Is Dear Sirs offensive?

Is Dear Sirs offensive?

Using “sirs” to address a group assumes everyone in that group is male … and when you do it in an email to people in authority, it implies that surely there are no women in decision-making positions or in professional positions at all. It’s offensive.

What can I use instead of dear sirs?

“There are many other suitable alternatives to “Dear Sirs“,” said Ms O’Boyle. “Dear Mr/Ms Surname, Dear Colleague, Dear Counsel, A Chara, or Dear Position, i.e. Dear Managing Partner, Dear Principal, Dear Senior Associate etc. These are all alternatives and this is not an exhaustive list.”

What can you use instead of dear sirs?

Can you still write Dear Sirs?

If they are an individual then it depends on their gender and title. If it’s an organisation, then we currently use ‘Dear Sirs’ as that remains the accepted standard. There is currently no formal plan to change this, but it is an area we’re happy to explore.”

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_goFpes0AcykXnsvuypFBQ

Is it correct to use Dear Sirs and Mesdames?

In any case, I wouldn’t write Dear Sirs, or Dear Sirs and Mesdames, or any such huffery puffery as it can sound pompous or signal a problem that doesn’t exist. You resort to that kind of title when you don’t know the people at all. And please, if you simply must write to multiple, unnamed women, do not address them as Dear Ladies or Dear Madams.

Is it correct to write Dear Sirs in a letter?

It is not correct anymore to write “Dear Sirs” because “sirs” refers only to males. It is better to write “Dear” plus the name of the company or department to which you are writing. It is the correct, standard style of address in formal British English business correspondence.

Is there an excuse for dear sir or Madam?

In the unsolicited email I get, every day brings more messages that begin “Dear Sir or Madam.” But these days there is no excuse for that greeting. Anyone who wants to write to me can easily learn whether I am a sir or a madam. They can also track down my name.

Is it offensive to say ” Dear Sir ” to a woman?

Maibinrai, you are correct that “Dear Sirs” was a general greeting in years past. But that was when men were in virtually all management positions. These days the use of “Dear Sirs” can come across as thoughtless or even offensive to women, who often read the messages that begin “Dear Sirs.”.