How to address someone in a letter when you don't know their gender?

Question

I'm writing a formal letter, but I don't know the recipient's gender. All I know is their surname. They could be a Mr, Mrs, Miss, Ms, or Dr. Is there a polite way to formally address them in a letter without resorting to the impersonal "Dear sir/madam"?

Answer 1

To whom it may concern:

Answer 2

Since it is a formal letter, and I guess the letter seems to be important,......when I have been in such situations, I have called the company or organization where this person works, etc. and just merely ask anonymously if so, and so a man or woman so that you have the salutation correct when addressing a letter.

"To Whom It May Concern;" is another way of handling this, but, I usually like to get the correct salutation correct if it is a formal letter.

Dear Sir or Ma'am is not improper either and although does convey that you do not know their gender, it is an honest yet proper way to address such a letter. Dear Sir or Madam/Ma'am is not impersonal as afterall, you are not writing a personal letter, you are writing a formal letter, and this does not lend itself to impropriety.

Bottom line, ......as I said; I've always called and sought the information from a benign source within the orginization. It's not uncommon to do this when wanting to make a truly proper salutation.

Answer 3

I would make a phone call and find out specifically if the person is male or female, and address the letter accordingly. If this is for homework, then use "Dear Sir or Madam", because that is what's considered proper.

Answer 4

Is there any way of finding out the recipients gender? If its someone in a company, often a call to the receptionist will find out that information for you.

Other than that, "Dear Sir" wouldnt be inapropriate I think.

Answer 5

I would do To Whom It May Concern. I know that's impersonal as well, but better safe than sorry. Maybe you could call the business and ask for whomever works in the department that this person works in or if they have a website, sometimes the employees names are on there.

Answer 6

Do you have a work phone number for this person, or at least the name of the company where he or she works? If so, call the person's office and ask. If it's a direct line and the person answers, say, "Sorry, wrong number." and hang up. Then you'll know the sex. If it rings to that person's secretary, just tell them what you're doing, explain you don't have a first name, and you wanted to know if so-and-so Smith is a man or woman.

Answer 7

Yup, try a non-gender specific title "Dear Editor" or "Dear Dean (Last name)" try searching for their gender though, it does help. Good luck!

Answer 8

yes just write sir or madam and explain that u had no way of ther gender or u could send it with ether again n dont care if they get afennded lol

Answer 9

Just use her or his profession. For excample: "Dear lawyer"... or just "Dear recipient..." or "Dear Mr/Miss/Mrs/Ms/Dr...".
... Just kidding for the last one =)

Answer 10

yup,
dear sir/madam or
To whom it may concern