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

[ToooOldForThis]

I have been given an email contact of someone I don't know to get information about a project. Would always have gone with "Dear Ms X" but now I wonder is Ms unacceptable?

@BackforGood

I’ve always been told that it’s “Dear First Name” for individuals/named contacts (signing off your own name” and “Dear Sirs” in more formal settings, or when the email is directed to a company, where you have a contact name but you aren’t sure if they’re the correct person (signing off as “yours faithfully, Company Name”

Trouble is with this ^ is it in inherently sexist, and assumes the people at the company are men.

I agree, and you can only imagine how many times I’ve had to call out sexism and misogyny as a part time working lawyer... even from women.

I thought even Dear Sir or Madam could be troublesome

And I only ever use "to whom it may concern" if I'm really complaining!

Fwiw if my name was Sally Smith I'd have absolutely no problems receiving Dear Sally, but I wouldn't presume everyone else would be too