Letter writing: Dear Sir

tarquin_foxglove

I'm demolishing a building and I'm notifying the occupants of neighbouring properties, one of whom is an actual Knight of the realm.

I've never met him but do I address the letter (using Alan Sugar as an example)...

"Dear Sir Alan",

or

"Dear Sir Sugar"

Sir Alan sounds a bit informal seeing as I've never met him but Sir Sugar just sounds wrong.

Any thoughts?

notsoblue

"Hollaaaaaaaaaaaaa"

asprilla

Dear Sir Alan.

Although actually hes now Dear Lord Sugar.

Many years ago whilst at Uni I was working for BT doing telesales and the system would bring up the salutation and surname. In one case it came up with Sir Smith. I paused and then said it anyway, only to get a complete bollocking from said knight of the realm about how to correctly address him.

Like I cared.

il_principe

Isn't 'Sir' Alan a Lord now?

Is the person a Sir or a Lord?

For Lord - Dear Lord Sugar

For Sir - Dear Sir Alan

Think that's right.

UndercoverElephant

I think it's Sir Alan. Bad example, though, as it would also be, "Dear Lord Sugar".

Edit: Man, you've gotta be quick round here!

cee

what about...

Good Sir Knight.
If it pleaseth thee, I will lay waste to thy neighours building

etcetc

lost_in_thought

Il Principe wrote:

Isn't 'Sir' Alan a Lord now?

Is the person a Sir or a Lord?

For Lord - Dear Lord Sugar

For Sir - Dear Sir Alan

Think that's right.

'tis

bigmat

Dear Mr Sugar.

F**k all that "Sir" and "Lord" b******s. Power to the people!!!

tarquin_foxglove

MatHammond wrote:

Dear Mr Sugar.

F**k all that "Sir" and "Lord" b******s. Power to the people!!!

I like the cut of your jib, young man. Unfortunately I'm not sure my Director would, so "Sir Alan" it is then.

Cheers for the quick responses...

dhope

Would imagine the surname, it'll only sound weird if their surname is Sugar, or Squiggles, or Sausages.

Kieran_Burns

For some utterly bizarre reason Carphone Warehouse somehow thought my title was Wing Commander :shock: 8)

I used to enjoy gettijng letters addressed to Wing Commander Burns


Oh, and Tarquin? http://lmgtfy.com/?q=writing+a+letter+t ... +the+realm

Oddly YOUR question is 4th in the list!

dhope

dhope wrote:

Would imagine the surname, it'll only sound weird if their surname is Sugar, or Squiggles, or Sausages.

Alright, I'll cede to ll Principe and LiT. He seems to have a coat of arms for an avatar and she sounds a bit posher than me, innit. First name it is.

attica

lost_in_thought wrote:

Il Principe wrote:

Isn't 'Sir' Alan a Lord now?

Is the person a Sir or a Lord?

For Lord - Dear Lord Sugar

For Sir - Dear Sir Alan

Think that's right.

'tis

+1

How would you address Lord Billy Bob Whatsisname First Admiral of the Fleet PhD then?

jonginge

Attica wrote:

lost_in_thought wrote:

Il Principe wrote:

Isn't 'Sir' Alan a Lord now?

Is the person a Sir or a Lord?

For Lord - Dear Lord Sugar

For Sir - Dear Sir Alan

Think that's right.

'tis

+1

How would you address Lord Billy Bob Whatsisname First Admiral of the Fleet PhD then?

Mr Angelina Jolie II

No, hang on. That was someone else

Kieran_Burns

http://www.debretts.com/forms-of-addres ... night.aspx

is your guide for all things regarding rank...

The dignity of knighthood carries the prefix of 'Sir', but unlike a baronetcy it is only held for life.

The recipient is allowed to use his title and to attach the appropriate letters for Knights of Orders of Chivalry after his name from the date of the announcement in the London Gazette. He does not have to wait for the accolade to be officially conferred upon him.

There are two kinds of knighthood conferred by the Sovereign:
(1) Knights of the various Orders of Chivalry, identified by the appropriate letters after the name.
(2) Knights Bachelor, who, in ordinary correspondence, carry no letters after the name.

Armed forces and ambassadorial ranks should precede 'Sir' . For example:

His Excellency Sir John Brown, KCMG
Major Sir John Brown

Zachariah

Kieran_Burns wrote:

For some utterly bizarre reason Carphone Warehouse somehow thought my title was Wing Commander :shock: 8)

I used to enjoy gettijng letters addressed to Wing Commander Burns

I still occasionally get mail from American Express addressing me as Cardinal. I wanted to be the Pope, but sadly that wasn't an option from their drop-down list.

rjsterry

And if they are high up in the church you might end up with something like

The Right Reverend Dr Sir John Brown

cjcp

cee wrote:

what about...

Good Sir Knight.
If it pleaseth thee, I will lay waste to thy neighours building

etcetc

woodford2barbican

and remember:

If using "Dear Sir / Madam" - close 'Yours faithfully", if "Dear Sir Alan", "Dear Lord Sugar", "Dear Mr Bloggs", close "Yours sincerely".

Gazzaputt

I know in person he likes to be referred to as Lord Sugar.

PBo

Il Principe wrote:

Isn't 'Sir' Alan a Lord now?

Is the person a Sir or a Lord?

For Lord - Dear Lord Sugar

For Sir - Dear Sir Alan

Think that's right.

this is correct, in an either/or situation - however, I don't know what the rules for "compounding" are.

how about looking up the apprentice on i player, and seeing what they call him?