Yours sincerely or faithfully

[FrancesNiadova]

Should a letter addressed,
Dear children,
Be ended,
Yours sincerely or Yours faithfully?
Also, would children have a capital C for the group's name?
Ta!

I'd think sincerely because it's not to a name but that sounds too stuffy for children. Must be something better?

I agree with SeoulSista.

Yours faithfully sounds too formal in this context.

It should end 'Yours faithfully'. Use 'sincerely' when you know the name of the person to whom you are writing, and 'faithfully' when you do not.

Sincerely, and no capital c. "Children" isn't a proper noun.

You use faithfully when the letter is addressed as Dear Sir or Madam (hundred years ago)

When its personalised its 'yours sincerely'.

From memory.

However if its children I would be less formal and just say 'best wishes.'

Yes, it should be faithfully if they're not named, but it sounds rather formal. I've split the infinitive pendants!

I always remember it like this; if it's written to sir/madam then it's faithfully as 2 S's don't go together (the S in sir and the S in sir/madam)

Lossa Luv?

God, yes, got that all the wrong way round. Just realised I don't routinely send out letters to people any more.

What age are the children and why are you writing a letter to them?

I'm writing a reply to our village school, so I do want to get it right!

I think you won't be wrong with faithfully but maybe you could use truly?

I know it's American (well, I didn't really until I read that link) but it sounds nicer for children.

I couldn't use an Americanism; they bug me!

Ah.

Sincerely Smith (ie you addressed the letter to a named person)
Faithfully far from friends (addressed to whom it may concern)

It is faithfully when you don't know the person's name, but this is not a 'dear sir or madam' letter, it's kind of personal but addressed to a group.
Hmm, tricky. Would 'regards' suit?

Neither if you are actually considering your audience. Yes faithfully is probably right given you are not naming them but both are very stuffy. I'd reframe the letter and try to be friendlier.

Yes that's what I meant!

Forum reference.com has pages of waffle useful information on the topic; no answers though.

Back in the day at secretarial college was taught it's 'Faithfully' for 'Sir/Madam' and 'Sincerely' to 'Mr/Mrs Blogs'. Very stuffy now though but always remember that .

Obviously lower case - faithfully/sincerely .

When I'm not sure I send everything with "Kind regards"

I think Dear Children / Yours sincerely is fine.

I can't think of another situation where you don't capitalise the addressee, which is why I'm giving the children a C, then it behaves as an identifying name so sincerely applies.

I think you can be extra formal in letters to children because they're learning how letters are built so they're more likely to expect Yours sincerely than an adult would be, who knows the rules can be broken.