How to end a letter: 12 useful parting phrases | scribendi (2023)

Don't know how to end your letter?

It seems like finishing a letter should be the easy part. After all, the content is already planned and written; only a few words need to be added.

You probably know better than to end a letter to your mother like you would to your boss. However, it may still not be clear which wording is best for each situation. What is the difference e.gsincerelyesincerely? Is there a difference?

Every single sentence has subtle connotations that can influence the recipient's reaction. To understand how to end a letter, see the following 12 parting phrases and the situations in which they should be used.

If you are unsure about the content of your letter, or just want someone to look at it neutrally, you should send your letter to a professional proofreadereditingorRevision.They can help you avoid embarrassing mistakes.

1. Best regards

Sincerely(orYour) is often the required signature forformal letters, And rightly so. This ending confirms the sincerity of your letter's intent; It's a safe bet if you don't know the recipient of the letter very well, as in such a situation it's preferable to use a signature that's everyday and formal.

2. Best

End your letter withbetter,all the best,all the best, orbest wishesindicates that you hope that the recipient will only experience good things in the future. Although not as formal assincerely, is still acceptable as a polite, formal/semi-formal letter ending, suitable for business contacts as well as friends.

3. Best regards

Like the previous subscription,Yourit expresses that you are thinking of the recipient with the best of feelings and intentions. Despite the resemblance tobetter, this signature is more formal and intended for business letters and unknown contacts. A semi-formal variant isYour, and an even more formal variant is simpleCompliments.

4. Talk to you soon

Variations on this parting phrase includesee you soon,We speak later, zI look forward to speaking to you soon. These permissions indicate that you expect to continue the conversation with your contact. It can be an effective ending to a letter or email when a specific date for a face-to-face meeting is confirmed or scheduled.

While these endings can be used in formal or casual situations, they usually have a more formal tone. The exception here isWe speak laterwho errs on the more casual side.

5. Thank you

This is a powerful way to end a letter when you say thank you sincerely. However, if you use it as a standard card ending, it may fail; The reader will be confused if there is no reason for you to thank him. try to useThanks(or variations likeThanks very much,Thanks, orThanks!) and its variations when you feel you haven't expressed your gratitude enough; otherwise it may seem excessive.

In addition, when placing an orderThanksmay not be the best signature because it may seem presumptuous to say thank you before the task is even accepted or started.

6. [No Signature]

Not having a signature on your letter is a bit unusual, but acceptable in some cases. Omitting the unsubscribe is best used in cases where you are replying to a chain of emails. However, if you don't include a signature or your name in a first email, your letter will appear to end abruptly. It should be avoided in these situations or when you are not very familiar with the recipient.

7. Best regards

This is where the line between formal and informal begins to blur.Sincerelyimplies the integrity of the message that precedes your name, but it also implies that you are in some way committed to the recipient (e.g.your friendor, as an older example,your servant).

This ending can be used in different situations when you are writing letters to people you know and to people you don't know; However,sincerelywears a more casual and family tone, making it more suitable for your friends and family. It is best used when you want to emphasize that you are serious about the content of your letter.

8. Take care of yourself

Be carefulIt's also a semi-formal way to end your letter. as a signatureall the best, this ending does not intend to harm the reader; however, how to end your letter withsincerely, the wording is less formal and implies that the author is at least reasonably familiar with the reader.

9. Your friend

Although it may seem obvious, ending a letter this way is informal and, as the signature itself suggests, should only be used when writing to your friend.

10. Health

HealthIt's a lighthearted ending that expresses her best wishes to the reader. Because of its association with drinking, this signature is best picked up when you are familiar with the reader and the tone is upbeat and easygoing. Also note that becauseHealthassociated with British English, it may seem strange to readers who speak other styles of English and are not very familiar with the term.

11. With love

This ending (or the even simpler version,Love) signals a familiar and intimate relationship with the reader. In other words, this permission should only be used in letters and emails to people you know well.

12. bjs

Since this signature means "hugs and kisses," it's probably best reserved for letters addressed to those closest to you. Definitely not for the buttletter of introduction!

How to finish a letter: approvals and signatures

Of course, there's more to ending a letter than just the signatures. You may be wondering how to rate your signature, what to include in your signature, or what P.S. means at the end of a letter or email.

Punctuation of parting sentences

When writing your approval, it's important to remember to use proper capitalization and punctuation.

Only the first word needs to be capitalized (e.g.Sincerely), and the signature must be followed by a comma (or an exclamation point in some informal settings), not a period. Here are some examples:

• sincerely,
• Thanks!
• Your,

Email Signatures

For e-mails, you have the option of creating a standard signature. Your signature appears at the bottom of each of your emails. Ideally, it will be clear who you are and what your contact details are. For example, you may want to include your job title or degree(s) after a comma on the same line as your name:

sincerely,

Leslie Knope, Deputy Director, Department of Parks and Recreation

Consider including your office address in addition to your phone numbers and email address. Think about the value of linking your social media profiles (provided they are maintained with your work life in mind).

If you're thinking about adding a signature to your personal email that can be used for both business and personal communications, deciding what to add is a bit more complicated. Again, include your necessary contact information here, but only include the information you think your recipient will need. After all, you don't want to overwhelm your reader with information.

Postscripts

a p.s. (orpostscript) comes after your signature and your name. It is intended to include supplementary, ancillary, or non-essential material with your letter. It is best to avoid postscripts in formal writing as the information can be overlooked or ignored; In these cases, try to include all the information in the body of the letter body.

In casual, face-to-face correspondence, a postscript is generally acceptable. However, try to limit it to humorous or unnecessary material.

So, with these explained letter completion techniques and improved vocabulary, completing your next letter or email shouldn't be a problem!

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