[General] Wrong salutation

[A..G..]

Hello! Help me clarify why I can't say 'Dear Mr. David Kennedy!'
Thank you in advance!

 

[5jj]

Hello! Help me clarify why I can't say 'Dear Mr. David Kennedy!'
Thank you in advance!

Well, you can, but it will seem strange.

It just happens that the salutation in a letter is written as 'Dear Sir', 'Dear Mr Kennedy' or 'Dear David'. That's the convention.

 

[Barb_D]

With automated mail-merge, "Dear Mr. David Kennedy" feels very automated. Choose his title. Choose his first name. Choose his last name. Merge them.
I'd rather be addressed at "Dear Clover Leaf Client" than "Dear Ms. Barb D" -- at least the first doesn't pretend to be personal.