How do you start an email if you don’t know who will read it?

[PrinceArchie]

“To whom it may concern” seems a bit stuffy

Just launching into the body of the email seems rude

Dear Sir/Madam?! Seems a bit

I don't like to use either of those.

I'd start the email with with good morning / good afternoon, depending on when it is being sent.

What is it about and who is it to? A business, something formal, or what?

I start with "Dear Sirs" if I am emailing a business.

Good morning/afternoon should do the trick

How formal is it? Would one of Hi/Hello/Good Morning work?

You could always open with a joke.

Good morning is a winner

Or I’ll take your best jokes

To the school BUT you’re only allowed to email the office and they forward it to who they choose to deal with it

Just Good Morning is fine. Emails do not require the same degree of formality as letters

Don’t start with “dear sirs”

Yep, "good morning" etc here too - definitely not 'Dear Sirs"

I have a different view as a senior director and owner of a business. When someone writes a letter, the general format is to spell out at the top of the letter who the letter is from, the date, a reference etc. It varies a lot but the point is that by the time you get to the content of the letter, you should have a reasonable idea who the letter is from and if you are lucky, some idea as to why you are receiving the letter. Most emails ignore this completely and it's not until the end (email signature etc)!, where all may become clear. So, my preference would be to start an email with no salutation other than something along the lines of: I am writing in respect of Xyz ... or following your letter etc of did/mmyyyy regarding xxxx, ....

It can sound impersonal but sometimes getting to the point is really useful. Of course, if you know the name of the person you are writing to then that's a bonus and you should use it but dear sir / madam or to whom it may concern just smacks of prevarication or "I couldn't be arsed to find out". Email is, by its very nature, intended to be quick and direct but in a business context it's all too easy to mistake it for instant messaging with its accompanying pitfalls re rudeness.

I had the same issue when emailing a job application the other day (covering letter attached had ‘to whom it may concern’. I settled on ‘good afternoon’.

You could always open with a joke.

Great idea. Picture of an ice skating rink being demolished.

OK, that's broken the ice. Geddit?

(Body of email).

Otherwise, I'd be fine with a good morning. If you're applying for a job, you'd probably be better off trying to find out to whom you should address it. If you're the customer, even "Hi," will probably suffice.

I get quite a lot of emails from random people trying to persuade me to do things (totally fine, part of my job).

Anything starting 'Dear sirs' goes waaaaaaay down the list.

But not as far as the one I recently had starting 'Dear Sir (or Madam!)'.

Yes, a woman at work really did require an exclamation mark.

If it is to school I will start with:
For the attention of ...... and then insert teachers name etc

Good Morning/Afternoon
I hope that this finds you well
……….
…………
……….
Kind Regards
OP
Signature to include your phone and emqil addres

Good morning/afternoon/evening is a good start.

Omg who the hell would start 'Dear Sirs'

Ffs don't do that!!!!

Yes I always go for good morning/afternoon/evening.

Fucking hell I hope people don't actually write Dear Sirs!

If i received an email starting with 'Dear Sirs' I'd probably delete it immediately

What is the modern equivalent of

Dear Sir/Madam or Madam/Sir
To whom it mAy concern

Then??

I was taught these many years ago, and still use them. Is this why I can’t even get an interview?!

@HerRoyalNotness if the person who is dealing with resumes and interviewing is not listed on the ad, I call up and ask who to address it to.

I always just say 'Hello' when I don't know who it's going to.

“Oi!”

“Hello”.