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  3. Business/Commerce (general)

Distinguidos señores

English translation: Dear Sir or Madam

10:41 Jun 2, 2011
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Bus/Financial - Business/Commerce (general) / letter
Spanish term or phrase: Distinguidos señores
This is the opening line of a letter setting out why a university is offereing its support and facilities for a conference to be held in its city/university.

I'm not sure what the right tone would be for this...

Any bilinguals out there this morning, please?

Many thanks
Comunican
United Kingdom
Local time: 11:39
English translation:Dear Sir or Madam
Explanation:
You cannot encompass both genders with Sir.
I have also seen Dear Sir/Madam but I prefer the former.
Selected response from:

matt robinson
Spain
Local time: 12:39
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +7Dear Sir or Madam
matt robinson
5 +4Dear Sir or Madam
Simon Bruni
4 +4Dear Sirs
kittilina
4 +1To whom it may concern
Fiona Kirton
4Dear Colleagues
neilmac


Discussion entries: 5





  

Answers


16 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +4
Dear Sir or Madam


Explanation:
Sirs only if you know that all the adressees are male.

Simon Bruni
United Kingdom
Local time: 11:39
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 203

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  AllegroTrans
11 mins
agree  Cinnamon Nolan
20 mins
agree  Jenni Lukac (X)
57 mins
agree  James A. Walsh
2 hrs
neutral  patinba: Dear Sirs is the correct form used to address companies, etc. and is not sexist.
9 hrs
  -> Dear Sirs is decreasingly common, precisely because many people view it as sexist (along with using "he" to denote a person whose gender is unknown)
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16 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +7
Dear Sir or Madam


Explanation:
You cannot encompass both genders with Sir.
I have also seen Dear Sir/Madam but I prefer the former.

matt robinson
Spain
Local time: 12:39
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 32
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  AllegroTrans
11 mins
agree  Cinnamon Nolan
19 mins
agree  Jenni Lukac (X)
57 mins
agree  Antoni Morey i Pasqual: This explanation was better than the other one
1 hr
agree  James A. Walsh
2 hrs
agree  eski
3 hrs
agree  Gabriella Bertelmann: agree
4 hrs
neutral  patinba: Dear Sirs is the correct form used to address companies, etc. and is not sexist.
9 hrs
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6 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +4
Dear Sirs


Explanation:
My suggestion!

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Note added at 28 mins (2011-06-02 11:09:28 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I was brought up (well, nearly!) in a solicitor's office and I believe this is still the correct way to address a letter if you do not know who the addressee is. Yes, it is old fashioned and sexist, but formalities are formalities sometimes.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 29 mins (2011-06-02 11:11:05 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Almost forgot - universities are also pretty well known for their formality in letter writing.

kittilina
Spain
Local time: 12:39
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 12
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks Kittilina, that was my first thought too, but I wonder if it is too sexist and slightly old fashioned these days...


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Alan Gardiner
0 min
  -> Thanks!
agree  Martina Pokupec (X)
7 mins
  -> Thanks!
agree  patinba: This is the correct form. It is not sexist, because you are addressing the company, organisation or whatever.
9 hrs
agree  Ruth Ramsey
12 days
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
To whom it may concern


Explanation:
Another commonly used option which is both gender and number neutral.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_Whom_It_May_Concern

Fiona Kirton
United Kingdom
Local time: 11:39
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 39

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Evelina Botelle: I prefer this one!
7 hrs
neutral  Cinnamon Nolan: This is usually used for recommendation letters, etc.
11 hrs
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7 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
Dear Colleagues


Explanation:
I used this and Dear Participants when working as a symposium secretary, as everybody coming was working in the same area (phytosanitary issues)...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 7 hrs (2011-06-02 17:57:03 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

It sidesteps the male/female issue ...

neilmac
Spain
Local time: 12:39
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 564
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