How to Write a Cover Letter With No Experience (Template + Examples)

Learning how to write a cover letter with no experience can feel impossible when every job posting seems to ask for experience you do not yet have. You may stare at a blank page and wonder what you could possibly say that would make an employer take you seriously. The good news is that a cover letter for a first job is not really about listing past jobs. It is about showing, in a short and clear way, why you want this role, what skills and training you already have, and how the things you have done so far — in school, in projects, in volunteer work, or in daily life — prepare you to do this work well.

Employers who hire beginners know that beginners will not have a long work history. When they ask for a cover letter, they are looking for something else: clear writing, genuine interest in their organisation, relevant skills, and a reliable attitude. A recent graduate, a school leaver, a career changer, or someone returning to work can all write a convincing letter without a single previous job title, as long as every claim in the letter is true and specific.

This guide walks you through the whole process. You will learn the standard structure of a cover letter, what counts as useful experience when you have no paid work, a step-by-step method for writing each paragraph, a full template you can copy and adapt, several complete examples for different situations, the mistakes that most often hurt beginners, and a final checklist to use before you send anything.

Quick Answer

To learn how to write a cover letter with no experience, follow this simple structure: a polite opening that names the job, one paragraph on why you want this role at this organisation, one or two paragraphs that connect your education, projects, volunteer work, and skills to the job posting, and a short closing that thanks the reader and invites an interview.

Keep the whole letter to one page — usually three to four short paragraphs and around 250 to 400 words. Use the job posting as your guide, name specific skills and tasks instead of general claims, and never invent experience. If you have no paid jobs, use class projects, internships, part-time or family work, volunteer roles, courses, and personal projects as honest proof of what you can do.

What Is a Cover Letter With No Experience?

A cover letter is a short letter that you send with your resume when you apply for a job. Your resume lists your education, skills, and background in a structured format. Your cover letter explains, in normal sentences, why you are applying and why you are a good match for this particular role. It connects the facts on your resume to the needs in the job posting.

A cover letter with no experience does the same job, but it draws on different material. Instead of describing previous employers and job duties, it focuses on your training, your education, the projects you have completed, the skills you have practised in any setting, and your reasons for choosing this field and this organisation. It answers the employer’s real question, which is not “Where have you worked before?” but “Can this person do the work, learn quickly, and be reliable?”

If you have never written any kind of cover letter before, it helps to understand the general format first. Our full guide on how to write a cover letter explains the standard layout, length, and tone that employers expect, and this guide builds on it for the specific situation of having no work experience.

Who Needs This Kind of Letter?

You are in this situation if any of the following describe you:

• You are a student applying for an internship, a part-time job, or your first job after graduating.
• You finished school or college recently and have no paid work history yet.
• You are changing careers, so your past jobs do not match the field you are entering now.
• You have been out of paid work for a while — for family, health, study, or other reasons — and you are applying again.
• You have only informal experience, such as helping in a family business, freelance tasks, or volunteer work, and no formal job titles.

In every one of these cases, the approach is the same. You do not apologise for your situation, and you do not hide it. You simply present the strongest honest evidence you have, in the order that matters most to the employer.

Do Employers Really Read Cover Letters From Beginners?

Not every employer reads every cover letter, and some online application systems make the letter optional. But when a posting asks for one, you should always send one. For beginners, the letter often matters more, not less, because your resume alone may look thin. The letter is your one chance to explain your background in your own words, show that you understand the role, and demonstrate the clear written communication that almost every job requires.

Even when a letter is optional, a short, well-written one can help you stand out from other beginners whose resumes look similar to yours. The only time to skip it is when the posting clearly says not to send one, or when the application system gives you no way to attach or paste it.

What Counts as Experience When You Have No Job?

The biggest misunderstanding beginners have is the idea that only paid, full-time jobs count as experience. Employers are more practical than that. They care about whether you have done tasks that are similar to the work in the job, in any setting. Most beginners have more usable material than they first think.

Education and Coursework

Your degree, diploma, certificate, or current studies are real preparation for work. Relevant subjects, practical modules, lab work, and training that matches the job posting all count. If the job asks for a skill and you studied and practised that skill in a course, say so plainly. Mention the field of study, the most relevant subjects, and any practical training that is directly connected to the role.

