Can you choose which punctuation mark to use after the salutation in a formal letter? No.
In US English, the only punctuation mark you should use after the salutation in a formal letter is a colon—if you want to be taken seriously and seen as professional and respectful.
A colon serves as an announcement. You’re announcing the information you’re presenting. You want your reader to focus on the content of your letter, and the colon serves as a formal call to attention.
With a formal letter, you don’t necessarily know the person to whom you are writing, so the letter isn’t personal. Therefore, it’s better to be too formal rather than too casual. Stick with the punctuation mark that US English considers formal: the colon.
Also, try not to confuse the colon [:] with the semicolon [;]. A semicolon should never be used after the salutation in a formal letter or in any kind of letter.
You already know you need to punctuate the body of your letter according to the rules of English; the salutation is no different.
Here are some rules to remember:
- Use a colon following the salutation in a formal letter.
- Use a comma following the salutation in a personal letter.
- Use either a colon or a comma following the salutation in an e-mail.
- A semicolon is always incorrect after the salutation in any kind of letter.
