Dear colleagues

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Dear colleagues" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used as a formal greeting in professional or academic correspondence when addressing a group of people. Example: "Dear colleagues, I hope this message finds you well as we prepare for the upcoming project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

Dear colleagues, the stock markets are down.

The Guardian - Business

(Dear Colleagues: Never mind, we take it back).

The New Yorker

"Dear colleagues, we have been working for 2 1/2 hours now," Putin said.

The Washington Post

Dear Colleagues: Today, I'm writing to you with a heavy heart.

The Guardian

Dear colleagues, It is with great respect that I have accepted the Board of Directors' call to become CEO of the UBS Group at this critical time.

The New York Times

Dear colleagues, For once in my seven years of employment at this firm, I'd like to return from vacation to find that you respected my ergonometric life style and left my standing desk alone.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

Dear Colleagues, I am writing to give all of you news and business colleagues alike some news about a leadership transition in the newsroom of The Times.

Huffington Post

Here is the letter Mr. Griffin sent to his employees on Friday: Dear Colleagues, I am pleased to report that as of January 17 , 2012 Citadel's Kensington and Wellington funds crossed their respective high water marks.

The New York Times

Dear Colleagues, The deepening recession and the structural changes confronting our industry continue to present us with difficult challenges.

Forbes

It's up to you whether you want to preface your message with a salutation like "Dear Ms. Winters," or "Dear Colleagues".

WikiHow

Dear Colleagues, I'm looking for a copy of the above.

Columbia University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Follow "Dear colleagues" with a comma and then begin your message on the next line. For example: Dear colleagues, I am writing to inform you...

Common error

Avoid using "Dear colleagues" in very informal or casual communications. It can sound overly formal in a context where a simple "Hi team" would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "Dear colleagues" serves as a salutation, functioning to formally address a group of people who share a professional association. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a standard opening for various forms of professional communication, from emails to presentations. This is evident in the examples provided, where it introduces announcements, updates, and requests within organizations.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Formal & Business

26%

Science

22%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Academia

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "Dear colleagues" is a grammatically correct and commonly used salutation for addressing professional peers. Ludwig AI indicates it is typically used in formal communications within business, academic, and news contexts. The phrase fosters a sense of community and respect, though it should be avoided in overly casual settings. Related phrases offer alternatives for varying degrees of formality. Always follow this salutation with a comma to ensure proper style and punctuation, it also important to use it mainly for internal communication. As shown by the examples, it serves to introduce announcements, updates and requests within organizations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Dear team members

Slightly less formal, specifies team affiliation.

Esteemed associates

More formal and emphasizes professional status.

Fellow professionals

Emphasizes shared professional identity.

Greetings, everyone

More general and less formal than "Dear colleagues".

Valued partners

Highlights a partnership or collaborative relationship.

Hello, team

More suitable for internal communications within a team.

Good morning, all

Specific to morning communications and less formal.

Ladies and gentlemen

Traditional and highly formal address to a mixed-gender group.

Attention, all

More direct and less polite, suitable for urgent announcements.

To whom it may concern

Used when the specific recipient is unknown, making it less personal.

FAQs

How to use "Dear colleagues" in a sentence?

"Dear colleagues" is typically used as a salutation at the beginning of an email, letter, or speech. For example: "Dear colleagues, I am writing to inform you about the upcoming conference."

What can I say instead of "Dear colleagues"?

Alternatives include "Hello team", "Greetings everyone", or "Esteemed associates", depending on the formality and context.

Is "Dear colleagues" appropriate for external communication?

It is generally more appropriate for internal communication or when addressing a group of peers within a specific professional field. For external communication, consider using a more general salutation like "Dear valued partners".

What's the difference between "Dear colleagues" and "To whom it may concern"?

"Dear colleagues" is used when addressing a known group of peers, while "To whom it may concern" is used when the recipient is unknown. "Dear colleagues" implies a sense of familiarity and shared profession or workplace.