ALTERNATIVES TO TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN HOW TO

There are still some decent options that will let them know that you did your research and you care. If you don't know the name of the person to whom you're writing, that's ok. Now let's get into those alternative forms of address. But it's still good to keep in mind when communicating with someone you don't know. Not all of this applies if you don't know the person's name.

Lastly, if someone has a Doctorate or other official title/honorific, you should address them that way. Not everyone does this, but it's becoming more common. Sometimes people will list their pronouns in their profiles, like 'Jennifer Morgan, she/her' or 'AJ DePew, they/them'. If you want to discover how someone identifies, you can try to find them on social media (Twitter, LinkedIn, or Instagram are probably your best bets). If you know that the person prefers one over the others (you see 'Please contact Miss Jennifer Morgan for more information' or something similar), use that. The safest bet is to use 'Ms.', as it doesn't imply a married or single status. If you're not sure, you can try to find out more information (see methods below) or choose some other form of address.ДЇor women/femmes, be aware of whether you use Miss, Mrs, or Ms.

Just make sure you know how that person identifies so you can use the proper title. If you know the person's name, you have a couple options when addressing them. Until you've established a bit of a rapport with this person, keep it polite and basic. You should probably avoid any language that's too familiar or where your meaning could be misconstrued (see the 'Hey babe' above). So what do you say? Well, you can usually count on 'Dear ' (or any of the other options below if you don't know their name) - it's formal but not stuffy, and it's a pretty widely-accepted way of starting a written communication (at least in the States). So you probably wouldn't start a letter with 'Hey babe, what's up?' Even if you know their name, it's not like you're buddies - yet.

When you're communicating with someone you don't know, you should put some thought into how you address them. This may seem obvious, but there are a few things to consider.

ALTERNATIVES TO TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN HOW TO

How to Address a Letter in the First PlaceДЇirst of all, it helps to know how exactly to start your letter in the first place.

when it actually is acceptable to use 'To Whom It May Concern'ДЄlright - let's do this.

how you can discover someone's name if you really want to personalize your letter.

all the most common ways to address someone without knowing their name, and when/why you might use each.

how to address a letter in the first place (taking into account tone, formality, titles, and gender neutrality).

So how do you address a cover letter or email to someone you've never met, or whose name you just can't find, in the 21st century?Дon't worry - there are many alternatives to the stodgy, old-fashioned 'To Whom It May Concern' or 'Dear Sir/Madam'. Why did this stuffy-sounding phrase become the go-to form of address for unknown recipients? Well, back in the day (before Google, basically), it was a lot harder to find basic information about people you didn't know.Д«ut since people still had to apply for jobs and get in touch with companies, a standard solution seemed helpful. If you need to reach out to someone but don't know their name, what do you do? Well, the answer used to be, 'To Whom It May Concern.'

Alternatives to to whom it may concern