Question

In a business letter, the salutation is: “Dear Madam/Sir”
What would be the use of salutation in such a letter?
A. Yours
B. Yours truly
C. Yours faithfully
D. Yours only

Answer 1

Hint: When you write a business document, you must assume that your audience has limited time in which to read it and is likely to skim. Your readers have an interest in what you say so far as it affects their working world. They want to know the “bottom line”: the point you are making about a situation or problem and how they should respond.

Complete answer:
Option A is Yours is an incorrect answer for the above asked question as yours is not a correct salutation to end a business letter which has “Dear madam/Sir”.
Option B is Yours truly is an incorrect choice for the above asked question as Yours truly is the American equivalent of “yours faithfully” and When I begin a letter “Dear Sir,” I close it with “Yours truly”.
Option C is the correct answer as Yours faithfully is British usage. It is used when the recipient is not addressed by name, as in a letter with a “Dear Sir” salutation.
Option D is Yours only is an incorrect answer for the above asked question as yours only is used when we want to close a personal letter or the letter which we are writing to our loved ones for example spouse.

So, the correct option is option C.

Note: Writers are sometimes confused over whether to end a letter with "Yours sincerely" or "Yours faithfully”. Even though there is a slight variation between British and American conventions, the rules are straightforward.