Salutation (greeting).html |
| | | ca | | | de | | | en | | | es | | | fr | | | it | | | nl | | | no | | | pl | | | pt | | | ru | | | ro | | | fi | | | sv | | | tr | | | vo | | |
| |  |
 |
The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. Please improve this article or discuss the issue on the talk page. |
A salutation is a greeting, in particular a formal greeting used in a letter. Salutations usually take the form "Dear X", or sometimes simply "X", usually followed by a comma or a colon.
Contents |
English
The salutation of "Dear" takes precedence in both British and American English, usually in both formal and informal correspondence, for example "Dear Mr. Smith" or "Dear John". Whereas a comma always follows the salutation in British English, a colon is not infrequently used for formal correspondence in American English.
If the name of the intended recipient is unknown, "Dear Sir/Madam", "Dear Sir or Madam" or "Dear Sirs" is often used, the latter being somewhat obsolete - "Dear Madam or Sir" is also sometimes used. Professional titles such as "Professor" or "Doctor" are often preferred over social titles ("Mr.", "Mrs.") Dignitaries are addressed by their titles. (e.g. "Dear Lord Mayor:")
For each style of salutation there is an accompanying style of valediction.
German
German has two types of salutation that are mutually distinguishable from one another - a formal and an informal form.
The formal form usually begins with Sehr geehrte(r) (lit. very honored) and the formal social title (and, if necessary, professional title) of the recipient together with surname is always used (e.g. Sehr geehrter Herr Schmidt, Sehr geehrte Frau Meier). Sehr geehrte(r) is never used with forenames alone, although, rare as it is, it is possible to include the full name (e.g. Sehr geehrter Herr Johann Schmidt). With an unknown recipient, Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren is used with no variation on this.
Informal salutations in German tend to begin with Liebe(r) (e.g. Lieber Paul, Liebe Annette)
References
Further reading
- "Forms of Address & Salutations to Federal & State Officials". Daniel J. Evans Library, Government Documents/Maps. The Evergreen State College. Retrieved on 2006-01-24.
- "Styles of address". Canadian Heritage. Retrieved on 2006-01-24.