

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.
#Letter format to whom it may concern how to#
How to Address a Letter in the First Placeįirst of all, it helps to know how exactly to start your letter in the first place.

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.īut 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."
