* "Dear" is a formal salutation used at the beginning of a letter or email. It's often followed by a more specific address, such as "Dear Residents," "Dear Neighbors," or "Dear Mr. Smith."
* "Residents" is a noun that refers to the people who live in a particular place. It can be used in a sentence on its own, like "The residents of this building are very friendly," or as part of a phrase, like "a meeting for residents."
Examples:
* Dear Residents, We are writing to inform you about... (Formal letter or email)
* The residents of this neighborhood are invited to... (Announcement)
Therefore, you need to provide more context to determine which is correct. What are you trying to say?