'd use chairperson.

susnfx · Post by **susnfx** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 11:15 pm

Dear Sir or Madam is appropriate when you don't know the sex of the recipient--and that's according to my copy of "The Business Letter: 'Yo, Wassup' and Other No-No's." I personally wouldn't use chairperson.

Susan

chrisoff · Post by **chrisoff** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 2:32 am

Dear Sir/Madam

and sign it Yours Faithfully

Innocent Bystander · Post by **Innocent Bystander** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 3:29 am

chrisoff wrote:Dear Sir/Madam

and sign it Yours Faithfully

Seconded.

avanutria · Post by **avanutria** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 3:44 am

"Yours faithfully" is a British term that I've never used in America. I would go with "Sincerely"

chrisoff · Post by **chrisoff** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 4:02 am

avanutria wrote:"Yours faithfully" is a British term that I've never used in America. I would go with "Sincerely"

You should only use sincerely if you know the person you're writing to.

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