Normally we use sehr geehrte/geehrter for addressing the persons according to gender.
How can we address a company/department/institute in a professional email?
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I just fixed some typos and grammar. Welcome to Stackexchange!– fifaltraCommented Jan 18, 2014 at 15:35
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2 Answers
You would say
Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren
because as you noticed it's hard to target your salutation towards one person when you're writing to a company or group. This phrase roughly translates to the English expression
To whom it may concern
answered Jan 18, 2014 at 15:25
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@Vogel612 Explain why "Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren" is used? It is, by yeras of experience. - Or explain why it translates to "To whom it may concern"? Well, I'm not sure, I tend to write "Dear sir or madam" (notably singular), but I'm not a native speaker of English Commented Jan 18, 2014 at 19:31
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Your translation... if I am not mistaken, "to whom it may concern" is gravely wrong in this context. At least for me that sounds like "to whoever cares (because i do not)" and that would be plain wrong.– Vogel612Commented Jan 27, 2014 at 0:24
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1@Vogel612: "to whom it may concern" is a common salutation for letters in English... Commented Jan 27, 2014 at 0:31
Recently, also generic descriptions can be found. In advertisement letters, you are adressed as
Sehr geehrter (Neu)-Kunde,
if the style of conversation is deliberately casual, you can adress a company by
Sehr geehrtes Firma-XYZ-Team,
But bear in mind, that you should always use personal names if possible.