Class Projects and Assignments

Projects are some of the best proof a beginner can offer, because they involve real tasks with real deadlines. A group project can show teamwork, planning, research, and presentation skills. A final-year project can show problem-solving, technical skills, and the ability to finish a large piece of work. When you describe a project, say what the goal was, what you personally did, what tools you used, and what the result was.

Internships, Placements, and Training

Any internship, work placement, apprenticeship, or practical training period counts, even if it was short or unpaid. Describe the actual tasks you did rather than only naming the organisation. “Helped the office team with filing, data entry, and answering phone calls” tells an employer far more than “completed an internship.”

Part-Time, Casual, and Family Work

Part-time jobs, weekend work, seasonal work, and helping in a family shop or business are genuine work experience, even if the field is different from the job you want now. These roles prove reliability, customer contact, handling money or stock, time management, and working under a manager — qualities every employer values. Never leave this material out just because it was informal.

Volunteer Work and Community Roles

Volunteer roles at a charity, school, place of worship, sports club, or community group show commitment and practical skills. Organising an event, keeping records, teaching younger students, managing a social media page, or helping visitors are all transferable tasks. If you did the task regularly and other people depended on you, it belongs in your letter in brief form.

Personal Projects and Self-Learning

A personal project — a blog, a small website, a design portfolio, a coding project, a video channel, or regular freelance-style practice — can show initiative and real skill. Online courses and self-study also count when they are relevant, as long as you describe them honestly as courses or projects and not as jobs.

If you are unsure what duties are normal in the field you are entering, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook is a trusted place to read about what workers in an occupation actually do each day, what education they usually need, and which skills matter most. Use it to understand the role before you write, so your letter speaks about the real work rather than guesswork.

The Standard Structure of a No-Experience Cover Letter

A cover letter follows a familiar business letter structure. Keeping to this structure makes your letter easy to read and shows that you understand professional basics.

Your Contact Details and the Date

At the top, place your full name, city and country, phone number, and professional email address. Below that, add the date and, when you know it, the employer’s name, the hiring manager’s name, and the organisation’s name and address. If you do not know the hiring manager’s name, the organisation name alone is fine. When you send the letter as an attachment or paste it into an application system, this header keeps all your details in one place.

Use an email address that sounds professional — ideally a simple form of your name. Avoid nicknames or jokes in the address you use for job applications.

The Greeting

Whenever possible, greet a named person: “Dear Ms. Rahman,” or “Dear Mr. Osei.” Check the job posting, the organisation’s website, or the job advertisement for a contact name. If no name is available, “Dear Hiring Manager” or “Dear Hiring Team” is acceptable and far better than old-fashioned phrases like “To Whom It May Concern” or “Dear Sir/Madam,” which sound distant and generic.

Paragraph 1: The Opening

State the exact job title you are applying for, where you saw it, and one clear reason you are a strong candidate. Keep this to two or three sentences. The opening should make it obvious that this letter was written for this job, not copied for fifty jobs.

Paragraph 2: Why This Organisation and This Role

Explain why you want this work at this organisation in particular. Mention something specific you know — the type of customers they serve, a service they offer, their reputation, their training for new staff, or the kind of work the team does. Then connect that to your own goals and interests. This paragraph proves genuine interest, which is something employers weigh heavily for beginners because it predicts who will stay and learn.

Paragraph 3: Your Skills and Proof

This is the heart of the letter. Choose two or three skills from the job posting and give honest proof for each one from your education, projects, internships, volunteer work, or part-time experience. Be specific about tasks and tools. This paragraph answers the employer’s main concern: that a person without job experience might not be able to do the work.

Some beginners use two shorter paragraphs here — one for education and training, and one for practical skills and experience of any kind. That is fine, as long as the total letter stays within one page.

Paragraph 4: The Closing

Thank the reader for their time, restate your enthusiasm briefly, mention that your resume is attached, and say that you would welcome the chance to discuss your application in an interview. End with a professional closing such as “Sincerely” or “Kind regards,” followed by your full name.

How to Write a Cover Letter With No Experience: Step by Step

Follow these eight steps for every application. Writing your first letter will take the longest. Once you have a strong first version, adapting it for each new job becomes much faster.

If you follow these steps, you will know how to write a cover letter with no experience for any entry-level role.

