Salutation for two doctors (not married)

Does use of the salutation

Dear Drs. Apple and Banana,

imply that Dr. Apple is married to Dr. Banana? That is, would it be better form to use:

Dear Dr. Apple and Dr. Banana,

when Dr. Apple and Dr. Banana are unrelated, but happen to both be addressed in the same letter?

There is no implication of marital status in your first example. It's just a more compact way to say the same thing.

I could question whether two fruits could legally be married in the first place, but that would probably lead to downvotes.

It doesn't imply their marital status at all. No more so than Messrs. Jones and Wilson implies that they are in a homosexual union.

I would use the term Drs. X and Y.

But, there are certainly situations where you will need to address a married couple of doctors.

My wife and I experience this all of the time. She hasn't taken my last name, and we're both physicians.

She is Dr. N, and I am Dr. M.

I frequently get letters addressed to:

"The Doctors M" (incorrect due to her preference).

Doctors (or Drs.) M (incorrect due to her preference, again.)

Dr. and Mrs. M, (technically correct, but she finds it offensive).

Dr. and Dr. M (again incorrect based upon her preference).

Drs. M and N (Works well, no offense taken by anyone).

Dr. M and Dr. N (Also works well, no offense taken by anyone).

My personal preference is for Drs. M and N. I think it flows better. And, keeping up with the sexist traditionalism: Male first, female second. It keeps with the Mr. and Mrs. convention, and many will assume it to be so.

The other side-effect of her not having taken my name: I get called Mr. N frequently on vacation when a hotel's phone system brings the name up. Drives me batty.

My preference would be for Dear Dr. Apple and Dr. Banana, because it clarifies and does not offend.