I'm writing a letter to an author of a short article that was published in the Boston Globe about famine in Ethiopia.  I was wondering how I would properly address them in a former, professional manner.  Dear Tom Haines? That's just not right... Please help!
125481
"Dear Mr. Haines" or "Dear Sir" is perfectly acceptable.
138719
While I understand your question, most things should be written out on formal addresses, I just wouldn't on that one. It just seems awkward. But it's up to you, it's not wrong to write it out.
222781
Personal/Character reference letters are the hardest to write.    Your job is to market/sell your friend, and it must be written very well to accomplish its \n\nI'e provided a link below that is a good place to start.  I wish you the best of luck!
531367
If this is a business letter confirming...something...the format is wrong.\n\n                                                                           Mr. Your Name\n                                                                            Your Company\n                                                                             Address\n                                                                            Date of Letter\n\nMr. Jeffrey Name\nHis Company\nCompany Address\n\nDear Mr. ?:\n\nAttached are five of the three-dimensional drawings that you requested. Please review them and let us know if you will require any changes. We will be forwarding the remaining drawings tomorrow.\n\nSincerely,\nPeter\n\nBe aware that you may always want to start the letter with a kind statement of some sort, depending on how well you know the person you are corresponding with. "I would like to thank you for the opportunity to: ......provide you with our services...OR...It was nice to see you and Diane again...\n\nYour name and address is to the right of the page and his to the left, his below yours (It will not allow me to space properly here).
171094
Know mudder ow heard eye tray, eye juiced canned spall co-rectly. Eye thynk sum-thang iz rong wit me. \n\nI think how someone spells and the grammar they use tells a lot about the individual. Sometimes it actually aides in answering their question. If you really want to answer something for someone, but see that they are having a difficult time even formulating the question or expressing it in a clear and concise manner, you know not to use too complicated of an explanation or to keep your vernacular and verbiage in check as to not confuse them.\n\nBut yes, some of the questions and answers in this place make me wonder if one thousand monkeys are not actually on one thousand typewriters (or computers in this case) trying to write the next great American novel. It is just mind boggling at times how poorly expressed and educated some are. \n\nBut I'm here to help, not to criticize. Unless it is funny.
179956
Welcome to the rewrite e-mail club.\n\nNot long ago I spent a good amount of time giving my oldest son, that's in the military and was in in Iraq at the time, some well thought out advice.  I left the e-mail compose area of hotmail to reference something on the Internet and when I returned, I returned to a new, blank e-mail compose page.  Man, was I pissed!\n\nI complained about this to the hotmail staff and they told me that it is standard procedure for hotmail for the sake of security, that is, any unfinished e-mail is erased.  Who thought this one out I'll never know.\n\nAnyway, my remedy now is whenever I do write something that I put an extra effort into, or is vital, I run a copy of it onto an MS Word page.  This new habit has turned out to be a blessing because with my style of writing, which is to brain-storm first and edit a whole bunch later, I can correct then paste and repaste to the e-mail.\n\nIf you don't have MS Word, use Notepad or Wordpad.
650807
In your next letter add -how he is not (or has) representing you or the people you know. And he will not get your vote again unless he does. And mean it! \n\nOtherwise it is fine. Thanks for writing.
82276
First line : too much of a run on ... change to something like:  "I am replying to your letter in regards to the poem you recently read by Walt Whitman"\n\n2nd line ... maybe add  "In my opinon I think you are taking the poem to literally."\n\nDo not abrievate ppl, r, cuz u, etc.  Actually spell the words out.  If you want your letter to be taken seriously you need to present it in a professional manner.\n\nHopefully you also have paragraphing.\n\nHope this helps!
367517
I see one run on sentence that needs to be split. I also see two others that should be combined into one\n\nThat said, a good writer never pads the piece. The whole idea is to make it as clear & concise as possible. As a writer, the only legitimate way to extend this is to add information.\n\nI just did a search & on the first page I opened & found the answer to your problems - with an "s".. Your info or the web page info is incorrect, one or the other  There was enough other info to expand the reason for the tie.\n\nAfter a quick search, I found additional info & an error you may wish to correct.       This is a much better version than the 3 sentences I wrote earlier, correct? That is what I mean by clear & concise.\n \nYou've done all right so far. just a little more..