Step 1: Read the Job Posting Like a Checklist

Read the posting twice. On the second reading, list the duties, skills, tools, and qualities it mentions. Mark the ones that repeat or appear near the top — those usually matter most. Also note the exact job title, the name of the organisation, any reference number, and any instructions about what to send. Your letter will be built directly from this list, so do not skip this step and start writing from memory.

Step 2: Make Your Evidence List

On a separate page, write down everything you could honestly use:

• Your education, field of study, and most relevant subjects
• Class projects, final-year projects, and major assignments
• Internships, placements, and practical training, with the tasks you did
• Part-time, casual, seasonal, or family business work
• Volunteer roles and student society or club responsibilities
• Tools, software, equipment, and languages you can use
• Courses and certifications you have completed
• Personal projects that show relevant skills

Write tasks, not just titles. “Worked in a shop” is weak. “Served customers, handled payments, and helped with stock counts in a family shop on weekends” is strong, because the employer can picture the work.

Step 3: Match Your Evidence to the Posting

Now compare your evidence list with the posting checklist. Choose the three or four strongest matches. If the posting asks for customer service, lead with customer-facing experience from any setting. If it asks for accuracy and computer skills, lead with coursework, data entry tasks, or project work that involved records and checking. Drop points that do not help with this job, even if you are proud of them. A focused letter beats a complete life story.

Step 4: Research the Organisation Briefly

Spend a few minutes on the organisation’s website or listing. Learn what they do, who they serve, and anything notable about their work or values. You only need one or two specific, true points for your second paragraph. This small step separates your letter from generic applications immediately, because most beginners skip it.

Step 5: Draft the Letter Without Stopping

Using the structure above, write a full first draft. Do not worry about perfect wording yet. Get the opening, the reason you want the role, your matched evidence, and the closing onto the page. Write in your own normal, clear English. A letter that sounds like you — polite, specific, and honest — is far more convincing than fancy language copied from the internet.

Step 6: Replace General Claims With Specific Facts

Go through your draft and underline every general claim, such as “I am a hard worker,” “I have excellent communication skills,” or “I am a quick learner.” For each one, either add proof or delete it. For example, “excellent communication skills” becomes “I presented my final-year project to a class of students and answered questions from teachers” or “I helped customers in person and by phone during weekend work in a family shop.” Specific facts build trust; general claims do not.

Step 7: Check the Length and Cut Ruthlessly

Your finished letter should fit on one page. In most cases that means about 250 to 400 words in the body of the letter. If your draft is longer, cut repetition, remove details that belong on your resume instead, and shorten sentences. If it is much shorter, you probably need more specific evidence in the skills paragraph — add proof, not filler.

Step 8: Proofread Slowly and Check the Details

Read the letter aloud once. Then check the details that beginners most often get wrong: the spelling of the organisation’s name, the job title, the hiring manager’s name if you used one, your own phone number and email address, and basic spelling and grammar throughout. A letter asking for a job that involves writing, records, or customer contact must itself be clean and careful. Ask a teacher, friend, or family member to read it once if you can — a fresh reader catches mistakes you no longer see.

Full Cover Letter Template With No Experience

Copy this template and replace every bracketed section with your own true details. Do not send it with any brackets left in, and do not keep sentences that do not describe you.

[Your Full Name]
[City, Country] | [Phone Number] | [Professional Email Address]

[Date]

[Hiring Manager’s Name, if known]
[Organisation Name]
[Organisation Address, if known]

Dear [Ms./Mr. Last Name / Hiring Manager],

I am writing to apply for the [Job Title] position advertised on [where you saw it]. As a [recent graduate / final-year student / trainee] in [your field], with [your strongest relevant skill or training] developed through [education, projects, or other honest experience], I am excited by the chance to begin my career with [Organisation Name].

I am particularly interested in [Organisation Name] because [one or two specific, true reasons — the customers they serve, the work the team does, their training, or their reputation]. [Add one sentence connecting this to your own goal or interest in this field.]

Through my [studies / training / project work], I have developed skills that match your requirements. [Describe your first piece of evidence: a project, internship, volunteer role, or part-time job, the tasks you did, and the tools you used.] I have also [describe your second piece of evidence in the same specific way]. These experiences have given me [two or three skills named in the job posting] and a careful, reliable approach to work.

