What does WHEREAS mean when used as the introduction to a letter in place of Dear Sir?

Question

WHEREAS is in large capitals, and the W is an even larger dropped capital. The word seems to be part of the first sentence, but the sentence makes more sense without it.

To cut a long formal letter down to size, what it said was:

WHEREAS
The drains outside your property are blocked. You have 24hr. to fix them before we do so at your expense.

With WHEREAS, the first sentence is incomplete. Without it the sentence would be OK.

It couldn't be a continuation, because there was no previous.

Answer 1

This phrase is often used in legal documents or very formal letters.

As a conjunction (it's usage in your example it can mean:

1. It being the fact that; inasmuch as.
2. While at the same time.
3. While on the contrary.

In your example, it likely means "It being the fact that" or "Inasmuch as."

It can also be used as a noun to mean:

1. An introductory statement to a formal document; a preamble.
2. A conditional statement.

I guess in your example, the first definition would apply to the entire sentence if it is a preamble to the larger document.

Answer 2

Whereas is not an introduction but a continuation of the subject at hand giving a reason of objection to a further degree of interest that may possibly change the original intended outcome. The same meaning as 'because'.
-- Its intention is meant to change the program expressing a reason for doing so.

Answer 3

Whereas In Legal Documents

Answer 4

Looks more like a writ than a letter to me.

Answer 5

It refers to a previous statement. "Wereas George fell off the fence, he recieved as injury." ect.

Answer 6

it means WHILE. it's a premise to a resolution.