What Is the Format for a “To Whom It May Concern” Letter?

A “To whom it may concern” letter should be written in a formal manner, in standard business letter format. This salutation is used when the letter writer is unsure of the name of the intended recipient. An example would be a letter of recommendation or request for interview.

When writing a letter to an unknown recipient, instead of using “Sir or Madam,” another option is to use “To Whom It May Concern.” The preferred capitalization rule is to capitalize all of the words in that phrase. Even though the salutation is generic, the letter should follow standard business rules.