Hi guys

Just a quickie (as the actress said to the bishop - !!)

When sending letters out to agents, do you address it as Mrs/Mr or use the first name if you know it? I always worry when sending to female agents because some people don't like the use of Ms and it can appear formal.
But is Dear Jane too familar?

Many thanks

Eve

Well I always write 'Dear Hilary Smith' or 'Dear Jocelyn Bridges-Burnt' which evades the whole question with perfect politeness: you don't even have to know if they're male or female. I've never understood why some WWers shot me down in flames for it being bad mannered?

Emma

It also works the other way round - some women hate being addressed as Mrs when they aren't or even when they are.

I agree with Emma and would do the same. Just address the envelope to 'John Smith' or 'Alice Brown' and then start with 'Dear John Smith' or 'Dear Alice Brown.'

If you can't bring yourself to do that then I'd recommend using Ms unless you know for certain that the woman in question prefers Mrs or Miss. Given the world agents live in, I can't see any of them being offended by the use of Ms. It's been in very common usage in the world of business for a long time now.

If you can't bring yourself to do that then I'd recommend using Ms unless you know for certain that the woman in question prefers Mrs or Miss.

I really can't see anyone in the booktrade having a hissy fit because you don't know whether they're married or a virgin: it's a liberal enough environment that even if they harbour Daily Mail tendencies they know not to show it. Plus, half of them are married, but use their married surname for home and children while operating professionally under their unmarried surname, in which case Ms is the only option. (FWIW I loathe being addressed as Miss or Mrs - it offends my general feminism, and my particular circumstances.)

Emma

I don't think it matters.
Often you can send to the person in the Yearbook but frankly it will be someone else who deals with the unsolicited stuff - especially at the big agencies.
I can't imagine anyone knocking a great mss back because the writer used the wrong title.
HB x