Name Suffix included in Salutation?
Reader Question: What would be the proper salutation for someone with a II, Jr., Sr., etc. following their last name? (i.e. John Adams, II or John Adams, Jr.)
Answer:
A salutation does not include a suffix, even if you are using a last name and title. So, suffix considerations only apply to the address, not the salutation in a business letter. Correct salutations in this case are simply:
- Dear Mr. Adams:
- Dear John:
Also, it’s traditional to use the suffix “Jr.” for a second generation name, rather than “II”:
- John Adams, Jr.
- Not, John Adams, II
Subsequent generations use Roman Numerals to designate position:
- John Adams, III
- John Adams, IV
- Etc.
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