I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how my training and skills could contribute to your team. My resume is attached for your review. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Kind regards,
[Your Full Name]

Notice what the template does not contain: no apology for having no experience, no empty phrases about seeking a challenging position in a reputed company, and no claims without a place to add proof. Every paragraph has a clear job to do.

To see how complete letters look in different fields and situations before you finalise your own, study a range of cover letter examples and notice how each one connects the writer’s background to a specific posting — then write your own version with your own facts, rather than copying any example word for word.

Cover Letter Examples With No Experience

Use these examples as models for structure and tone. Change every detail to match your own background. The strongest letter is always the one built from your real education, projects, and experience.

Example 1: First Job — Retail Sales Assistant

Dear Hiring Manager,

I am writing to apply for the Sales Assistant position advertised in your store window. I recently completed my secondary education and, through regular weekend work in my family’s clothing shop, I have hands-on experience serving customers, handling payments, and keeping displays tidy — skills I would now like to use in a larger retail team.

I visit your store as a customer and have always noticed how patiently your staff help shoppers find sizes and options. That approach to service matches how I was taught to treat customers, and it is the main reason I would like to work with your team.

In the family shop, I greeted customers, answered questions about stock, operated the till, and helped with weekly stock counts. I am comfortable speaking with people of all ages, staying calm when the shop is busy, and learning new product ranges quickly. I am available for weekend and evening shifts and can start immediately.

Thank you for considering my application. My resume is attached, and I would be glad to attend an interview at your convenience.

Why it works: It treats family work as real experience, names actual retail tasks, mentions shift availability — a key concern in retail — and gives a specific reason for choosing this store.

Example 2: Graduate — Junior Administrative Assistant

Dear Ms. Carter,

I am applying for the Junior Administrative Assistant position advertised on your careers page. I recently graduated with a diploma in business administration, and during my studies I completed a practical placement in a school office, where I supported filing, scheduling, and front-desk duties.

Your organisation’s work supporting local training programmes interests me because I saw during my placement how much good administration matters behind the scenes. I would like to build my career in an office that values organised, dependable support.

In my placement, I entered student records into a database, prepared letters and meeting documents in Microsoft Word, updated spreadsheets in Excel, and answered phone and email enquiries politely and accurately. My coursework also covered scheduling, record keeping, and business communication. I type accurately, handle confidential papers carefully, and keep a clear system for tasks and deadlines.

I would welcome the chance to discuss my application in an interview. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Why it works: The placement is described by tasks and tools, the skills match typical admin postings closely, and the reason for choosing the organisation is specific rather than flattering.

Example 3: Internship Application — Marketing Intern

Dear Hiring Team,

I am a final-year marketing student applying for the Marketing Intern position listed on my university’s careers board. Through my coursework and a group project running a real social media campaign for a local event, I have practical experience with content planning, caption writing, and basic performance tracking.

I follow your company’s social media accounts and have noticed your short, helpful posts aimed at small business owners. As someone who hopes to work in digital marketing for small businesses, I would value the chance to learn from a team already doing that work well.

For my group project, I planned a four-week content calendar, wrote posts, designed simple graphics in Canva, and helped track engagement results in a spreadsheet. My studies have also covered market research, consumer behaviour, and marketing writing. I write clearly, meet deadlines reliably, and respond well to feedback on drafts.

My resume is attached. Thank you for considering my application — I would be pleased to discuss what I could contribute as an intern.

Why it works: It uses a class project as central proof, names the same tools used in real marketing work, and shows the student already knows the company’s content.

Example 4: Career Changer — Entry-Level IT Support

Dear Mr. Ahmed,

I am writing to apply for the Entry-Level IT Support position advertised online. After several years in retail customer service, I have retrained for a career in IT, completing a recognised introductory IT support certificate and extensive hands-on practice with computer setup, troubleshooting, and home networking.

I am applying to your company because your support team serves small businesses that need clear, patient help rather than technical jargon. My background dealing with customers every day has taught me exactly that style of communication.

During my training, I practised installing and updating operating systems, diagnosing common hardware and software problems, setting up user accounts, and documenting each step of a repair. In my retail roles, I explained products and problems in simple language, stayed calm with frustrated customers, and kept accurate records. Together, these experiences give me both the technical foundation and the customer skills that help desk work requires.

