General/Off-topic |
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UK Natives. What do you suggest?
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| 1. |
11 Aug 2007 Sat 11:13 pm |
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On Monday, I will apply for a UK visa.
I need to explain the details of my visit.
My template is:
1) Dear sirs,
2) < My explaination goes here >
3) Yours very truly,
< My name >
What are other alternatives for 1) and 3) ? What do you suggest?
Thanks,
Sinan
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| 2. |
12 Aug 2007 Sun 08:50 am |
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Quoting si++: On Monday, I will apply for a UK visa.
I need to explain the details of my visit.
My template is:
1) Dear sirs,
2) < My explaination goes here >
3) Yours very truly,
< My name >
What are other alternatives for 1) and 3) ? What do you suggest?
Thanks,
Sinan |
The correct form for a letter where you dont personally know the recepient is
(1) Dear Sir,
(3) Yours faithfully
You could use "yours sincerely" as an alternative, but "yours very truly" would be too much.
good luck with yr application 
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| 3. |
12 Aug 2007 Sun 09:13 am |
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Silly question maybe, but don't you use in the UK also a female title at the beginning? Like: Dear Sir, Madam? In my country we do, if I would leave that out in many cases my letter won't even be answered!
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| 4. |
12 Aug 2007 Sun 09:15 am |
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Quoting Trudy: Silly question maybe, but don't you use in the UK also a female title at the beginning? Like: Dear Sir, Madam? In my country we do, if I would leave that out in many cases my letter won't even be answered! |
good question! Some people write "Dear Sir/Madam" but the formal way is still "Sir". I guess could write either
Its all a bit silly anyway because if you actually called a woman "madam" face to face it would not be very polite!
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| 5. |
12 Aug 2007 Sun 09:29 am |
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In my country the proper salutation would be "To Whom It May Concern" or, as suggested earlier, "Dear Sir or Madam".
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| 6. |
12 Aug 2007 Sun 09:41 am |
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I agree with your correction and suggest-
(1) Dear Sir/Madam
(3) Yours faithfully
"To Whom it May Concern" should not be used in this case because it is only used here for open letters where the recepient, company or establishment is completely unknown, like an open reference or letter of introduction.
Hope it helps Si
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| 7. |
12 Aug 2007 Sun 10:10 am |
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Thank you all!
This helps a lot.
I was not sure which to pick in an official context like this.
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| 8. |
12 Aug 2007 Sun 01:01 pm |
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Quoting Pink1983: I agree with your correction and suggest-
(1) Dear Sir/Madam
(3) Yours faithfully
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If you use Dear Sir, then you shoud match it with Yours Sincerely. "Yours Faithfully" should only be used when you know the name of the person you are writing to and start the letter "Dear Mr name".
Traditionally "Dear Sir" has been the correct start (where the person's name is not known) but recently "Dear Sir/Madam" has become more common although personally I never use it.
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| 9. |
12 Aug 2007 Sun 02:31 pm |
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Quoting bod: Quoting Pink1983: I agree with your correction and suggest-
(1) Dear Sir/Madam
(3) Yours faithfully
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If you use Dear Sir, then you shoud match it with Yours Sincerely. "Yours Faithfully" should only be used when you know the name of the person you are writing to and start the letter "Dear Mr name".
Traditionally "Dear Sir" has been the correct start (where the person's name is not known) but recently "Dear Sir/Madam" has become more common although personally I never use it. |
Sorry Bod but you are wrong. "sincerely" should only be used if you know the person. This is what I was taught at business school anyway
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| 10. |
12 Aug 2007 Sun 04:08 pm |
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Quoting bod: Quoting Pink1983: I agree with your correction and suggest-
(1) Dear Sir/Madam
(3) Yours faithfully
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If you use Dear Sir, then you shoud match it with Yours Sincerely. "Yours Faithfully" should only be used when you know the name of the person you are writing to and start the letter "Dear Mr name".
Traditionally "Dear Sir" has been the correct start (where the person's name is not known) but recently "Dear Sir/Madam" has become more common although personally I never use it. |
Oooops Bodkins! It is the other way round - Dear Sir / Madam = Yours faithfully and Dear Name = Yours sincerely 
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