You are writing a personal letter to your father whose name is Suresh Chand. You will begin the letter with the salutation?

Appeared in: GMCH - 2015

Explanation

In personal letters to close relatives like a father, the salutation should address the person by their relationship (e.g., Father, Mother) to show respect and affection.
"My dear father" is a conventional, warm, and appropriate greeting for an informal letter to a parent.
Using the person's first name or a formal title like "Mr." is generally avoided in such personal correspondence as it can be seen as either too informal/disrespectful or too distant.

Option B: This phrasing is awkward for a salutation. More importantly, addressing a parent by their first name in a greeting is often considered inappropriate or disrespectful in the context of a personal letter.
Option C: This salutation is overly formal and redundant. The use of 'Mr. Suresh Chand' is appropriate for a business or formal letter to a stranger or acquaintance, not a personal letter to one's own father.
Option D: This is a subscription, also known as a complimentary close. It is the phrase used to end a letter, just before the signature, not to begin it.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Letter Writing: Salutations for Informal Letters as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Clear and appropriate communication is a fundamental skill in all professions, including nursing.
Understanding the difference between formal and informal modes of address is crucial when interacting with patients, families, and colleagues to build rapport and show respect.
What if the letter was a formal complaint to a hospital administrator? The salutation would need to change to a formal one, such as 'Dear Mr./Ms. [Last Name]:' or 'To Whom It May Concern:' to match the context and purpose.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key elements of the question: the context is a 'personal letter,' the recipient is one's 'father,' and the task is to choose the 'salutation' (the beginning greeting).
Understand the fundamental difference between a salutation (greeting at the start) and a subscription (closing at the end). This helps to immediately identify 'Your loving daughter' as an incorrect type of phrase for this position.
Analyze the relationship between the writer and the recipient (daughter to father). This relationship is personal and informal, which dictates the tone.
Evaluate each option based on the conventions of informal letter writing. Eliminate options that are too formal ('Dear Mr. Suresh Chand') or use an inappropriate form of address ('Loving father Suresh').
Select the option that best fits the context of a warm, respectful, personal letter to a parent.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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Practise the full GMCH - 2015

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.