106691
obviously you are really confused with Y/A... \n\n\n\nTHIS IS NOT EMAIL!\n\n\n\nTRY CALLING READERS DIGEST!!\n\n\n\nMORON...
144714
tnx 4 corectin da typos miss manager. but, hey dnt swear it s*hit hapens. im cool. try not 2 drift out of da pic & motivate peeps 2 keep writing. da otha day wen i was tryin 2 write sumfin in ere a godam msge apeared sayin i woz not a memba. i hada hell of trouble getin round it. seems u aint got round 2 it yet.\nbut dnt botha, a u c, everyfin is in place now & if it was u who fixed it, den gud stuff. keep up da gud work
455280
Could it be that they're using Eng (US) rather than Eng (UK)?  Being a Brit, I'd write "misspelt" rather than "misspelled" - but this wouldn't be incorrect.  I think we all have our favourite (favorite?) hates in written English, but we mustn't let this affect our blood pressure!
172337
The gentleman's full name will go in the address portion of your letter.  I'm curious about your use of the word "prosecution, " as that generally refers to a criminal action.  Also, you may want to include Mr. Raad's first name, and possibly his telephone number. Your text should read as follows:\n\nDear Mr. Giochi:\n\nWe have received the catalogs you sent.  Thank you very much for your attention and prosecution.  It was a pleasure getting to know your company; we were greatly impressed by the quality of your products.\n\nWe have added your company to our vendor list, and if we can collaborate on future projects, we will contact you.\n\nPlease feel free to contact Mr. _______ Raad, our manager of foreign commerce, if you have any questions or concerns.\n\nRegards,
669564
Letter 1:\n\nDear Parish Priest,\n\nPlease release the youth funds so that we may purchase musical instruments.\n\nSincerely,\nxmozex\n\nLetter 2:\n\nTo All It May Concern:\n\nWe would like to appoint the following people as Patrons/Metrons:\nPerson 1\nPerson 2\nPerson 3...etc...\n\nSincerely,\nxmozex\n\nIt might seem that my response is a little sarcastic (which I admit, it is).  It's sarcastic because I feel you shouldn’t be too stressed about these letters.  Have a little more confidence in yourself and just spell out exactly what you want and put it in a letter format.  Concise and simple is always the best way to go with business correspondence.\n\nFinally, if I am missing the point of your question, I would suggest that you reword and post it again.
71237
It is incorrect. It should read, "Should you have any questions or need further assistance, please contact Joe Blow or me."\n\nOne way to determine this is to remove one of the two persons you are referring to. In this instance you are referring to yourself and Joe Blow. Take out Joe blow and you get, "Should you have any questions or need further assistance, please contact myself."\n\nThat doesn't make any sense. Replace 'myself' with 'me' and you have a sentence that makes sense. Now put Joe in front of you and you have a complete, grammatically correct sentence.
406999
A strongly-worded letter has always worked well for me. Far better than phone calls. Make sure you address it to the head of the company. If I'm not mistaken, that would be Brian Roberts, CEO of Comcast. Things have a way of magically getting done when you write to the big cheese.
94778
Hi Sam, \n\nI understand that your lecturer is quite 'kewl' and stuff, so I suggest you write it in a 'Semi-Formal' way. Did I confuse you? Let me explain...\nStart something like...\n\nDear Mr.XYZ, or Hi Mr.XYZ (Not the usual Respected Mr.XYZ)\n\nWrite the body of your letter in 3 paragraphs - Introduction, Explaination, and Conclusion, and requests, if any. \nBe sure to make him feel you have concern of his time by mentioning the subject. Again, I don't say you have to do it by putting a separate side-heading for it, like in formal letters, but try to include something like...'Well, I have to say you class was amazing today. I write ths letter to explain so and so.'..or something like that. That doesn't sound formal, does it? Ok... and when you finish with the three paragraphs, sign off in a kewl manner...like...\n'I hope I made my point. Will be very happy if you give me your opinions. Bye!!!' (We don't say bye in formal letters, do we?)\nSo, till then, this is Sam for you.\nHave A Nice Day.\n\nYours truly, \nSam    \n(or if you want it more casual, jus sign off saying 'Sam')\n\n\nHope this helps. If not, feel free to ask me to clarify a few more points. Bye Sam!!!\n\nrule wid style n luv@vinny