I would be grateful for the opportunity to discuss my application with you. Thank you for your consideration.

Why it works: It explains the career change directly and confidently, then shows how experience from the old field transfers to the new one instead of pretending it is not there.

Example 5: Volunteer Experience Only — Charity Office Assistant

Dear Hiring Manager,

I am applying for the Office Assistant position at your charity. For the past year, I have volunteered at a community centre two days a week, where I welcome visitors, answer the phone, keep attendance records, and help organise weekly activities — experience that has prepared me well for this role.

I have seen the difference your charity makes to families in this area, including through the community centre where I volunteer. I would like to turn the skills I have been giving as a volunteer into full-time work supporting the same kind of community.

As a volunteer, I greet visitors warmly, enter attendance and contact details into spreadsheets, file documents, and help prepare rooms and materials for sessions. I am comfortable with Microsoft Word and Excel, careful with personal information, and reliable about showing up on time for every shift. The centre coordinator can confirm my attendance and the quality of my work.

Thank you for reading my application. I would welcome an interview to discuss how I could support your office team.

Why it works: Regular volunteer work is presented as dependable, relevant experience, with concrete office tasks and a referee the employer can check.

How to Tailor Your Letter for Each Application

Sending the same letter to every employer is the most common mistake beginners make, and employers can spot it in seconds. Tailoring does not mean writing a brand-new letter each time. It means making focused changes to the parts that should be specific.

Learning how to write a cover letter with no experience for a specific employer, rather than sending one generic letter, is what makes an application stand out.

First, always change the job title, the organisation name, and where you saw the posting. Second, rewrite the second paragraph so your reason for applying fits that organisation. Third, swap the evidence in your skills paragraph so the projects and experience you highlight match that posting’s duties. Fourth, use the posting’s own words for skills and tools when they honestly describe you, because many employers screen applications by those keywords.

A simple test helps: if you removed the organisation’s name from your letter, could it be sent unchanged to a completely different employer? If yes, it is too general. Add specific reasons, specific evidence, and specific links to the posting until the letter clearly belongs to this application only.

Also keep your letter consistent with your resume. If your letter highlights spreadsheet skills, your resume should show where you used them. If your letter mentions a project, the project should appear on your resume too. Employers notice contradictions, and contradictions quietly destroy trust — especially when a candidate has little experience to begin with.

What to Include — and What to Leave Out

Include

• The exact job title and the organisation’s correct name
• A specific reason you want this role at this organisation
• Two or three skills from the job posting, each backed by honest proof
• Education, projects, internships, volunteer work, or part-time experience as evidence
• Practical details employers care about, such as shift availability or ability to start, when relevant
• A polite closing with thanks and a clear invitation to interview

Leave Out

• Apologies and negative phrases such as “I know I have no experience, but…” — present your evidence confidently instead
• Your full home address, age, marital status, or a photo, unless the specific employer or local practice clearly requires it
• Long lists of hobbies that have no connection to the job
• Salary expectations, unless the posting specifically asks for them
• Exaggerated claims — never call yourself an expert, and never invent an internship, certificate, tool, or responsibility
• Complaints about past teachers, employers, or your own situation
• Copied paragraphs from sample letters on the internet — recruiters recognise the popular ones immediately

Common Mistakes in Cover Letters With No Experience

Mistake 1: Apologising for Having No Experience

Opening with “Although I have no experience…” puts the weakest point first and invites the reader to agree with it. Employers already know beginners are beginners. Lead instead with your training, your relevant skills, and your genuine interest in the role.

Mistake 2: Writing Only About What You Want

Sentences like “This job will help me grow and build my career” tell the employer what they would do for you, not what you would do for them. Keep the focus on the value you offer: skills, reliability, relevant training, and a careful approach to the work.

Mistake 3: Making General Claims With No Proof

“Hardworking,” “passionate,” and “excellent communicator” appear in almost every beginner’s letter, so they persuade no one. Keep a claim only when you can attach evidence to it — a project, a responsibility, a task you did regularly, or a result you can describe honestly.

Mistake 4: Repeating the Resume Word for Word

The letter should not be your resume rewritten as paragraphs. Use the letter to select and explain your two or three strongest points for this job, and to show your interest in this organisation — information the resume format cannot carry well.

