How to end a letter in English? How to finish emails to leave a good impression of yourself

Dear Sir or Madam, => Yours faithfully(British English), Yours truly(American English).
Formal style, the name of the recipient is NOT specified in the appeal. The expressions are considered a little outdated, although they are still found today.

Any appeal=> Best regards, Kind regards, Warm regards, Regards, Kindest regards.
Less formal ways to complete a business letter. Often used in electronic business correspondence.
see also

Tired of “Respectfully” and want something new? The team at MediaDigger, a platform that automates the storage of a contact database and makes it possible to send mass personalized letters through it, has made a selection of alternative signatures with which you can complete your email. After all, no matter what, email is still the main method of business communication:

1. Regards- For lovers of the classics. The safest option.

2. Yours sincerely- There is something in this, but not everyone can afford such a signature. You need to be and look a certain way.

3.Kind regards- A little less formal and applicable in a business letter.

4. Just enter the name- It is quite suitable, especially in those cases when there is an active exchange of letters.

5. Your initials- It is also permissible, but the question arises why it was impossible to just write your name entirely, and an unpleasant aftertaste remains.

6. Have a nice day- For a closing letter, when you do not expect to hear anything else from the interlocutor during the day, it is quite suitable.

7. Have a good week- Same as “good day”, only if you don't communicate anymore during the week.

8. Best regards- English version "with respect". The safest for business communication. Some Russian speakers only use this signature. In principle, this is permissible, but if you communicate a lot with foreigners and everyone knows this. Otherwise it looks a little strange.

9. Kind regards- Same as best regards, but a little less formal.

10.Friendly greetings“We’ve never seen this, but we’ve heard about it. I just want to say that they called from the 70s and asked to return their signature.

11. See you later- In case you made an appointment in the near future and emphasize that you remember about it.

12. Good luck in your hard work!- Such a signature can be used when you tried to help someone (or could not do it), and try to somehow cheer up the interlocutor.

13. Sent from Iphone- It is possible to somehow explain why there may be typos in the letter, but it may seem that you are bragging about your phone model.

14. Sent from smartphone- Safer than “sent from Iphone”: the interlocutor understands that you wrote from the phone and the auto-corrector could make typos, while you are not bragging about your phone.

15. Thank you for your attention- This phrase is better left for those who are trying to sell you something.

16. Thank you- If you are really grateful, then you can. But do not sign every letter like this when you give instructions to someone. This will give an orderly tone.

17.With perfect reverence- For those who like to stand out. A bit romantic and pretentious.

18. Please think about nature before you print this letter.- First, you shouldn't scold anyone. Secondly, this inscription can sometimes be longer than the text of the letter itself. Third, is there anyone else now printing letters?

19. Ready for service- Hmmm. Simply no.

20.Love- Nice and acceptable if you have known each other for a long time.

21. All the best- This is more suitable if you do not intend to communicate with someone in the near future.

22. Kisses hard- For relatives and loved ones, it is quite suitable.

23. With paternal tenderness- You can, but only if you are really a father and just learned what the Internet is.

24. Yours forever- It's better to leave it for the registry office.

25. Have a nice weekend- This is usually written by those who are diligently trying to spoil them by sending a letter at the end of the working day on Friday, indicating the things that need to be done. In general, it is possible, but when you do not burden someone, otherwise it smacks of sarcasm.

26. Warm greetings- It is permissible if you used to refer to each other as "comrade", everyone else did not.

27. Yours truly- Strongly smack of toadying and it's hard to imagine a situation where it really would be appropriate.

28. Sincerely Devoted to You- The same problems as “Yours truly”.

29. Looking forward to further fruitful cooperation- A bit long, but acceptable, for example, for the first letter, when writing to a stranger.

30. Kisses- If you write to your other half, then it is permissible.

Do you know more options? Write to us at

Communication is one of the basic human needs, along with sleep and food. Modern people have several affordable and effective ways to chat with friends and family, colleagues and business partners. These include live communication, cellular communications and the Internet.

The last two methods have appeared relatively recently. For a long time, communication at a distance was possible only with the help of messages. They were handwritten and mailed. This one has survived to this day. However, handwritten letters have been replaced by emails.

Let's define

The word "letter" has several meanings.

Firstly, it is a system of written signs, which is necessary for fixing oral speech.

Example: Scientists have deciphered an ancient letter

Secondly, it is the appearance of informational text printed on paper.

Example: The students asked their teacher about how to complete the letter in accordance with the norms accepted in Russian.

Third, handwritten or electronic text that contains information intended for the addressee.

Example: A letter from home with important news from my father was received a week after it was sent.

And how to start it? All people ask themselves these questions, no matter what kind of message they are writing: electronic or handwritten. In this article, we are going to answer the first of them.

Types of letters

Before talking about how best to finish a letter, it is worth understanding its types. The general tone and expressions used depend on this. So, the messages can be:

• business;
• personal;
• congratulatory.

It is accepted to call this type of documentation, which serves as a means of exchange of information between different organizations and institutions. It can also be called "official correspondence". Some types of letters that fall into this category require a response (for example, petitions, appeals, requests), others do not (for example, warnings, reminders, approvals).

