Written correspondence tends also to start with a formal address “Dear Sirs” (if you don’t know
the names) and signing with “Yours faithfully”. If you do know the names, the form is “Dear Mr/Mrs X”
and ending with “Yours sincerely”. Particularly in email exchange if it is a follow up reply, the need to
use “Dear etc.” is not as important and some might simply write the main body of the message and end
with “Best wishes” or “Kind regards”. With the increasing use of social media the use of “Dear” and
names on networks such as Twitter are not necessary