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From: nather@utastro.UUCP (Ed Nather)
Newsgroups: net.lang
Subject: Re: all-purpose honorific
Message-ID: <1004@utastro.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 11-Feb-85 10:48:23 EST
Article-I.D.: utastro.1004
Posted: Mon Feb 11 10:48:23 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 19-Feb-85 22:59:31 EST
References: <191@uw70.UUCP>
Organization: U. Texas, Astronomy, Austin, TX
Lines: 17
Xref: seismo net.lang:1471

> 
>                  
> In letters, etc. I suggest the all-purpose, sex-neutral honorific
> "Greetings".  It is less stilted than "To Whom it May Concern" or
> "Dear Sir or Madam", yet more formal than "Hi there" or "Dear Folks".
>                     Ruth Ludwin
> University of Washington Geophysics Program -- Seattle

This has a tainted history: all the draft induction notices sent by the
local draft boards prior to, and during, WWII started this way.  It still
leaves a bad taste in many mouths, but as us older ones fade away, it might
come back into use.  I can't use it, though.

-- 
Ed Nather
Astronony Dept, U of Texas @ Austin
{allegra,ihnp4}!{noao,ut-sally}!utastro!nather