how to address in email

[thomas615]

Teacher, if I am sending an email to five people belonging to different companies, how would I address them at the beginning of the email? Can I say "Dear Sir/Madam" in an email? Thank you.

 

[Tdol]

I don't see why not- each email will go to a separate address and be read by one person. However, the context might affect this- if they're supposed only to communicate with you, it seems fine, less so if they're supposed to communicate with each other, but as you don't know their names, I am assuming replies will come to you. Other people may see things differently.

 

[Barb_D]

As with everything, context matters.

Tell me more about the situation, why you are sending one e-mail to five people instead of five e-mails to one person each, whether one person is the "to" recipient and the others are "cc" recipients, whether they are junior to you or senior, whether you are asking them for help or fulfilling their request, etc. etc.