Email etiquette

[plop1389]

Not sure where to post this but Im always confused about how to start and end emails that are enquiring about something, do I go formal or not?

[jno]

Dear plop

Politness is never wrong, though it may not always be necessary. So, yes, be as formal as you like, nobody will take offence.

Yours sincerely

jno

[sammd]

Depending what you are enquiring about and who to...

Dear Sirs, Sir/Madam or <name> if you know it at the top

Yours sincerely (for Sirs or Sir/Madam), yours faithfully if you know the name. Another good one is Regards - polite but not too formal.

[jno]

sammd, I think, at least with regular letters, it's the other way round - Dear Ms Smith...Yours sincerely if you know the name, Dear sir...Yours faithfully if you don't. See here for instance

[sammd]

Sorry, i got them the wrong way round. Oops!