scrap pad

addressing my cover letter

discussion of ways to address in formal letters:

To Whom It May Concern:
Dear Sir (Ma'am):
Dear Mr. (Ms./Mrs./Miss) Such and Such:
Dear (the person's full name):

Yours truly,
God bless,
Sincerely,
Yours sincerely,
Sincerely yours,

In the same thread, someone else mentions that "Dear Sir/Madam" should be paired with "Yours faithfully" while "Dear Ms Smith" should be paired with "Yours sincerely"; I don't understand why, though. (post)

I'm uncomfortable with "Dear Sir or Madam" because I'm unaccustomed to addressing anyone as "Sir" or "Madam", so I chose "To whom it may concern". And I closed with "Sincerely yours": shouldn't faithfulness be evident in sincerity?