How do you refer to people?

Just a poll, because I'm wondering if being in a different country makes a big difference to this...

(Ignore the "dear" if that's not what you'd say - I just put it there because it's the start of a letter.)

Poll #5814 forms of address

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 29

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At work, you're writing a letter to John Smith, whom you've never met. You start...

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Dear Mr Smith
22 (78.6%)

Dear John Smith
2 (7.1%)

Dear John
1 (3.6%)

Dear Mr John Smith
0 (0.0%)

Dear Sir
3 (10.7%)

At work, you're writing a letter to John Smith, whom you've met several times. You start...

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Dear Mr Smith
13 (44.8%)

Dear John Smith
2 (6.9%)

Dear John
13 (44.8%)

Dear Mr John Smith
0 (0.0%)

Dear Sir
1 (3.4%)

At work, you're writing an email to John Smith, whom you've never met. You start...

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Dear Mr Smith
18 (62.1%)

Dear John Smith
1 (3.4%)

Dear John
7 (24.1%)

Dear Mr John Smith
0 (0.0%)

Dear Sir
3 (10.3%)

At work, you're writing an email to John Smith, whom you've met several times. You start...

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Dear Mr Smith
4 (14.3%)

Dear John Smith
0 (0.0%)

Dear John
23 (82.1%)

Dear Mr John Smith
0 (0.0%)

Dear Sir
1 (3.6%)

It makes a difference if you're...

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not at work
20 (69.0%)

writing to Jane Smith instead of John
4 (13.8%)

an inferior, a superior, or an equal
18 (62.1%)

trying to be polite
14 (48.3%)

talking to them face-to-face
18 (62.1%)

Questions? Comments?

oh dear

Latest news reports are saying this evening's cyclone is likely to be as big or bigger than Katrina. O.O

Poor old Queensland. First floods, now this. I feel like I should be running up there to help, but for both situations the main thing they're wanting people to do is GET OUT OF THERE. Not much I can do apart from send money, and pray hard.

*worries*

Coconutty Goodness

Recipe #5 completed!

I made lamingtons, which are so extremely Aussie they might as well have vegemite in them (they don't).

They're pretty much sponge cake pieces, dipped in chocolate icing and then rolled in coconut. My fingers got incredibly sticky.



I would hereby like to thank the good people of Tupperware for my favourite kitchen item of all time: my mixing bowl with a special lid. It means I can stir mixing stuff without spattering it everywhere. Given the amount I managed to spatter everywhere despite using the groovy lid, I hate to think what my kitchen would have looked like without it.