>> It's usual to use "Dear" along with a name as a saluation in a
>> formal letter. For example:
>>
>> Dear Mr. Edwards
>>
>> Thank you for your interest in our product line. Blah,
>> blah, blah...
>>
>> However, using "dear" alone when addressing a person is used to
>> express intimacy or affection (you call your husband or wife
>> wife or very close friend/relative "dear").
>
> By the way, I'm not native english, but a lot of people here says "Oh!
> Dear..." when u got in a bad situation like, for example, Redboot not
> working... :-)
Good point. I hadn't thought about that third usage, where
you're not addressing or saluting[1] anybody.
[1] "Saluting" sounds very odd in this context, but isn't that
what you're doing when you're using a salutation?
--
Grant Edwards grante Yow! I'm having an
at emotional outburst!!
visi.com
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