Greetings

A lot of times I'm the only woman involved in a deal -- the other attorneys and the principals are all men. I have occasion fairly often to send emails or letters that open with the greeting "Gentlemen:" and I must say I do like the sound of it -- somber, well-mannered, a little old-fashioned. But in the same deals when I get correspondence back that begins "Ladies and Gentlemen:" the connotation for me is that of a circus ringmaster, about to announce a perilous and amazing stunt by a trapeze artist. And what if there were a deal where all those involved were women? Would "Ladies:" be an appropriate opener? Somehow it doesn't seem so, even though though I suppose it's the grammatical equivalent. What other options are there for addressing a group of folks of mixed (or single, female) gender in formal correspondence?

Comments

[RSLS]

Esteemed Colleagues?

[BC]

In the legal world, I frequently use the greeting "Counsel:"

[T P B, Esq.]

I've always preferred "Hey, jack***es," but I've settled on "Counsel" when I have to.

[MM]

Is it OK to write 'Ladies and Gentlemen' in correspondence, without 'Dear', or is that just email?
Mesdames?!

[T P B, Esq.]

I'm pretty sure "dear" is a necessary addition in letters.

[Scheherazade]

I disagree. I start right out with "Gentlemen:" -- no "Dear" at all, unless I know the folks. There's something so businesslike about that opener -- I like it a lot.

[louboutin heels]

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