Jean-Marie Bigard
Antoine Charpentier
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"hey sir" is a correct and usable phrase in written English. It is most often used as a casual form of address and is sometimes used as a way of getting someone's attention. For example: "Hey sir, can I ask you a quick question?".
- Overview
- How to create a professional email salutation
- How to write an email salutation
- Ways to start an email
- How to end an email
- Salutations to avoid in a professional email
Email is one of many communication tools to share and receive important information to do your job well. Crafting a professional email—from start to finish—can help you to clearly communicate with colleagues, clients and other professionals. Whether you’re sending an email to a prospective client or your cover letter to a potential employer, follow these tips and examples to learn how to craft an appropriate professional email salutation to open your email.In this article, we'll discuss how to start and end a professional email, with tips, examples and salutations to avoid.
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The two most important aspects of writing a professional email salutation are tone and content. By including an appropriate salutation at the beginning of your email, you set the tone for the rest of the included subject matter. Including an appropriate closing to end your email can also leave your reader with a positive impression. Starting and en...
1. Determine the nature of your relationship with the recipient
This is perhaps the most important question to ask. If you’ve never met the recipient, you should always use formal email salutations. If you have a friendly, personal relationship with the recipient, you can afford to use a more casual greeting and ending
2. Identify the recipient’s perspective or context
If the recipient doesn’t know who you are or why you’re writing, consider how the recipient would respond to your email. This goes hand-in-hand with taking the time to find the recipient’s name and any other pertinent information. Think about how you would react to certain email greetings and endings from various people and set your salutation accordingly.
3. Establish a goal or subject matter for the email
Because the email salutation sets the tone for the email, consider what you’re writing about when you write your salutation. If you’re writing a note to let a colleague or management know that the company lost an account, use a formal greeting and ending. If you’re sending a note about the birth of a child to your boss, you can use something more informal.Related: 45 Different Email Greetings To Use at Work
If you’re unsure how to select a professional email salutation greeting, you have many options. Some are more formal than others, so knowing and understanding your recipient is important. Here are some of the most common choices for proper salutations:"Dear,"
Starting your email with “Dear,” is always a good, professional option—especially if you know the name of the person you are addressing. Including their name is more personal and shows that you care about the business relationship. For a gender-neutral option, include their first or full name instead of using “Mr.,” “Miss.” or “Mrs.”
Another option is simply using their title and last name. Doing so is a sign of respect that demonstrates your attention to detail. Also, make sure to write out titles such as “Governor,” “Rabbi,” “Captain” or “Professor.”
"Hi, or Hello,"
“Hi” or “Hello” are less formal versions of “Dear.” Typically, you’d use “Hi” or “Hello” when you are addressing a department or sending an email without personal contact information. For example, if you have to send an email to info@abccompany.com or financedepartment@xyzcompany.com, hello is an acceptable greeting. In some situations, you may have formed a friendly relationship with a client or supplier. In this case, you can use “Hi” or “Hello” as your salutation. Make sure to also include their name in this salutation, as it’s a sign of respect and business appropriate. Examples would include “Hi Don” or “Hello Susan.”
"Greetings,"
An email closing is the last thing your recipient reads in your email. How you end your email can leave a lasting impression on your audience and even be a motivating factor in how quickly they respond or take action. Here are the most common and appropriate ways to end your email professionally: “Sincerely,”This professional closing is a favorite because it is appropriate in all situations. It lets the reader know that you sincerely appreciate the time that has gone into reading the email and any call-to-actions that you requested.
“Hope to talk soon,”Using this closing reinforces that you want to have a follow-up conversation or meeting. This is a great sign-off to use for cover letters, informational interview requests and interview follow-up emails.
"Thank you for your time,"This is another popular sign-off as it thanks the audience for their time spent reading the email. Professionals often have an inbox full of emails to read and respond to, so acknowledging that their attention is appreciated can leave the reader with a positive impression of you. Here are more options for ending a professional email:
•Best,
•All the best,
•Regards,
1. "To Whom It May Concern"
Using “To Whom It May Concern” was once an acceptable email or letter salutation. However, it has fallen out of favor in the business world. The reason it is no longer acceptable is that it shows you have not taken the time to find out the name of the recipient. Also, the person reading the email may not think it concerns them at all and promptly delete the email. If you’re not sure who you’re addressing, “Hi,” “Hello” or “Greetings” are far better options.
2. "Hey"
“Hey” is an informal salutation often used in interoffice correspondence. While this casual tone might work in emails between coworkers and colleagues, it’s not an appropriate device for addressing a client or employer. Avoid “Hey” whenever possible, even if you use the person’s name or title after it.
3. "Dear Sir or Madam"
“Dear Sir or Madam” is another outdated greeting that’s too stiff for a proper business email, even if it seems formal. Like “To Whom It May Concern,” “Dear Sir or Madam” also shows disdain for finding the recipient’s contact information.Read more: Dear Sir or Madam: 10 Alternative Salutations To Use Instead
“Hey” is an informal greeting that works best when you are already familiar with the person you’re greeting. The two salutations are interchangeable. It’s second nature to most native speakers when using “hi” and “hey.”
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Feb 27, 2023 · Depending on the level of formality in your letter, you will use different greetings and salutations. If you are writing business letters, you might want to know how to choose the appropriate salutation. In this article, we give examples of various salutations you can use in letters and emails.
