How do you start a formal email to an unknown recipient?

Asked by: Cheyenne Wiza  |  Last update: November 16, 2025
Score: 4.1/5 (28 votes)

Addressing an Unknown Recipient To maintain a professional tone, one may utilize expressions like “Dear Sir/Madam” or “To whom it may concern” when the recipient's name is unknown but you have some information about their gender and title, using 'Dear Mr. ' or 'Dear Ms. ' can still be appropriate.

How to start a formal email to an unknown person?

The salutation of a formal email is similar to the salutation of a letter. When writing to someone you do not know by name, you put “To Whom it May Concern.” When applying for a job, you would address the person by, “Dear Hiring Manager.” If you do know the recipient's name, you put “Dear Mr./Ms.

How do you write an email to someone you don't know?

New Member Its best to say 'Dear Sir/Madam' when you don't know the person you are addressing and if you use this, you have to end 'Yours Faithfully'.

How do you start an email to a stranger professionally?

3 Use a professional and polite greeting and closing

For example, if you are writing to someone you don't know well, you could use "Dear Mr./Ms./Dr. Last Name" or "Hello First Name" as a greeting, and "Sincerely" or "Best regards" as a closing.

How to start a formal letter to an unknown person?

If you cannot find the name and title of the recipient, you can use a generic salutation instead. A generic salutation is a general way of addressing a person or a group of people, such as "Dear Sir or Madam", "To Whom It May Concern", or "Dear Hiring Manager".

Mastering Formal Salutations: Addressing Unknown Recipients

20 related questions found

How do I address an email with no name?

Addressing an Unknown Recipient

To maintain a professional tone, one may utilize expressions like “Dear Sir/Madam” or “To whom it may concern” when the recipient's name is unknown but you have some information about their gender and title, using 'Dear Mr. ' or 'Dear Ms.

How do you politely start a formal letter?

In a formal letter, the standard salutation is “Dear” followed by the recipient's title and last name. Begin your letter with “Dear [recipient's name]” and add a comma after the name. When you cannot determine the recipient's name, you may address the letter to their title.

What is the first sentence of an email?

Formal Opening Line for Email Examples:

Dear [Recipient's Name], I am writing to you regarding…” “To Whom It May Concern, I wish to express my interest in…”

How do you start an email to someone you've never met sample?

Dear [title and last name],

This can be a good option to show respect to a superior in some context—for example, when writing to your professor at university. It's also a formal way of addressing someone you've never interacted with before.

How do I address a letter to an unknown recipient?

As a last resort, you may use anonymous phrases such as 'To Whom It May Concern' or 'Dear Sir/Madam'. Of these two options, we recommend 'To Whom It May Concern,' as best of the bad bunch of anonymous greetings, since it is gender-neutral..

How to begin a formal email?

Professional Email Greetings
  1. Dear [name], You can't go wrong with this classic. ...
  2. Good morning/ afternoon/ evening, ...
  3. Hello [name], ...
  4. Hi team, ...
  5. Greetings, ...
  6. Introducing Yourself. ...
  7. Referring to Previous Communication. ...
  8. Informing or Providing Updates.

How do you email someone completely anonymously?

One of the simplest ways to send an anonymous email is by creating a new Gmail or Outlook account and using a pseudonym instead of your real name. While this method doesn't provide the same level of encryption as secure email services, it can offer basic anonymity when combined with privacy measures like using a VPN.

How do you write an email to someone you haven't seen in a while?

How to Write an Effective Email to Reconnect in a Personal Context
  1. Start with Reflection. ...
  2. Choose the Right Subject Line. ...
  3. Personalized Greeting. ...
  4. Reminisce About the Past. ...
  5. Transition to the Present. ...
  6. Express the Desire to Reconnect. ...
  7. Propose a Specific Next Step. ...
  8. Close on a Warm Note.

How do I compose an email to someone I don't know?

Keep it short. Your first email shouldn't lay out all the details and supporting documentation of your inquiry. It should be a brief description of the favor you're asking and an inquiry as to whether the person has the time and inclination to participate. If they say yes, that's when you can send follow-up details.

How to start an email opening lines?

15 Professional Opening Lines
  1. I hope this email finds you well.
  2. Thank you for your time and attention.
  3. I hope you are having a great week.
  4. I hope you are having a great day.
  5. Thank you for reaching out to us.
  6. I am writing to inquire about…
  7. I'm reaching out to discuss…
  8. Thank you for the quick response.

What is an example of a formal and informal greeting?

For example, while "Good morning" can be a formal greeting, simply stating "Morning" makes it informal. "How are you?" is a formal greeting, but saying or writing, "How are ya?" is informal. Even informal greetings can be changed to omit words and letters, such as changing "What's up" to simply "What up?"

How do you start a formal email to an unknown person?

If the content of the email is not official or doesn't involve elaborate etiquette, the email can begin simply with Hi or Hello. If you want to be formal, the age old address for an known as well as unknown recipient is/are "Dear Sir/Madam".

What is a professional email greeting?

Dear [Name],

This traditional salutation is ideal for formal correspondence, such as job applications or official letters. However, avoid using it repetitively in long email chains, as it can feel overly rigid.

How do you formally introduce yourself in an email?

Dear [recipient's name], I am writing to formally introduce myself as [your name], the new [your role] in the [your department/team] at [your company]. I understand that our roles will closely align, and I am enthusiastic about the potential collaborations we might explore.

What is a catchy opening sentence?

A good hook might also be a question or a claim—anything that will elicit an emotional response from a reader. Think about it this way: a good opening sentence is the thing you don't think you can say, but you still want to say. Like, “This book will change your life.”

What is the best greeting sentence to start an email?

8 best ways to start emails
  1. Hi [Name], Starting an email with “Hi [Name],” is best for most circumstances, other than very formal situations. ...
  2. Hello [Name], ...
  3. Dear [Name], ...
  4. Good morning / afternoon / evening, ...
  5. Greetings, ...
  6. Hi there, ...
  7. To [Name], ...
  8. To Whom It May Concern,

What is a good opening sentence for a formal letter?

“Dear” is the standard opening line for all letters, but it may not be appropriate in some situations. Most business situations allow this opening to be used, but if you feel it may not be appropriate, simply starting off with the recipient's name is a good alternative.

How to start a letter when you don't know the recipient?

To Whom It May Concern is a formal greeting that can be used to start an email or letter addressed to someone whose name you don't know or to no one in particular. It's still used, but it's considered somewhat old-fashioned and impersonal.

How do you start a formal email?

Greeting: Use a professional opening such as 'To Whom It May Concern' or 'Dear'. If you know the recipients' name, include this, but if you don't know their name, try to refer to them by their title. Introduction: When writing an email to a new contact, lead with a brief introduction that lets them know who you are.

What is a sentence opener for a formal letter?

I am contacting you for the following reason. I recently read/heard about . . . and would like to know . . . Having seen your advertisement in ... , I would like to ... I received your address from ... and would like to ...