Popular English email closing phrases
Popular English email closing phrases
To find an appropriate email closing, it's best to consider the context and the recipient. An email written to a close friend or colleague will naturally differ from a reply to a serious work matter, and it will also be completely different from a letter written to someone you've never met. Below are some common types of emails and suitable English email closing phrases for each type for your reference when sending emails.
Formal email closing etiquette
1. Regards
Regards is a formal way to end an email, often used in work-related emails because there's nothing surprising or noteworthy about it. However, Best regards is a more commonly used phrase as it expresses formality more clearly.
2. Warmly Yours (Heartfelt)
Warmly Yours or Yours warmly express a warm tone in professional emails such as Job Application Letters or emails sent to partners in the first collaboration, emails sent to organizations where you don't know the sender's name exactly.
3. With Best Regards (Best Wishes)
With Best Regards is a blend of formality and friendliness, so using this phrase seems quite complete, but you should only use it when it fits the context of your email writing.
4. Cheers!
A recent study by the email application Boomerang found that Cheers! is the most likely email closing to receive a large response (not Thank you). It conveys a friendly attitude and a willingness to chat, but if you're not British or Australian, you might want to use a different email closing.
5. All the Best
Best conveys the best wishes (Best wishes) in a cheerful, concise manner. If you regularly send and receive many emails, you'll notice that most people use this email closing. Its familiarity gives it a friendly tone, similar to how Regards conveys formality. The downside of this phrase is that it's too safe and bland, especially when you want your email to be more engaging to the recipient.
6. Ever Yours (As Always)
Ever Yours is a great choice when sending emails to someone you're developing a work relationship with. It reassures the email recipient that everything is going well.
Expressing Gratitude and Requests in Email Closings
7. Gratitude in Advance (Thanks in Advance)
According to Boomerang's research, emails with the phrase Thanks in advance have the highest response rate. Perhaps because this email closing expresses gratitude but also sets an expectation - you're implying that you'll be very thankful when the recipient responds. In more serious situations, thanking someone in advance can make the recipient feel pressured, so use this approach with caution.
8. Appreciation (Thanks)
A simple word like Thanks is also an option to express appreciation. Like Thanks in advance, it conveys expectation and anticipation. Only use it when you truly want to imply 'I hope you'll do this.'
9. Grateful for Your [Assistance, Input, etc.] (I deeply appreciate your help/feedback)
It will never be redundant or a mistake to express your gratitude to someone who has helped you.
Email Closings to Avoid
1. Love
Reserve Love for the end of emails sent to family, close friends, and other important individuals because it carries a similar meaning to the sign-off XOXO (which means hugs and kisses). Avoid using this closing in professional emails.
2. Thank You/Regards (Gratitude/Respectfully)
You're no longer a student, and this isn't a casual chat in a messaging app, so absolutely avoid using abbreviations like Thx (Thanks) or Rgrds (Regards) as they signify informality and lack of professionalism in work relationships.
3. Stay Safe (Take Care)
At first glance, ending an email with Take care may seem caring and casual, but upon closer inspection, it seems to imply that the recipient should beware of potential dangers. Only use it in close relationships where both parties understand each other's situations well.
4. Eagerly Awaiting Your Response (Excited to Hear Back from You)
Use this when you genuinely need feedback from the recipient.
5. Sincerely Yours
Yours truly as an email closing feels insincere and vague, especially between two people who have just met. It should only be used when writing letters home to parents on a long trip.
6. With Respect (Respectfully/Respectfully Yours)
If you're writing a letter to the President or Head of State, ending the email with Respectfully (Yours) is appropriate, but in other cases, it's too formal.
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