How should you format a formal business letter or email greeting?

• A. Use a professional salutation, the recipient's title and last name if unknown.
• B. Use casual 'Hi there'.
• C. Skip greeting.
• D. Use all caps.

Answer: (A)

In formal business communication, the greeting sets the professional tone. Use a professional salutation and include the recipient’s title and last name when you know it (for example, Dear Mr. Smith or Dear Dr. Patel). If you don’t know the person’s name, choose a respectful generic option like Dear Sir/Madam or To whom it may concern. This shows respect and maintains a formal, courteous approach.

Casual greetings like “Hi there” undermine professionalism in formal contexts, and skipping the greeting altogether comes across as abrupt or rude. Using all caps looks like shouting and is generally unacceptable in professional writing.