Dear Sirs

[Suzanne12]

Is this an acceptable way to start an email that will be received by either a man or a woman? Would you say something if a colleague used this term to send an email to a generic inbox?

Yabu - it's fine
Yanbu - it's not acceptable anymore

You could reply 'Dear Madam' if they're interchangeable. But yes, I would not accept 'Dear Sirs'.

In addition, I was also taught to use two spaces after a full stop. Apparently that makes me a dinosaur as well.

I have, however, been offended by a letter addressed to "To whom it may concern" and "Mr/Mrs"

Offended? Really?

Dear Madam/Sir is better.

I am reminded of the wonderful manwhohasitall on Twitter.

In the legal context it is still standard practice I'm afraid. Perhaps this young man was told to do this? I remember being taught thats how you address another firm of solicitors. Speak to him and ask especially if he's a trainee. He's probably following orders.

It is in the legal industry. The sender is a young man

I wouldn't hold it against him tbh. The young ones go by what they were taught and many of us are taught "Dear sirs". If the CV is strong, you can always tell them after hiring that your firm doesn't use that.

"To whom it may concern" is fine for general things where the recipient is not known (like on the work fridge, "To whom it may concern, please stop nicking my fucking milk") but it is quite rude if you are writing to a specific entity like on a job application (even if you don't know the person's name).

I'm also in the legal field - I've emailed many people that I know full well to be a female with "Dear Sirs" and have also received emails with the address as such.

Although I would say in my position it is typically when you're emailing on official duty that you use the term and it is more that you are emailing the organisation rather than the individual when that term is used (for our purposes anyway). So if I was emailing for a quick update I'd say "hi Chris", if I was emailing to raise a procedural issue it'd be "Dear Sirs".

I don't mind being called a Sir anyway, the recipient if a male is very unlikely to be a Sir either so it's wrong for everyone.

I'm slightly stunned anyone under the age of 30 was taught this.

I suspect what has actually happened was that he wasn't taught anything at all, and has googled hastily to figure it out.

@bluntness I would advise your daughter that this is archaic sexist nonsense probably driven by some archaic sexist partners. My global law firm has never used it since I've worked there since the mid 2000's. Her clients will hate it and she should push to be the change that's needed! Pretty sure she will get full support. Madness that this silliness still exists when law schools drum into you that these archaic forms, legalese, Latin and particularly sexist forms must be avoided.

Per PP re double spaces after full stops. Hell yes!

Surely it should be dear sir/madam or just to whom it may concern

Not acceptable at all.

Just how old are some of you using 'dear sir' for a person of unknown sex?

I'm 59 and was taught 'Dear Sir or Madam' at school in the 60s/70s.

Using 'sir' as the default is worse than 'rude'.

rude. did not know this was still used in this day and age. say something.

If I got that email I’d assume the sender was educated in a country where male/female equality was not the norm yet. I would point it out to them/their mentor/line manager as appropriate.

So - I am a dinosaur. Who knew ...

Yep. Time to get with the time and realise that women are in the workplace and we are going nowehere.

Yes, make a fuss. It is 2020 after all.

This may be a stupid question but why don't people take a moment to find out the name of the person they want the letter to go to? Surely in this day and age it's only a quick phone call or Google away?

On reflection, aren't all of us in fact being archaic and sexist by insisting that males and females should be addressed separately?

Dear Sirs should become the generic greeting to include humans of any gender.

Perhaps Mr or Ms should become the generic title.

I have always been told that it does not relate to a man

Does 'Madam' not relate to a woman then?

Dear Sir/Madam - why would anyone think it should be Dear Sir if the recipient is unknows?

Dear Sirs should become the generic greeting to include humans of any gender

1. Why not Dear Madams?
2. What is 'any gender'? Don't you mean 'either sex'?

Surely in this day and age it's only a quick phone call or Google away?

No such thing as a quick phone call in this day and age.

Another works in law here. We still use Sirs in all formal correspondence. Emails are less formal but if the recipient is unknown Sirs is still used. Can you not write "Dear Sir/Madam"?