A Question for D.U. Grammar Geeks

[GoddessOfGuinness]

In writing a letter to two chairmen (both gentlemen) of a committee, which greeting is correct?

A) Dear Mr. Chairmen

B) Dear Misters Chairmen

I'm assuming "Dear Mrs. Chairmen" would be inappropriate for obvious reasons. And "Dear Mr.s Chairmen" is simply too weird.

Now suppose that one was writing a letter to chairmen of mixed or unknown genders. What greeting would be proper?

Thanks for your replies! :beer:

[Midlodemocrat]

1. I would write

Dear Sirs:

If you know they are both men.

[Oeditpus Rex]

2. 'Dear Sirs' is the first answer

"Misters Chairmen" is stilted.

For the second, "Dear Chairpersons."

[GoddessOfGuinness]

8. I like the chairpersons idea...

Can you think of a neat alternative to "Dear Sir or Madam"?

[Oeditpus Rex]

10. Not really

When gender and name(s) are both unknown, you've gotta go totally generic, like "Dear Chairpersons" or "Dear Asshats" or whatever.

FWIW, I recall a cover-letter tutorial from years back advising that if the name is known but it's gender-neutral, like "Pat," the salutation should be the full name, i.e. "Dear Pat Grumblemeyer."

[In_The_Wind]

3. I would go with Dear Chairmen

and leave off the "Mr."

[Rabrrrrrr]

4. Dear Mssrs. Chairman

This would be how to address an invitation to a gay male couple (as in Mssrs. Smith and Jones), since Mssrs. is the plural of Mister.

But I don't know if you would stick with ChairmAn or go to ChairmEn; I say go with the A as I have in the subject line.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

9. Mssrs.

I like that.

I think I'd still need to use the plural "chairmen", though, as misters is modifying the noun.

If I remember my German grammar properly, they use plural forms of adjectives for plural nouns. It would make sense that we'd use it in this instance too...or simply go with the singular "mister".

[eyesroll]

5. I might write:

Dear Chairmen:

Dear Chairpersons:

Dear Mr. X and Mr. Y:
(if you know their names)

[RebelOne]

6. I would just go with the simple Dear Sirs.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

11. That certainly would be the simplest...

This letter has already been composed here: http://www.kintera.org/site/c.aoIILPOsGpF/b.1120001/k.D029/Petition/apps/ka/ct/contactus.asp?c=aoIILPOsGpF&b=1120001&en=6oIBLPPxHbJALKOpE7IAKTPDLfKGKRMqE9IML1NEKsF

The awkwardness of the greeting makes me want to recompose the letter, though.

[Crazy Guggenheim]

7. See if this helps. Here's a link to ...........

http://www.grammarbook.com/default.asp

[Blue_In_AK]

12. I would say "Gentlemen," I think. n/t

[VaYallaDawg]

17. I'm with you, I'd use Gentlemen.

As long as it's two men. If it's one of each, or both women, then I'm lost too. I think "Dear Ladies" sounds like the start of a bad novel.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

13. "To Whom This Concerns"

Very formal, but it bypasses everything, and does it generically so nobody is insulted or left out.

[Sanity Claws]

22. I hate this greeting

Sorry. In the movies, suicide notes start that way.

[ComerPerro]

14. How about "Hey youse guys" or "Listen, ya buncha wiseasses"

That's how I would write it, if I was trying to be professional.

[RedCloud]

15. Dear assholes who cannot trust each other enough...

to the point where neither of you is willing to allow the other to chair and now I have to write a most awkward letter and ask the good folks at DU how to fucking address you fuckers,

(I have heard that the more people on the committee, the weaker the chair. But two chairs? This is absurd unless they were interviewing you for multiple positions, but still, their freaking overlord or overlady should have stepped in...)

[Gormy Cuss]

24. Public relations major in college?

:spray:

Oh, if I only I had the nerve to address letters that way.

[Bossy Monkey]

16. Plural of "mister" is "messrs," but it's an awfully awkward construction

It isn't really a grammar/usage question so much as a business etiquette one; ask yourself how you would like to be addressed. I'd go with their last names and would regardless of gender (substituting Ms. where needed, of course): Dear Mr. _____ and Mr. ________ (unless you know them both fairly well, in which case first names would be more appropriate).

[Shakespeare]

20. For correspondence, it's just "Mssrs."

Not awkward, and should work fine.

"Gentlemen" or "Dear Gentlemen" is another suitable choice.

[bertha katzenengel]

18. I'd write "Dear Chairmen:"

:shrug:

:beer: on me :hi:

[MarsThe Cat]

19. do you know their names?

if not, i'd find out and use those. send one letter to each, and show the other as cc'd.

[KG]

21. yo, homeys!

[mzteris]

23. I like Gentlemen: but see below:

Tip: Two or More Men
Dear Mr. Gelb and Mr. Harris:
Dear Mssrs. Gelb and Harris: (more formal)
Gentlemen: (more formal)
Sirs: (more formal)

http://writing.lifetips.com/subcat/63389/salutations/two-people/index.html

[flvegan]

25. Dear Most Awesome Chairdudes (if it's a positive letter). If you're

ripping them or their committee, I'd go with "Dear Nasty Little Fuckweasels:"

[skygazer]

26. I would use "Gentlemen"

and leave off the "dear" which is more familiar. But that's just me.