deird1: Faith, with text " 'sup, bitches?" (Faith bitches)
deird1 ([personal profile] deird1) wrote2011-02-02 09:33 am
Entry tags:

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


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

View Answers

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...

View Answers

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...

View Answers

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...

View Answers

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...

View Answers

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?
jesuswasbatman: (Default)

[personal profile] jesuswasbatman 2011-02-02 07:27 am (UTC)(link)
I used to use "Dear Mr/Ms" on work emails to external people until the organisation's policy was officially changed to use "Hello John".
jesuswasbatman: (canon ship (by redscharlach))

[personal profile] jesuswasbatman 2011-02-03 07:23 am (UTC)(link)
Yes, it was thought that we needed to drop our reputation for being excessively formal.