Nov 18, 2004 11:07
20 yrs ago
2 viewers *
English term
Veni Vidi Vici
Native in: Russian 
, Ukrainian
Works in: Russian to English, English to Russian, Ukrainian to English, and 5 more.
Dear Mr. Smith, => a synonym for "dear" ?
English
Other
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
letters
Usually you start a letter with the address "Dear Mr. Smith," etc. I would like to know - is there a synonym for "dear" in such prase which is more formal and/or showing more respect ?
Responses
| 4 +12 | is sufficiently respectful and formal |
Cilian O'Tuama
|
| 4 +3 | not as far as I know |
Terence Ajbro
|
| 5 | depends |
jebeen
|
| 5 | no synonym |
Paul Dixon
|
| 5 -1 | Dear Sir |
Nesrin
|
Responses
+12
1 min
Cilian O'Tuama
Germany
Germany
Native in English
&
English
Specializes in field
Germany
Quality Translations since 1986
Native in: English
Works in: German to English, English, German, and 6 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
28
English term (edited):
dear mr. smith, => a synonym for
Selected
is sufficiently respectful and formal
-
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Graded automatically based on peer agreement."
+3
1 min
Terence Ajbro
Sweden
Sweden
Native in English
&
English
Works in field
Sweden
A multilingual Englishman
Native in: English
Works in: English to German, English to Danish, Danish to English, and 7 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
16
English term (edited):
dear mr. smith, => a synonym for
not as far as I know
Unless of course they are royalty.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Anna Tomashevskaya
4 mins
|
| agree |
Margarita
50 mins
|
| agree |
User (X)
: the difference could be in the title, not in the "dear" indeed if you were writing to the president of the US you's day "dear mr President", or to the prime minister you'd say "dear prime minister"
11 hrs
|
-1
8 mins
English term (edited):
dear mr. smith, => a synonym for
Dear Sir
I would keep the "dear", but replace the name with "Sir". That way, I think, you are formal and respectful enough.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 22 hrs 29 mins (2004-11-19 09:37:01 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Just for the record: I totally agree that Dear Mr. Smith is respectful enough. \"Dear Sir\" was just an attempt to suggest something that little bit more formal.
I don\'t agree however, that \"Dear Sir\" implies you don\'t know the name of the person. It is quite possible, as I have often seen it done, to start the letter as follows:
Mr. Smith
4 Queen Street
London
Dear Sir,
etc.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 22 hrs 29 mins (2004-11-19 09:37:01 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Just for the record: I totally agree that Dear Mr. Smith is respectful enough. \"Dear Sir\" was just an attempt to suggest something that little bit more formal.
I don\'t agree however, that \"Dear Sir\" implies you don\'t know the name of the person. It is quite possible, as I have often seen it done, to start the letter as follows:
Mr. Smith
4 Queen Street
London
Dear Sir,
etc.
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Ian M-H (X)
: if you know the person's name then "Dear Mr Smith" is not disrespectful, but "Dear Sir" is indeed an alternative.
1 hr
|
|
I agree that Dear Mr. Smith is not disrespectful, but Dear Sir may be that little bit more respectful and formal.
|
|
| neutral |
User (X)
: "dear Sir" suggests that you don't know the name of the person you are writing to, if you know the name it is actually better to use "dear mr smith"
11 hrs
|
|
thanks - pls see my added note.
|
|
| disagree |
eccotraduttrice
: Dear Sir is only if you don't know the person's name, and you always want to avoid not knowing the name of the person you are writing. Besides, it might be a Ma'am.
20 hrs
|
|
thanks - pls see my added note.
|
1 day 16 hrs
English term (edited):
dear mr. smith, => a synonym for
depends
**Dear Mr. Smith is respectful, and formal enough.
But depending on the Official Rank of a person, even if one knows the name, different words are sometimes used, in place of Dear.
**Dear Mr. President:
**Respected Sir/Madam:
**Your Highness, Your Royal Highness, etc. in case of Royalty.
**Honorable Prime Minister/Chief Minister:
**Honorable Judge/Justice so and so:
**Your Holiness (in case of spiritual leaders)
But depending on the Official Rank of a person, even if one knows the name, different words are sometimes used, in place of Dear.
**Dear Mr. President:
**Respected Sir/Madam:
**Your Highness, Your Royal Highness, etc. in case of Royalty.
**Honorable Prime Minister/Chief Minister:
**Honorable Judge/Justice so and so:
**Your Holiness (in case of spiritual leaders)
2 days 5 hrs
Paul Dixon
Brazil
Brazil
Native in English
&
English
Specializes in field
Brazil
PT/EN Translator - ABRATES Certified
Native in: English (Variants: UK, British) , Portuguese (Variant: Brazilian)
Works in: Portuguese to English, English to Portuguese
English term (edited):
dear mr. smith, => a synonym for
no synonym
There is no synonym for "dear" in this context, as it is just a sign of respect, no connection with "dear" meaning "beloved" or "expensive", for example.
Something went wrong...