![]() While a word like “warmly” assumes too much intimacy for initial correspondence, this route may prove handy once you’re more acquainted: warm wishes. “Warm regards” is one of a few sign-offs you can experiment with involving warmth. If you’re concerned that “regards” alone may seem too stiff or pointedly neutral, go ahead and attach “best”-it’s like adding a polite smile. Consider tricking it out with a gentle adjective, like so: 7 Like “sincerely” and “best,” this one is dependable and restrained, but it comes with a variety of optional accessories. If you picture someone reading it and cringing, you have other options. Again, make sure it’s right for the occasion. If “respectfully” is a little deferential, this one is a cut above. For instance, if you’re writing your landlord to enumerate a series of egregious failures and abuses and your closing sentence is “Unfortunately, if these deficiencies are not soon remedied, my next step may be legal action,” then ending with “respectfully” is awkward. This one is tinged with deference, so make sure it suits the occasion. This one can help you avoid overusing the word “thanks.” It also sounds less clunky than “gratefully.” 5 If you’ve already said “thanks” once, why not say it again? Just be careful not to step on your closing sentence, if that also pertains to gratitude: you don’t want to botch the finale with an unwieldy “thanks again again.” 4 The message here is “I think we can safely agree how I sign off isn’t the part of this letter that matters.” 2Īnother sturdy option: literally, “I mean it.” Again, the purpose of these sign-offs is to unobtrusively get out of the way, and “sincerely” does the job. Like a navy blue jacket or a beige appliance, “yours truly” doesn’t stand out, and that’s good. Take a look at some of the best business letter closings you will come across. Just as such correspondence often begins with the tried-and-true salutation “Dear Person’s Name,” you should be comfortable using a variety of closing salutations. But ending a letter is not an ideal venue for tinkering with language or otherwise reinventing the wheel. If you’re writing a friend, you can get away with an informal “-xo” or “ciao,” but with new work contacts, you’ll want to dial down your effusion to “warm regards,” “cheers,” or “Happy Friday.” 10 ways to end a business letterĪs a writer, you may revel in finding new ways to get your point across-to avoid communicating formulaically. In this vein, you don’t want to be too casual when closing a letter. ![]() Pause for a moment and imagine the recipient of your formal correspondence sitting at a mahogany desk, masterfully opening your envelope with an old-timey letter opener (who even has those anymore?) and reading in rapt attention until your ending, where you signed: “passionately.” What a delicious nightmare! Just as it was very important in sixth grade to not accidentally address your English teacher as “Mom,” it is crucial to not sign off your business letter with “love.” Or “fondly.” Whatever that action is, make it clear in your final sentence. Occasionally, you may just want them to feel appreciated. You might want the person you’re contacting to immediately do something, like mark their calendar, start crafting an urgent response, or add you to the list of people they know to count on in the future. Your guidance has been invaluable, and I hope to work with you again soon. ![]() ![]() My deadline is Friday, so I hope to get your perspective on this matter soon.Thanks for your consideration please let me know if you have any questions.I look forward to meeting you at the seminar on Tuesday, July 11.Whether you’re lining up a meeting, sending in a résumé, or querying a potential resource, you want your letter to end in a way that makes it clear where you stand. Close your letter with one meaningful sentence ![]() Here’s how to master many ways to end a letter like a professional. If your letter is work-related, you’re probably trying to strike a balance: business-like but not overly brusque, personable but not suspiciously chummy. The best letter closings have a matching tone to everything that’s come before it. Similarly, you need to know how to end a letter in a way that conveys gravitas, but without literally spelling out “This letter was written and sent by a functional member of society who knows how to accomplish things, including fancy letter closings.” Brevity is the better part of valor, a wise editor said. The end of the beginning requires a salutation evoking a slightly more regal tip of the hat than just “Hey.” Such correspondence typically begins with a flurry of formality: your address, the date, and the recipient’s address. ![]()
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