A letter that is written by one private person and addressed to another is called personal.

Letters that are intended to congratulate an unofficial person, organization or institution on any joyful event or achievement are usually called congratulatory letters.

Below we will figure out how to properly finish a letter, depending on its type and purpose.

General structure

Regardless of the type, all letters have approximately the same structure. It should be noted that the first two points are typical only for official correspondence.

1. Sender's address.
2. The date.
3. Greetings.
4. Text containing basic information.
5. Final phrases.
6. P.S.

Business correspondence

The writing of this type of correspondence should be treated with special attention, since the spelling, punctuation, or mistakes made by the sender can negatively affect the image of the company or institution that he represents. When writing proposals, one should give preference to simple sentences and avoid a large number of complicating constructions. The general tone should be respectful. The main thing is that the essence of the letter should be revealed in its ending, since people pay more attention to this particular fragment of the text.

How to end an official letter? The most successful ending phrases are:

• I look forward to further fruitful cooperation.
• I look forward to continuing our cooperation.
• Thank you for your attention.
• Respectfully yours, Ivanov Ivan Ivanovich.
• Respectfully, Ivanov Ivan Ivanovich.

How to beautifully finish a letter to a private person

This type of correspondence does not require special attention from the originator. However, in the process of writing, a person should still not forget about literacy. In this respect, it is much easier to write emails as the errors found are easy to fix. In the case of handwritten text, you will have to rewrite the finished text.

Before starting the process, it is necessary to determine the main content and reaction of the recipient. If it is important for the sender to receive a response as soon as possible, then in the final part it is better to make the appropriate notes. The ending should be a logical conclusion to everything written above, otherwise you can put the recipient in an awkward position and make him think about what the sender wanted to say.

The most common phrases used at the end of a letter are:

• Your friend, Peter.
• See you!
• Waiting for an answer.
• Kisses, Maria.
• Come as soon as possible.
• All the best, your friend Peter.

The sender can come up with the ending of the letter on their own. In this case, it will have a unique character and the recipient will definitely like it.

When answering the question of how you can finish a congratulation letter, you need to pay attention to its appearance. If the sender and recipient are officials, the final phrases should be neutral. In other cases, a certain liberty is allowed.

Let's sum up

Question: "How to finish the letter?" - quite logical. Communication on the phone and on social networks is based on laws different from those adopted during correspondence. However, every person has to act as a letter writer at least once in their life. Therefore, it is necessary to have a general understanding of the existing canons and rules in this area. Otherwise, the first experience may be the last. But writing a letter, sending it and waiting for a response from the addressee is an exciting process.

English culture is unthinkable without the art of writing. For centuries, English ladies and gentlemen exchanged exquisite messages, written in accordance with strict etiquette - he determined what to write, when and why, in what expressions, at what time of day, and on what paper. Letters played, and still play, a crucial role in people's lives: they make people laugh, surprise, intrigue, fall in love, hurt to death and fill them with happiness.

7 basic types of informal letters

In a personal letter, you can

1. Appeal: by first name, last name or using the words “ Sir/Madam”:

2. Introductory sentence... This is where you explain the purpose of your letter. This can be a complaint, consent or refusal to accept the invitation, a response to the letter received.

3. The main body of the letter: one or two paragraphs covering the topic.

4. Final paragraph in one or two sentences. Summarize what you have written and express your willingness to continue the correspondence. You can also thank the addressee in advance for a favor or prompt response.

5. Final wording:

6. Date and signature(not necessary).

What to look for

• The informal letter allows you to apply expressions from different styles, both business and informal, depending on the situation. You can even use colloquial style, slang, acronyms and acronyms. Just do not overdo it with vernacular, so that your letter does not look cheeky, impolite. Some expressions in colloquial speech sound acceptable, but inappropriate in the letter, even if the letter is informal.
• Idioms and colloquial expressions will enrich the language of your letter - you can feel free to use them.
• Observe the structure of the letter, do not overload sentences with complex constructions, and develop your thought consistently.
• It is customary to leave a blank line between paragraphs for visual convenience. For the same reason, it is advised to start each paragraph with a small indent at the beginning of the first line if you are writing by hand.
• Use the time when you want to talk about your expectations (“ I am looking forward to hearing from you ...”-“ I look forward to your reply ... ”) or the purpose of your letter (“ I am writing to you on behalf of / with regard to ...”-“ I am writing to you at the request / occasion ... ”). Use or when reporting news or describing recent events.
• Try split the main part of the letter into at least two or three paragraphs instead of trying to fit everything you want to say in one big paragraph. Information is perceived much better, being divided into logical parts.
• You can end the letter with a question to the addressee to initiate the continuation of the correspondence. So you show that you are interested in communication and wait for his answer - and this will be the logical conclusion of the letter.

1. Letter of invitation

It happens informal, semi-formal, etc. Such a letter should contain additional information about the event (address, date and time, dress code of the event) and, if necessary, clear instructions on how to get to the venue.

Introductory phrase:

Final phrase:

2. Letter of acceptance of the invitation

It can be informal, semi-formal and business. Contains clear and unambiguous consent to attend the event.

