Formal Salutation

[Maytag]

What is the preferred form for a written formal salutation to a panel comprising some unknown combination of married/unmarried males and females? "Sirs:" seems inappropriate. "Mesdames and ___?:" doesn't seem right either.

[Tdol]

I've seen Americans use 'Gentlemen', which sounds a bit weird in BE.

[Maytag]

I agree. I had considered "Gentlemen" but forgot to include it. They all seem to have a male orientation that generally gets us in trouble here in the US, or they are clumsy for some other reason.

[rocos]

This is a difficult question, i can't understand it.

[Maytag]

I have concluded that there is probably no standard approach to it. However, after further thought, I believe that I will now use the same address that we use when speaking to a mixed audience: "Ladies and Gentlemen." That seems to work best for me.

[Tdol]

I haven't found a standard approach. I believe yours is better than plain 'Gentlemen'.

[ram]

Deat Tdol,
in our country, where is AE is predominantly used, I usually see Sir/Madam.
Is this acceptable?
RAM

[Tdol]

That's fine and what we use in BrE, but will that work when you know you are writing to a group of people, which is the question here. Using the singular when you know it's a panel sounds a bit strange too.

[ram]

Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't notice.