I wrote a detailed reply and DW swallowed it. Grr.
In letters I'd tend to stay formal, email perhaps less so. In both cases I tend to be guided by how my correspondent addresses me - if s/he replied "Dear Gill" I would be likely to respond with "Dear John" unless it was an unpleasant conversation. I do not give my gas supplier permission to use my first name if I've written with a complaint!
As my full given name is Gillian, which nobody but my mother uses, my hackles immediately rise at "Dear Gillian", which mixes impertinence with evidence that the writer does not know me.
If in doubt I err on the formal side in letters, somewhat less formal in e-mail. However, most of my work letters are to parents anyway, and they tend automatically to be more formal.
no subject
In letters I'd tend to stay formal, email perhaps less so. In both cases I tend to be guided by how my correspondent addresses me - if s/he replied "Dear Gill" I would be likely to respond with "Dear John" unless it was an unpleasant conversation. I do not give my gas supplier permission to use my first name if I've written with a complaint!
As my full given name is Gillian, which nobody but my mother uses, my hackles immediately rise at "Dear Gillian", which mixes impertinence with evidence that the writer does not know me.
If in doubt I err on the formal side in letters, somewhat less formal in e-mail. However, most of my work letters are to parents anyway, and they tend automatically to be more formal.