Which term describes the opening greeting in a formal letter, such as 'Dear Sir'?

• A. Salutation
• B. Formal Greeting
• C. Enclosure
• D. Interjection

Answer: (A)

The opening greeting in formal writing is called the salutation. It’s the polite address at the start of a message, typically something like “Dear Sir” or “Dear Mr. Smith,” and it sets the respectful tone before the body of the text. An enclosure is a note about documents included with the letter, not the greeting. An interjection is an exclamatory word or phrase, not a formal greeting. While “formal greeting” describes the idea, the precise term used in writing is salutation, making it the best choice.