Mistake 5: Making the Letter Too Long

A beginner’s letter that runs to two pages signals poor judgement about what matters. One page is the rule. If you cannot fit your points, you are including points that do not need to be there. Cut until the letter is focused.

Mistake 6: Using One Generic Letter for Every Job

A letter that names no specific duty, no specific fact about the organisation, and no specific evidence could be for any job — so it feels right for none of them. Tailor the opening, the second paragraph, and the evidence every single time.

Mistake 7: Inventing or Stretching Experience

Never upgrade a class project into a job, a short visit into an internship, or basic familiarity with a tool into expert skill. Employers check references, ask detailed interview questions, and sometimes set practical tasks. One discovered exaggeration ends an application completely, and honest beginners with small real experience are hired every day.

Mistake 8: Forgetting the Basics

Misspelling the organisation’s name, using the wrong job title, sending the letter with another company’s name left in it, or attaching the wrong file are all common — and all avoidable with two careful minutes of checking. These errors suggest carelessness more loudly than a thin resume ever could.

Cover Letter Checklist for Beginners

Before you send any application, work through this checklist:

• The job title and organisation name are correct and spelled exactly as in the posting.
• My letter is one page, with three to four short paragraphs.
• My opening names the job and where I saw it.
• I gave a specific, true reason for wanting this role at this organisation.
• I chose two or three skills from the posting and backed each one with honest proof.
• My proof comes from real education, projects, internships, volunteer work, or part-time experience.
• I did not apologise for having no experience or use negative language about my background.
• Every claim in the letter is true, and I could discuss all of it in an interview.
• The letter matches my resume and does not contradict it.
• My contact details are correct, and my email address sounds professional.
• I checked spelling and grammar carefully and read the letter aloud once.
• I tailored this version for this employer instead of sending a generic letter.

If you can tick every box, your letter is ready to send. If several boxes are empty, fix those points first — for a beginner, this short letter is often the difference between an interview and silence.

Conclusion

Having no work experience does not mean having nothing to offer. It means your evidence comes from different places: your education and training, the projects you finished, the responsibilities you held as a volunteer or part-time worker, and the skills you have genuinely practised. A strong cover letter with no experience gathers that evidence, matches it carefully to one specific job posting, and presents it in clear, honest, specific language — without apology and without invention.

Once you understand how to write a cover letter with no experience, you can present the evidence you already have with confidence.

Build one careful first letter using the template and steps in this guide, then tailor it for each application rather than starting from zero. Check it against the checklist every time. Employers hire beginners constantly; they are simply looking for the beginner whose letter shows real interest, relevant skills, and the reliability to learn the job well. Written this way, your letter gives them every reason to believe that beginner is you.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should a cover letter with no experience be?

One page is the standard, and for beginners the body of the letter is usually around 250 to 400 words in three to four short paragraphs. That is enough space to name the job, explain your interest in the organisation, present two or three pieces of evidence, and close politely. Shorter and focused is always better than longer and general.

What should I write if I have never had any job at all?

Use your education, relevant coursework, class and personal projects, volunteer work, student responsibilities, and courses you have completed. Describe the actual tasks you did in each one — organising, writing, helping people, using specific tools, meeting deadlines — and connect those tasks to the duties in the job posting. Almost everyone has honest material once they think in terms of tasks rather than job titles.

Should I mention that I have no experience in the letter?

You do not need to announce it or apologise for it. The employer can see your background from your resume. If it helps to explain your situation in one neutral sentence — for example, that you are a recent graduate or that you have retrained after a career in another field — that is fine. Then move straight on to your skills and evidence, and keep the tone confident throughout.

Can I use the same cover letter for every application?

No. You can reuse your structure, your evidence list, and some sentences about your background, but the job title, the organisation name, your reason for applying there, and the skills you highlight must change for every posting. Employers recognise generic letters immediately, and a tailored letter is one of the easiest ways for a beginner to stand out.

What greeting should I use if I do not know the hiring manager’s name?

Use “Dear Hiring Manager” or “Dear Hiring Team.” Both are professional and safe. Before settling for a general greeting, check the job posting and the organisation’s website once more for a contact name — addressing a named person, spelled correctly, is a small detail that shows care. Avoid “To Whom It May Concern” and “Dear Sir/Madam,” which sound cold and dated.