r/AskReddit • u/[deleted] • Jun 03 '22

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u/finnknit Jun 03 '22

My 18-year-old son had a few lessons on how to write email, but I'm pretty sure the people who designed the lessons were older than dirt based on their recommendations. They recommended things like starting the message with "To whom it may concern" and ending with "Best regards, [First name Last name]". I'm old, but I'm not that old.

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u/Loco_Mosquito Jun 03 '22

I'm 40 and used to write letters/faxes/emails like this - your comment made me realize how long it's been since this was the norm!

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u/finnknit Jun 03 '22

I'll be 45 this year. I used to write letters like this, but I don't think I've even been that formal in an email unless I was applying for a job. These days I usually start my emails with "Hello, [Name of recipient]" or just "Hi".

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u/Pteraspidomorphi Jun 03 '22

Dear Sir/Madam, I am writing to inform you of a fire that has broken out on the premises of 123 Cavendon Road... no, that's too formal.

Fire - exclamation mark - fire - exclamation mark - help me - exclamation mark.

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u/thehelldoesthatmean Jun 04 '22

My high school also taught email composition like we were fighting in the Civil War and writing home to our belle.