How to address a letter

[Oneeyedvic]

My wife's new boss is a complete and utter idiot. She has only been in the job a couple of weeks and hates him (he is the owner of the business) - seems my wife can do no right!

Anyway, she was typing a letter out to a Tax office and marked in "FAO Mrs A Woman" - she then put "Dear Mrs Woman"

He had a right go at her and said she should put "FAO Mrs A Woman" but start the letter "Dear Sir"

No I don't understand either........I know my wife is correct in this matter, but how can I prove it - does anyone know of any good etiquette books or links?

[Hgrove]

A secretarial college, or perhaps a large branch of WH Smith, should have lists of books showing how to address letters.

[EssJay1]

I thought that if you didn't you have a contact name you couldn't mark it FAO. So the letter could be addressed "To whom it may concern" - thereby avoiding any dodgy connotations. Unless the contact at the tax office is actually called "Mrs Woman"...

[Bangkok]

When writing to a tax office as part of ongoing correspondence, you can write Dear Mrs Woman.  If the correspondence is just opening, or is very formal, you can write Dear Sirs, Sirs being the Tax Office.  Dear Sir merely means the sex has been mistaken

I would note that correspondence is being less formal, and that personal styles are used more that the historically correct protocols.  As such, it might not be worth getting stressed out, as if this guy is so convinced / set in his ways then arguing will make little difference 

[Ouisch]

Don't know for sure about the UK, but in the US, if you're uncertain as to who will receive your letter, the proper salutation is "Dear Sir or Madam." 

[Dark Angel]

If the letter said FAO Mrs. A Woman, it usually should start with Dear Madam. But check with WH Smiths.

[Loosehead]

The general rule is, if you know it's a woman you write Dear Mrs Woman, or possibly Dear Madam otherwise you write Dear Sir. The all too common "Dear Sir or Madam" is, gramatically incorrect, though that doesn't stop it being used quite often.

[RevShirls]

Your wife is absolutely correct here. This must be so frustrating for her. Since Mrs A Woman's name is known then the correct etiquette is to begin the letter "Dear Mrs Woman". It is wrong nowadays to start a letter "Dear Sir" unless you know that the person to whom you are writing is male. I would have to take issue with Loosehead re the use of "Dear Sir or Madam".  As far as I can see, it is absolutely grammatically correct to write "Dear Sir or Madam".

A great website about this is Ask Oxford. If you scroll down to point 7, oneeyedvic, you will find information supporting your wife's use of "Dear Mrs Woman". 

http://www.askoxford.com/betterwriting/letterwriting/?view=uk 

[rojash]

Your wife is definitely correct. Unfortunately, I don't think proving it is going to do a lot to improve her career prospects - if her boss is the sort of plonker he sounds like, then proving him wrong is just going to make him mad!

[Solarjunkie]

As the letter is to the tax office, it should be addressed "Dear Sirs".

The "FAO" part shows the person who is dealing with the matter, but it is not exclusive to her as anyone in her department could deal with it.

However, if it is part of ongoing correspondence, addressing it directly to Mrs Woman is fine, and in the early stages of an employment, the boss should be discussing the favoured office style with his new employee, not having "a right go at her"!

[Insane Wally]

Send her boss a letter, put his name and address on the envelope, & on the letter write 'Dear Madam', see how he likes it!

[heatherglen]

You may find the Oxford Paperback Reference book

'The Language Toolkit' helpful. It gives practical advice on English grammar and usage. �7.99

[tracygibbs]

if your looking for some idea or tips on how to make one you can check my source below,they have lots of sample of any letters there. Media URL: http://www.writeletters.net/category/application-letter
Description: