Etiquette

How do you address a widow? I recently sent a note of condolence to a woman whose husband had died. Because I didn’t know her well, I guessed about how to address the envelope. I used this style: Ms. Grace Tomlinson When she wrote back… continue reading

In the mailbag, the topic of salutations in letters comes up at least a few times a week. Recently Chris wrote to ask a question I had not heard before: If a person’s full name ends in Jr. or Sr., should I format it as… continue reading

Do you look for opportunities to thank your customers? If you have U.S. customers, November 24, Thanksgiving Day, is one of those occasions. Since it is a national holiday not allied with a particular group or religion, Thanksgiving is an excellent time to remember customers… continue reading

A reader wrote to ask for help on writing a thank you to her coworkers, who were extremely supportive when her son died tragically in an accident. I am very sorry for her and her family’s terrible loss, and I know that writing such a… continue reading

Lately I have been getting email with questions about addressing married doctors: What is the proper way to address a letter to a husband and wife who are both doctors? If a married doctor couple has the same last name, what goes on the envelope?… continue reading

I regularly get questions from readers who want to know the proper salutation (greeting) for a letter to someone in a particular role or special job. Here are questions I have received about greetings in letters: How do I address a husband and wife when… continue reading

I’ve been getting requests for tips on how to write an apology, and I am happy to oblige. Interestingly enough, the leading inquiry was how to apologize for missing a meeting. For every piece I write–whether it’s a report, a thank you, a proposal, a… continue reading