Goodbye tradition, hello inclusion: The end of ‘Dear Sirs’

The call for change

Campaigners have for years called out that the phrase is non-inclusive in today’s modern society, saying that the gendered greeting assumes the recipient of correspondence is male. With emphasis today on equality and diversity, this clearly excludes women and non-binary individuals.

The origins of “Dear Sirs”

When you look back at the origins of the greeting, it dates back to the Middle Ages. The word sir, taken from the Latin word senior meaning “elder,” and adopted into Old French as sire, became a general term of respect first documented in 13th-century England and used when addressing a male of high status, such as a knight or noble.

From tradition to workplace standard

For centuries, the term “Dear Sirs” was adopted by professionals as the formal and traditional greeting used when the recipient’s name was unknown — at a time when the workplace was male dominated.

Despite the introduction of alternatives such as “Dear Madam” or “To Whom It May Concern,” “Dear Sirs” became the principal greeting. Law firms were no different; traditionally run by male partners, addressing correspondence to “sirs” became standard practice.

A personal reflection on tradition

As a self-labelled traditional PA, having attended secretarial college when typewriters and learning shorthand were a thing, understanding professional etiquette was a strict teaching; and yes, placing two spaces after a sentence was another must (but that’s another topic of discussion!).

But even I can understand the move away from the profoundly historical professional greeting, and that the change to be more inclusive is fitting.

Modern alternatives to “Dear Sirs”

The Law Society advises that if you do not know the identity of the recipient you are writing to, use a neutral term such as “Dear legal team,” “Dear all,” or simply “Good morning/afternoon.”

And to be clear, if your greeting starts with a neutral salutation, you should still end your correspondence with “Yours faithfully” — or if you know the recipient’s name, “Yours sincerely.”

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