For the greeting in a business letter when you don't know the name of the person who will be reading it, which of the following is least likely to conform to present-day usage?
(A. Dear Editor)
B. Dear Mrs. Carleton
C. Dear Mr. Givens
D. Dear Sir
I'm very confused because it says Least likely. wouldn't that be all but (a)?
This is very confusing. I think it's a confusing question. "Dear Sir" is the old-fashioned way, but it's now considered sexist because a woman might read the letter. "Dear Editor" is only appropriate for a letter to the editor of a publication. If you don't know who is going to read the letter, you can't address that person by name (you don't know it). I don't know what the "correct" answer would be. I suppose A is as good as any to be least likely UNLESS it really is a letter to the editor, which is NOT a business letter.
When determining the option that is least likely to conform to present-day usage as a greeting in a business letter when you don't know the person's name, we need to consider current professional standards and etiquette. Let's analyze each option:
A. Dear Editor: This option is a generic and professional salutation that can be used when writing to an editor or any other person in an editorial role. It is an appropriate and commonly used greeting in business correspondence when you don't know the specific recipient's name. Therefore, option A is likely to conform to present-day usage.
B. Dear Mrs. Carleton: This option assumes the recipient's marital status and uses the specific name "Mrs. Carleton," which may not be accurate or known. It is considered less professional to assume someone's marital status or use specific names if you are unsure. Therefore, option B is less likely to conform to present-day usage than option A.
C. Dear Mr. Givens: Similar to option B, this option assumes the specific recipient's gender by using the salutation "Mr. Givens." If you are unsure of the recipient's gender, it is more appropriate to use a generic salutation like "Dear Editor." Therefore, option C is less likely to conform to present-day usage than option A.
D. Dear Sir: This option is a traditional and formal greeting used when the specific recipient's name or gender is unknown. While it was more commonly used in the past, it is now considered less inclusive in modern business communication. Nowadays, it is recommended to use gender-neutral or generic greetings instead of assuming someone's gender. Therefore, option D is the least likely to conform to present-day usage.
In conclusion, option D, "Dear Sir," is the least likely to conform to present-day usage as a greeting in a business letter when you don't know the person's name.