In general, the term to whom it may concern is a formal opening statement in a letter, usually when the recipient is not known by the sender.[1] This kind of wording is typical of Junk mail, due to the impersonal nature of the letter, where it is delivered in bulk to residences that did not ask to be sent it.[2]
Despite the tendency of the phrase to be used in unsolicited mails, it is also correctly used by governmental and private organisations that, due to the nature of contact with an individual (i.e. a request by the recipient for a letter to be sent, to be signed, not disclosing their name, only their address, for privacy reasons) would not know of a name to attribute the greetings of the letter to.
History of the phrase
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Specific usage
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Filler text
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Heading related to topic
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Other tests
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edit- ^ Postal, Wayne (1950). The Art of Letters and their Uses. Mars: FedEx Book Publishing Ltd. p. 57. ISBN 11550-15799-21.
{{cite book}}: Check|isbn=value: length (help) - ^ Mayle, Smith (15th December 1999). "An in-depth study regarding the propagation of junk mail". General notes and observations, Mayle, 1996-1999. 16 (4). doi:10460268773.
{{cite journal}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help); Check|doi=value (help); Check date values in:|access-date=and|date=(help) - ^ "Claim X is True, Say Scientists". Generic Newspaper (A). 11th June 2016.
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