A formal letter ends with the complimentary close ‘Yours faithfully’. Which salutation should it begin with?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Sir/Madam
The complimentary close “Yours faithfully” is used when a formal letter does not begin with the reader’s name. So the salutation (greeting) should be a formal one like “Sir/Madam”. It suits a letter to an officer whose name the writer does not know.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: Hello Sir — Incorrect. “Hello” is a casual word. It is not used to begin a formal letter, even with “Sir”.
Option 2: Dear Mr Rohit — Incorrect. “Mr” goes with a surname, not a first name.
Option 4: Hi there — Incorrect. “Hi there” is a casual greeting for friends.