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 Nina79

link 13.11.2006 9:19 
Subject: to whom it may concern (it's just too cheezy)
I can't belive I am asking this (I should know this)

In English, has anyone here come across any alternatives to the "whom it may concern" thing in English business correspondence?

I have, for the first time in over 6 years, hit upon a letter which actually has no one to address it to and there are no clues and no contact #'s to call and find out at.

and I really just hate writing "To whom it may concern"

any ideas? anyone seen anything new and more flavorful (but still English English)?

Thanks!

 Helenushka

link 13.11.2006 9:23 
а как насчет Dear Sirs!? :-)

 суслик

link 13.11.2006 9:25 
Ladies and Gents?

 october

link 13.11.2006 9:32 
совершенно нормальный зачин и адрес, а то, что вы hate it, вовсе не означает, что такого нет, и этим не пользуются.

Helenushkа и суслик: это обращение к конкретным адресатам, коим вы пишете письмо

 Legophil

link 13.11.2006 9:37 
I saw a "Dear Lady/Sir" address which was a real poser in terms of E-to-R but was a dependable English sourse. Stressing they speak to one person.
Hoping to find more "flavorful" things on this vetka, too.

 суслик

link 13.11.2006 9:38 
2 october, не-а, Вы не знаете, кто перед Вами

Salutation. The salutation directly addresses the recipient of the letter and is followed by a colon (except when a friendly, familiar, sociable tone is intended, in which case a comma is used). Notice that in the simplified letter format, the salutation line is eliminated altogether. If you don't know whether the recipient is a man or woman, the traditional practice has been to write "Dear Sir" or "Dear Sirs" — but that's sexist! To avoid this problem, salutations such as "Dear Sir or Madame," "Dear Ladies and Gentlemen," "Dear Friends," or "Dear People" have been tried — but without much general acceptance. Deleting the salutation line altogether or inserting "To Whom It May Concern" in its place, is not ordinarily a good solution either — it's impersonal.

source: http://www.io.com/~hcexres/textbook/genlett.html

 суслик

link 13.11.2006 9:39 
whoever is receiving this letter:)

 Westphalian Stormrider

link 13.11.2006 9:46 
Dear all

 Аристарх

link 13.11.2006 9:51 
october is seconded

Зачем велосипед изобретать? to whom it may concern - абсолютно нормальная фраза и обычно употребляется, когда адресат неизвестен. "Dear Lady/Sir" - обращение всё-таки к конкретным людям, чьи имена нам неизвестны. Именно ИМЕНА, а не сами люди.
Насчёт, **anything new and more flavorful**, ничего нового, пока, увы, нет, а по поводу **and more flavorful** - это же не худлит. Есть определённые штампы, и им нужно следовать

 Mo

link 13.11.2006 10:11 
Nina

To XXX Interface Focal Point
(where XXX is the company on whose behalf you are writing)

To ZZZ Project Functional Mailbox Co-ordinator
(where ZZZ is the project/business you are writing about)

Availability of context yields quality results; maybe the above will generate an idea; otherwise please provide the context

legophil: sourCe

 Nina79

link 13.11.2006 10:16 
october an aristrahk

I know it is accepted and that it is OK (нормальная фраза). But that's the problem, it's just normalnaya and boring.
I need to give the letter some more spice and with a big fat "To whom it may concern:" at the very beginning, the whole thing just looks and feels borning. And it is cheezy, which is why so many other ways have been invented.
However, the tried and trusty Dear Sirs/Madames also isn't really jiving here. And I, of course, can't just get rid of the address line. That lacks finesse (and I'm not talking about the shampoo here).

october:
совершенно нормальный зачин и адрес, а то, что вы hate it, вовсе не означает, что такого нет, и этим не пользуются.
when did i say that it is not used?

 Legophil

link 13.11.2006 10:18 
2Mo
oi, stydobishcha-pozorrishcha...

 Nina79

link 13.11.2006 10:20 
Suslik
Power to ya!

 Nina79

link 13.11.2006 10:40 
looks like there is no interesting way to be borning :(

thanks for the interest in the question, guys.

 Legophil

link 13.11.2006 10:52 
and lots of boring ways for trying to be interesting.
disheartening asymmetry...

 Nina79

link 13.11.2006 12:02 
legophil
agreed :)

 

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