It is also possible to greet Russian addressees using this formula:
Глубокоуважаемый господин декан! ‘Deeply Esteemed Mr Dean’
Exclamation marks follow these greetings.
The usual way to sign off a formal letter is С уважением (‘With respect’),
followed by a comma, underneath which is written the signature. In an official
letter, it is common for the letter-writer’s title to precede the signature:
С уважением, ‘With Respect,
Проректор по международным Vice-Dean for International Affairs
делам
Толкачёв С.П. S.P. Tolkachev’
The most common greeting in informal letters is Дорогой (Дорогая,
Дорогие) (‘Dear’) followed by the name, which can be used for both close
friends and intimates: (Дорогая мама!) and friends with whom you have a
more formal relationship (Дорогой Павел Николаевич!). Another common
greeting used for close friends and intimates is Милый (Милая, Милые)
(‘Dear’, ‘Dearest’) also followed by a name: Милый Саша! Both greetings
are usually concluded with an exclamation mark. Other common forms of
informal greeting include Привет followed by a comma (Привет, Наташа!)
and Здравствуй(те) (Здравствуй, Толя!). Combinations are possible:
Дорогая Анна Дмитриевна, здравствуйте!
Common ways of signing off personal letters include:
• a name on its own: Гриша, usual in informal personal letters
• familiar expressions such as Твой or Твоя (‘Yours’) or, more formally,
Ваш or Ваша. Both forms may be followed by the writer’s name: Твоя
Анна, Ваша Нина or, more formally, Ваша Марина Константиновна
• familiar expressions such as Пока (‘See you’)
• very familiar expressions such as:
Целую (тебя) ‘I kiss (you)’
Обнимаю (тебя) ‘I embrace (you)’
Целую и обнимаю ‘Love and kisses’
• friendly yet respectful expressions such as:
Всего Вам доброго ‘All the best’
С наилучшими пожеланиями ‘Best wishes’
Exercise 13
(a) Select the most appropriate form of greeting and signing-off in the follow-
ing letters.
(b) Put the words in brackets in the appropriate form.
Unit 1 11