Dear Sir/ Madam

Question

I have never needed this before but now i do. How do I start the salutation on a letter, formal and informal'

Answer 1

In any case, you must always use the colon; never the comma:

In professional relationships:
Estimado señor:
Estimado Sr.:
Estimada señora:
Estimado Sra.:
Mur Sr. mío: (more formal)

or simply:

Señor:
Señora:

If you are writting to a company, a school..., or you don't know who exactly will read the letter (Sir/Madam):

Señores:
Muy Sres. míos:

Informal:
Querido [name]:
Hola, [name]:
Hola:

Answer 2

The correct way, if you don't know whether it is a "Sir" or a "Madam" is "Señores:". That's what you will be taught at school or in business if you learn how to write letters... in Spanish. I know how is supposed to be in English, as I often have to write letters at work, but translating it word by word in unnecesary and redunant in Spanish, as "señores" refers, in general, to whoever receives the letter (no gender distinction, unless it is intended). Obviously, in English you are not going to write "Dear Sirs", but in Spanish is acceptable and correct to use "Señores:", unless they are all women, and you know it.

*[...] en los últimos tiempos, por razones de corrección política, que no de corrección lingüística, se está extendiendo la costumbre de hacer explícita en estos casos la alusión a ambos sexos. [...] Se olvida que en la lengua está prevista la posibilidad de referirse a colectivos mixtos a través del género gramatical masculino, posibilidad en la que no debe verse intención discriminatoria alguna, sino la aplicación de la ley lingüística de la economía expresiva; así pues, en el ejemplo citado pudo 'y debió? decirse, simplemente, ayudar a sus compañeros. Solo cuando la oposición de sexos es un factor relevante en el contexto, es necesaria la presencia explícita de ambos géneros.

Diccionario panhispánico de dudas ©2005
Real Academia Española © Todos los derechos reservados*

Now Shall i say as Estimado Andrew: or Estimado Andrew, and also confirm this is applicable for only Spanish Language or English also - 8553148960, Aug 9, 2013

Note: Now i need comma or colan - 8553148960, Aug 9, 2013

Answer 3

JIm:

esto es lo que necesitaba.

Answer 4

Gracias. Este es qué yo tener necesidad.

Answer 5

Sorry, I must have completely overlooked that part in your first post.

Answer 6

I think Jim wants to know how to express "Sir/Madam." That is, when we write to somebody and don't know if the person is male or female, we use this form.