A Dear John Letter is a term used in English-speaking areas (mainly in the United States) for a handwritten letter to a male partner in which his wife or girlfriend informs him that their relationship is over. Dear John Letters are often written from the inability or the unwillingness to confront the partner in the face. Mostly soldiers are known as recipients of the letters. Origin
The exact origin of the term is not known, but it is known that in World War II the term was widely used among American soldiers fighting in Europe. The first media that used the term was the Democrat and Chronicle in August 1945. The writer of an article had received a letter that began with "Dear John" (Dear John). Then he wrote about this in an article:
They usually began like that, those letters that told of infidelity on the part of the wives of servicemen... The men called them "Dear Johns".
(Translation: They usually start that way, the letters telling soldiers about their wife's infidelity ... the men called them "Dear Johns".)
However, there are theories that the term was used before the Second World War. For example, John has been a common name in America for several centuries, and the name John is used more often in terms. For example, an anonymous man is referred to as John Doe or John Smith. Dear Jane
The reverse situation, in which a man writes his female partner's letter, is referred to as a "Dear Jane Letter." Also see
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