What salutation do you use when you don't know the name?
Asked by: Miles Larson | Last update: August 12, 2025Score: 4.6/5 (12 votes)
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.
What is the salutation when you don't know the name?
Dear Sir or Madam is used when you intend your email or letter to reach a specific person, but you don't know their name or gender. To Whom It May Concern is used when you're reaching out to an organization in a more general way and don't know who specifically will deal with your query.
What do you write when you don't know the name?
If you do not know the name of the person you are writing to, begin with Dear Sir or Dear Sir or Madam or Dear Madam and end your letter with Yours faithfully, followed by your full name and designation.
What do you write in the salutation "is you don't know an exact name"?
Write Dear Sir or Madam.
How to greet someone without knowing their name?
Use Generic Salutations Wisely
"Dear Sir/Madam" or "To Whom It May Concern" are formal options for situations where you're unsure of the recipient's gender or position. But, these greetings can feel impersonal and outdated. Instead, try: "Good morning" or "Good afternoon"
How to greet people in emails!
What salutation do you use when you don't have a name?
Use the "Hiring Manager" salutation
Using the salutation "Dear Hiring Manager" is the optimal choice for many hiring professionals when a name is unavailable.
How do I start a letter to an unknown person?
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". A generic salutation should be followed by a colon, not a comma. A generic salutation should also match the purpose and audience of your letter.
What is the rule for salutation?
Salutations
The salutation is followed by the person's name and punctuated with a colon or comma. If you do not know whether the recipient is a man or a woman, it is safe to use “Dear Sir or Madam” followed by a colon. Use “Ms.” in the salutation if the recipient is a woman and you do not know her marital status.
Is to whom it may concern rude?
But “To Whom It May Concern” cover letters are almost universally considered unacceptable today. In fact, “To Whom It May Concern” may even be considered rude since resources for finding the name of a contact person are readily available. This greeting may signal that you can't be bothered to find out who to contact.
How do you greet an unknown person in an email?
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 do you write to someone you don't know the name of?
Even if you don't know the name of the person you're writing to, it's usually best to either find out or use a job title or department name to make your salutation more personal. Examples: To Whom It May Concern alternatives Dear Operations Team, …
How to start a cover letter with no name?
When you don't know how to address the hiring manager by name, use 'Dear Hiring Manager. ' I would avoid Sir/Madam because you don't know the hiring manager's pronouns. Usually, the team doesn't read the cover letter. It's addressed to the hiring manager or recruiter based on the situation.
How do you address an envelope to an unknown recipient?
Write the recipient's name in the middle of the envelope followed by their position if you know it. An example could be Executive Assistant, or Marketing Manager. If you don't know the recipient's name, write the abbreviation, “attn,” followed by their title.
What is preferred salutation?
The most commonly used salutations in emails are “Dear” and “Hi/Hey,” followed by the recipient's title or name.
Which is the correct salutation to a woman if you do not know her name?
In general, it's best to stick to “Ms.,” followed by the recipient's last name if you don't know their name or how they'd like to be addressed. “Ms.” is a universal term for women, whether they are single or married. It's also useful if you don't know if your recipient has any professional titles or designations.
How to start a letter if you don't know the name?
The greeting
Otherwise use 'Dear Mr Smith', 'Dear Miss Smith' or, if you are writing to a woman and don't know which title she prefers, use 'Dear Ms Smith'. If you don't know the person's name, use 'Dear Sir', 'Dear Madam' or occasionally 'Dear Sir or Madam'.
What is the most appropriate salutation?
A formal context might require a 'Dear Mr. ' or 'Good Morning, [Name]', while a more casual setting could be enough with a simple 'Hi' or 'Hello'. Adapting email salutations to align with the context and the professional relationship with the recipient is key in professional communication.
Is it rude not to use a salutation?
Yes, common courtesy applies when communicating with the written word; without a greeting and closing, your emails risk being viewed as harsh and unprofessional.
What is a generic salutation?
If you're writing to someone whose name you don't know or to a group, a good option is a generic salutation such as “Dear Customer Service Manager” or “Dear Colleagues.” “Hello” and “Hi” are also common salutations. They're more likely to be used in less formal correspondence, such as emails.
Is it correct to say dear sirs?
used to begin a formal letter to a man whose name you do not know. "Dear Sirs" is an old fashioned way of beginning a letter to a company: Dear Sir, I am writing in response to your recent request for information. Dear Sir, I am writing to express an interest in the post recently advertised on your company website.
How do you start a letter without to whom it may concern?
- Dear [Name] If you address the recipient by name, it shows you have gone the extra mile to identify the right person to address your letter to. ...
- Dear [Department] ...
- Dear [Role/Title] ...
- Dear [Company/Team Name]
How do you address someone if you don't know their name?
Jane Jones." If you're unaware of their gender, use their full name such as "Dear Jordan Jones." If you know their gender but not their name, opt for "Sir" or "Madam." For example, you can address them as, "Dear Sir or Madam."The way you address someone in an email also depends on your specific relationship with the ...
What do they call someone with no name?
Someone or something that has no name is nameless. You can also describe someone as nameless when you choose not to identify them or reveal their name publicly. A nameless source for a newspaper article is anonymous — in other words, they have a name but it's being kept private.
Is it Mr John or Mr John?
If “John” is a family name, then we write “Mr. John”. This is the same for all family names: Mr.