Report comment

I really like this initiative, as I have long noticed the default use of "he" for any unidentified professional. Unfortunately my firm is quite traditional, and I have even been told off for using "they" as a gender neutral option ("It's too ambiguous") and again when I wrote a letter placing the wife's name before the husband's ("it's not the done thing"). I am trying my best to change attitudes but I don't think I'm getting anywhere! I have not found a suitable alternative formal address for a letter though: I fear "dear all" is too informal and "dear colleagues" is not accurate. I think Dear Sirs will have to remain for now.