Is Whom It May Concern Capitalized?
When it comes to writing formal letters or emails, there are many rules and conventions that one must follow. One of the questions that often arises is whether or not to capitalize the phrase "whom it may concern". In this article, we will explore this issue and help you understand when and how to use capitalization in your correspondence.
What does "whom it may concern" mean?
"Whom it may concern" is a formal phrase that is often used to address an unknown recipient in a letter or email. It is typically used when the author does not know the name of the person who will be receiving the correspondence. The phrase is often used at the beginning of a letter or email, followed by the body of the message.
Is "whom it may concern" always capitalized?
The short answer is no, "whom it may concern" is not always capitalized. The capitalization of this phrase depends on the format and style of the letter or email you are writing. In most cases, "whom it may concern" is not capitalized.
Capitalization in formal letters and emails
In formal letters and emails, it is common practice to capitalize the first letter of the first word of each sentence, as well as the first letter of proper nouns and proper adjectives. Proper nouns are the names of specific people, places, or organizations, while proper adjectives are words derived from proper nouns that describe or modify a noun.
For example, in the sentence "Dear John Smith", "John Smith" is a proper noun and should be capitalized. Similarly, in the sentence "I am writing to inquire about the job opening at Google", "Google" is a proper noun and should be capitalized.
However, "whom it may concern" is not a proper noun or proper adjective, and therefore does not require capitalization in formal correspondence. This is true regardless of whether it is used at the beginning of a sentence or in the middle of a sentence.
Capitalization in informal letters and emails
In informal letters and emails, the rules of capitalization are often more relaxed. It is common to use lowercase letters for most words, including proper nouns and proper adjectives. In this case, "whom it may concern" would also be written in lowercase letters.
Exceptions to the rule
While "whom it may concern" is typically not capitalized, there are some exceptions to this rule. For example, if the phrase is used as the title of a document or as a heading in a letter or email, it may be capitalized for emphasis.
Similarly, if the letter or email is being sent to a specific department or organization, it may be appropriate to capitalize the relevant words. For example, if you are writing a letter to the "Human Resources Department" of a company, you would capitalize these words for clarity.
Conclusion
In summary, "whom it may concern" is not always capitalized in formal or informal letters and emails. However, there are some exceptions to this rule, such as when the phrase is used as a title or heading, or when it is being sent to a specific department or organization. It is important to follow the conventions of the format and style of the correspondence you are writing to ensure that your message is clear and professional.
Remember that proper capitalization is just one of the many rules and conventions that must be followed when writing formal letters or emails. By paying attention to these details, you can ensure that your message is received and understood in the way that you intended.
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