Punctuation in salutation and closing in an email?

Question

I usually use commas in salutation and closing phrase in emails like this below > Dear XXX, > > Best regards, I also see emails and letter of many people use commas. However,in an English for Work class, my teacher said that it should use colon like below for formal way. > Dear XXX: > > Best regards (without punctuation) I wonder if you share comments.

Answer 1

Your teacher is correct. Business letters, which tend to be more formal, have traditionally used the colon in salutations. I think we see so much comma usage in salutations today due to the informality of email and general decline in general formality of demeanor.