Just realised I have sent off a covering letter that started with 'Dear Sir' but finished with 'Yours sincerely'!Is this just going to fail at the first hurdle?

It could be a problem if your letter is so poor that such a typo appears important. Otherwise, who cares...

It could be a problem if your letter is so poor that such a typo appears important. Otherwise, who cares...

They probably won't realise. Fewer and fewer people seem to appreciate the correct forms, including my Partner, I note! Cross your fingers that someone similar reads yours. If they did notice, they would have to be a pedant to reject for this, surely?

Assuming this isn't a joke (though it did make me chuckle)These days no one will care. And if by chance your letter landed on the desk of someone who did read every word, they would probably take more offense at it not starting with "Dear Madam/Sir".

Thanks for your messages of reassurance!Out of interest I have actually read somewhere that a straight Sir is better than Sir/Madam. Not sure why, I think it was something to do with actually admitting that you have no idea who you are writing to shows that you haven't made the effort. But then I do imagine now that if a woman receives a'Sir' she might get annoyed these days (though perhaps only in the rarest of cases, as you say above).D