Jun 01

Salutations for Government Officials

Credit Cards Articles Add comments

We need to contact a government official in times of dilemma and the best possible way to get our grievances addressed, is by writing a letter. While writing a letter to government officials, it is very important that we use proper language and address the officials with proper salutations. You can read more on letter writing.

These formal letters are to be written in a proper format and you just can’t begin the letter with a simple ‘Hello’ or ‘Dear Mr. Smith’. These government officials, Congressmen, military officers, etc. hold a very important post. They need to be respected and addressed using the proper salutations for government officials. You may even be writing to the Reverend Father of your community, and need to address him with the proper salutations. This is not only polite, but shows respect on your part. You need to write the letter as legibly as possible and sound courteous and reasonable. You should also identify yourself, by giving your full name, address, district, county or community, if applicable. You can read more on salutations for business letters and how to address an envelope to a business.

The following table will help you learn some of the letter salutations for government officials that you may use while addressing them in the letter. You can read more on business letter salutations and how to address an envelope.

Letter Salutations for Government Officials

Name of Government Officials Salutations for Government Officials
President of the United States Dear Sir or Madam; Mr. President or Madam President; Dear Mr. President or Dear Madam President
Former President Dear Mr. (Mrs., Ms.) last name
Vice President Dear Sir or Madam; Mr. Vice President or Madam Vice President; Dear Mr. Vice President or Dear Madam Vice President
Cabinet members Dear Mr. (or Madam) Secretary last name
Chief Justice Dear Mr. (or Madam) Justice last name or Dear Mr. (or Madam) Chief Justice
Associate Justice Dear Mr. (or Madam) Justice last name
United States Senator Dear Senator last name
Speaker of the House Dear Mr. (or Madam) Speaker last name
United States Representative Dear Mr. (or Mrs., Ms.) last name
United Nations Ambassador Dear Mr. (or Madam) Ambassador last name
Ambassador Dear Mr. (or Madam) Ambassador last name
Consul-General Dear Mr. (or Mrs., Ms.) last name
Foreign Ambassador Excellency or Dear Mr. (or Madam) Ambassador last name
Secretary-General of the United Nations Dear Mr.(or Madam) Secretary General last name
Governor Dear Governor last name
State legislators Dear Mr. (or Mrs. , Ms.) last name
Judges Dear Judge last name
Mayor Dear Mayor last name
Council members Dear Council member last name
The Pope Your Holiness or Most Holy Father
Cardinals Your Eminence or Dear Cardinal last name
Bishops Your Excellency or Dear Bishop (Archbishop)last name
Monsignor Reverend Monsignor or Dear Monsignor last name
Priest Reverend Father or Dear Father last name
Brother Dear Brother last name
Sister Dear Sister Mary Claire or Dear Sister last name
Protestant Clergy Dear Dr. (or Mr., Ms.) last name
Bishop (Episcopal) Dear Bishop last name
Rabbi Dear Rabbi last name
King or Queen Your Majesty or Sir or Madam last name
Other royalty Your Royal Highness
Duke/Duchess My Lord Duke/ Madam or Dear Duke of ______/ Dear Duchess
Marquess/Marchioness My Lord/Madam or Dear Lord/Lady last name
Earl My Lord or Dear Lord last name
Countess (wife of an Earl) Madam or Dear Lady last name
Viscount/Viscountess My Lord/Lady or Dear Lord/Lady last name
Baron/Baroness My Lord/Madam or Dear Lord/Lady last name
Baronet Dear Sir or Dear Sir last name
Wife of Baronet Dear Madam or Dear Lady last name
Knight Dear Sir or Dear Sir last name
Wife of knight Lady last name
Military Personnel The full rank is used a salutations while writing a letter to commissioned officers in the US Armed services. For example, Major General Robert Patrick is addressed as ‘Major General Patrick’. When greeting the officials the full rank is shortened, for example, ‘Dear General Patrick’. In case of Sergeants that includes staff sergeants, gunnery sergeants, first sergeants are all greeted as ‘Sergeant’. The private first class in the Navy and Coast Guard are greeted as ‘Private’ and chief petty officers as ‘Chief’. Non-commissioned officers of lower ranks are referred as just ‘Solider’ or ‘Sailor’.

This was some information regarding letter salutations for government officials. You need to be sure regarding the post or title the person you are addressingthe letter to. Only then you can use the appropriate salutations correctly without causing any embarrassment. I hope this article has helped you find the right salutations for government officials before you begin writing an official letter.

Similar Posts:

Share

Tags: Government Officials, Officials

Leave a Reply