formal salutations

I have a question i hope you can answer...

my company requires us to use "Dear ____" in all of our e-mail writing. "Dear" is something that i have traditionally saved for people that are actually dear to me. What other salutations are generally as accepted as "Dear" as being formal...?? I had been using "Greetings ______" or "Hello _____". Any suggestions...?

Thanks

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I have a question i hope you can answer...

my company requires us to use "Dear ____" in all of our e-mail writing. "Dear" is something that i have traditionally saved for people that are actually dear to me. What other salutations are generally as accepted as "Dear" as being formal...?? I had been using "Greetings ______" or "Hello _____". Any suggestions...?

Thanks

The word Dear is also used in business letters and does not infer anything personal.

Dear Mr. Brown,
Mr. Wilson,
Ms. Scott, (unless a woman has expressed a preference for "Mrs" or "Miss", it's always safe to go by "Ms")
Dear Publishing Manager,
Dear Customer/Reader/Subscriber, etc,
Whom it May concern (very formal, no specific names need to be mentioned),
Dear Sir,
Dear Madam,