Is Dear Sir/Madam Still Used? Testing Email Greeting Alternatives

Is it okay to write Dear Sir or Madam when you start an email? Do you need email greeting alternatives to break out of the mold and help your online communications stand out? If these are the kind of questions you want answered then we’re here to help!

From the little coaching that schools occasionally provide to every email interaction you see from then on, it’s quite common to see emails begin with a very typical “Dear receiver” greeting. It’s a tried and tested opener and it works well enough in every setting, professional or otherwise. While it’s okay to write Dear Sir or Madam and stick to tradition so you can play it safe, there are other email greeting options out there that can add more life and personality to your emails. 

By experimenting with other options, you might find it easier to get a response to your emails, giving the receiver a reason to open them up and read on. Just as organizations are slowly moving away from other outdated practices, it turns out that your email communications could also use an upgrade.

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What to Use Instead of Sir or Madam? Testing Out Some Email Greeting Alternatives

Is Sir/Madam still used in an email? Yes, this is still the most common way to start an email and you’re not going to be criticized for using them in your communications. Is it the best way to begin your email? No, not necessarily. Starting an email this way helps you when you’re unsure who the receiver is or when you’re sending an email to a generic HR or company ID, but it is also a tad bit overused. 

Being polite and professional is essential with every type of formal communication, however, you don’t have to entirely compromise your individuality in exchange for it. How you start your email may not be as important as the content of the email itself, but you can make yourself more memorable by reshaping how you write the mail as well. 

“To Whom It May Concern” has become another common email greeting alternative to the “Dear” phrase, but there’s arguably never a right time to start your email like this. It often conveys a sense of disinterest in finding out who exactly you are emailing and can sound more hostile and unapproachable than intended. With that said, if you’re looking for some “Dear Sir or Madam” alternatives to liven up your emails, consider testing these options out.

Dear [Name of the Recipient]

If you’re too afraid to make a dramatic change and still feel like you would prefer to stick to the original option, then try to identify who you’re communicating with and add their name to the greeting. This shows that you have made an effort to look up who the hiring manager or team lead is, adding more of a personal touch to the email. The downside to this is that it can sound like you’re addressing a friend or your diary, so use it sparingly.

Hello/Hi/Hey [Name of the Recipient]

A more relaxed greeting is not unusual and depending on your familiarity with the receiver, you can choose between the options of how you say hello. When used, these email greeting alternatives are followed by a Mr./Ms. along with their name, for example, “Hi Mr. Smith” or “Hello Ms. Granger.” If they have an additional title like Dr. or Professor, you can use that instead of Mr. or Ms. 

If you’re messaging a close colleague or a subordinate who you are familiar with, a “Hi there” might work too. If you’re emailing a team of people, “Hi team” works well too. 

Good Morning/Afternoon/Evening

If you know that the receiver is in the same time zone as you, it is easy enough to estimate when they will receive your email. When you’re wondering what to use instead of Dear Sir or Madam and still don’t have a sense of who exactly the email is going to, it’s also helpful to start the email with an actual greeting you might say in person, which is Good Morning. 

This is a useful way to refer to a large group as well when the email is to be sent to multiple different people. 

Good Day [Name of the Recipient]

Similar to greeting someone with a good afternoon message, you can also say “Good Day Mr. [Name of the Recipient]” to start your email right.

Greetings

This email greeting alternative is quite straightforward and simplifies the prospect of sending out an email. For those who have to work on sending out bulk emails, phrases such as “Greetings Dear Customer” come in handy, but you can send an email to an HR manager, with a similar introduction “Greetings Mr. [Name of the Receiver]” as well. For a more lighthearted approach, you can expand on the greeting with “Greetings and Salutations Mr. [Name of the Receiver].”

Esteemed/Respected [Name of the Receiver]

If there is such a thing as too formal, this might be it, but there is a time and place to start an email this way as well. If you’re sure that the person you’re emailing holds quite a senior position or would appreciate a sincere and formal greeting, this phrase is also available on the list of “Dear Sir or Madam” alternatives that you can use.

Funny But Effective Email Greetings

These aforementioned email greeting alternatives work well in any professional setting and ensure that your emails reflect the kind of formal attitude you’re expected to maintain. If you work at an organization where matters are more relaxed and internal emails within a team don’t need to be as formal or structured, there are some humorous greetings you can tinker with that might bring a smile to a colleague’s face. 

Remember to check with your manager or organization if possible, to ensure such communication is alright and avoid getting yourself in trouble later. Once you get the green signal, you can start your emails more joyously than a “Dear Sir or Madam” could ever manage. 

• Howdy [Name of the Receiver],
• Ahoy there,
• Hello from the other side,
• Top of the Morning to You [Name of the Receiver],
• Greetings Earthling,
• Greetings and Felicitations,
• Yoo-hoo [Name of the Receiver],

These suggestions are entirely as casual as using slang or being offensive, but they might be sprinkled in with your immediate coworkers to help them get through the rest of your email more easily. Find a style that suits you and your organization best and roll with what works best. Even if you determine that such lighthearted greetings are not appropriate for your workplace, you still have room to make use of the more formal suggestions.

Is Dear Sir/Madam still used? Yes. Is it okay to write Dear Sir or Madam? Also a yes. Should you try to use some of these alternatives in your emails? Definitely a yes. Once you get comfortable with using these options, you can move on to trying out a few different things with your emails such as changing how you say “Please find attached to this email,” or closing your email with a phrase that is more expressive than “Warm Regards.” 

These changes might feel inconsequential at first, but they can make the email drafting experience less repetitive and help your reader engage with your email better as well. 

The post Is Dear Sir/Madam Still Used? Testing Email Greeting Alternatives appeared first on The HR Digest.

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