Introductory phrase:

Final phrase:

* Stylistically, in this case, the definition of "reception" rather than "party" is more suitable for translating the word party, since the construction of the phrase is rather formal and it is most likely an official and semi-official reception.

3. Letter of rejection of the invitation

It can be informal, semi-formal and business. Refuses to accept the invitation.

Introductory phrase:

Final phrase:

4. Letter of apology

There are also business and informal. The letter should contain an apology and an explanation of why someone was inconvenienced or why obligations or promises could not be fulfilled.

Introductory phrase:

Final phrase:

5. Letter with a response to the advertising proposal

It can be business and semi-formal.

Usually contains a request for additional information or a request for clarification and completion of information received earlier.

Introductory phrase:

Final phrase:

​

"Yes" and "no" personal letter

These rules must be followed:

• As informal as your letter is, always be polite.
• From the very beginning, state the purpose of the letter.
• Use adverbs and conjunctions to link your thoughts in a logical chain: then(then), later(later), but(but), at the same time(in the same time), finally(finally).
• Start a new thought on a new line: text that is not divided into paragraphs is difficult to read.
• Be restrained in expressing emotions, especially in semi-formal letters (complaint, congratulations, invitations, etc.).

And this should be avoided:

• Do not overuse exclamation marks, even if you are writing to a friend or close family member.
• Do not forget about the introductory and closing phrases - if the letter has a well-defined logical structure, it is easier to read and understand.
• Do not jump from thought to thought, do not write haphazardly. Thoughts should be lined up in a logical sequence.
• Do not use long ones with many secondary members and. The purpose of the letter, including informal one, is to convey your thoughts to the addressee the first time, and not make him re-read every sentence in order to understand the meaning of the message.

Now that you are familiar with the basic rules of writing informal letters, we offer you a rather interesting example of informal writing in English. Such letters have become a real flash mob of the English-speaking Internet: they are written by actors, singers, famous bloggers. Write yourself such a letter and you: this is a great way to turn to your inner self (even if it is sixteen) and take stock of a certain period of your life:

Deliberate politeness can look extremely impolite. How can you avoid this? We share the advice of experts in the field of etiquette.

Stop writing "Best wishes!" at the end of the letter. Yes, this signature looks harmless. You really only wish the respondent the best. But times are changing, and such politeness formulas have become redundant.

According to researchers from the University of Pennsylvania, who have been studying the issue since 2003, the social norm has changed relatively recently. Now only 5% of emails end with such wishes. More often attributed to "Thank you!" or "Yours faithfully!" ...

E-mail became widespread in the 90s, and most users immediately left the formalities - and the courtesy formula at the end of messages. According to business etiquette coach Barbara Patcher, "It was more like a scrapbook." On the Los Angeles webpage Times Neil Schmegler, a sociologist at the University of California, predicts that with the development of electronic technology, paper correspondence will finally become a thing of the past.

But over time, emails took on the role of paper, and people returned to familiar norms of business correspondence. Pachter says, "There is a whole hierarchy of final signatures." So what should you choose? "Sincerely"? Bad stamp. "Hello"? Too emotional. "Thanks"? This is a good option, but it is often chosen where gratitude is not required at all. "Sincerely, yours" - have you really sincerely, sincerely attached each of these files?

The problem with “all the best” is that it doesn't say anything to the respondent at all. Business Ethics Consultant Judith Callos says, "This is a meaningless speech formula used when there is nothing to say." Other experts are not so categorical: they call it “harmless”, “correct”, “decent” or “none”. Liz Danziko, director at a PR agency NPR Says: “Recently,“ All the best ”expressed, as a rule, polite inattention - but now it can mean a veiled resentment or threat.”

"Best wishes" are dotted with letters written several centuries ago. In the Anglo-Saxon tradition, the stamp appeared in 1922. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, this was facilitated by Francis Scott Fitzgerald, who wrote "Zelda sends you best wishes" to literary critic Edmond Wilson. The formula became widespread and ended its life only at the end of 1968, when Larry King received an official message ending "Good day, Billy." Such letters strained even then, and even Larry King, sharp-tongued, said that it was too familiar.

Courtesy formulas have been ingrained in languages ​​for centuries. In 1922, Emily Post, one of the pillars of the science of etiquette, wrote:

“The British began to get rid of embellishments in letters back in the 18th century. They limited themselves to 'Sincerely yours.'

In the age of the Internet, tradition continues. People avoid both familiarity and expressions of affection and use as much neutral the wording at the end of the letter. According to the survey, 75% of people prefer "Thank you!" or "Good luck!" However, many admit that this is not the best choice, but they are forced to comply with the new social norm.

If not "best wishes," how?

No way. Do not use polite formulas in your signature at all. With the proliferation of services like Slack, email has become more like instant messengers. Barbara Patchet says, "E-mails have become less formal." Now, in letters to friends or good acquaintances, final formulas are not used - it is believed that this is the same archaism as voice messages. Formulas of courtesy only slow down the correspondence. Liz Danziko comments: "People don't talk like that." She herself puts an end to the end of emails - business and personal. Without a signature.