And there might be some method behind it: in the Boomerang study, emails ending with a variation of “thank you” got significantly more responses than those with other popular signoffs. Nevertheless, these closings are actually incredibly popular in practice. Many experts think “thank you” and its variants should be used only when you are actually thanking someone for something. I think it works well with almost any email.” 9) BE THANKFUL “It’s slightly formal but also has a friendly feel to it. But no one will give you any points for creativity, so if that matters to you, don’t use it.” As for “best regards,” Lazarus says it is the signoff he uses the most frequently in his professional correspondence. USA Today’s Steven Petrow actually considers it the new “best.” As he explains, “It’s the all-purpose, non-specific closer. “Regards” generally sits well with most people. As Lazarus notes, it’s “breezy but not too casual for professional emails, and “generally a good choice.” And Grammarly’s Hertzberg thinks “best wishes” can also be a safe bet-although she thinks you should “be aware of its greeting-card vibe and use it only when it fits well with the tone of your email.” 8) CONSIDER REPLACING “BEST” WITH “REGARDS” While a simple “best” is too dull, “all the best” is a considerable improvement. Also, in a study by the email app Boomerang that looked at closings in more than 350,000 email threads, “best” had the lowest average response rate when compared with other email signoffs that appeared 1,000-plus times. As Schwalbe says, “I feel this is akin to ‘safe travels,’ albeit with a slightly medical connotation.” Lazarus echoes that thought: “This signoff sounds a bit too much like a warning to me-‘Take care?’ Do you know something that I don’t?-and if used at all, it should be reserved for personal emails.” 6) LEAVE “BEST” FOR LAST (CHOICE)Īlthough “best” is still one of the most commonly used signoffs, Lazarus and other experts think it is a rather flavourless way to end an email. If not, reserve it for the British.” 5) DON’T FRIGHTEN YOUR RECIPIENTįor most experts, “take care” is anxiety-producing and should be avoided. As Lazarus says, “I like the cheerful vibe of this signoff though I personally don’t think I could pull it off.” Schwalbe agrees: “Would you say it to people in person? If so, go for it. “Cheers” is one of those salutations that leaves many people muddled. 4) SAY “CHEERS”-ONLY IF YOU CAN CARRY IT OFF Similarly, “respectfully” and its variants are used in the military and might also work when emailing government officials and clergy. These include “yours/yours truly” and “sincerely”-although, as Lazarus points out, “sincerely” might be appropriate for a cover letter or when sending a formal letter to a superior or government official. There are a few holdovers from the golden age of letter-writing that just sound musty in an email. As Lazarus says, you should save XOXO “for emailing good friends, or your mother.” Also to be avoided are acronyms such as TTYL ( “talk to you later”) or TAFN ( “that's all for now”), which are confusing. Signoffs such as “see ya later,” “love” or “XOXO” are all too unprofessional for business purposes. Will Schwalbe, one of the authors of SEND: Why People Email So Badly and How to Do it Better, has a similar take: “While it’s absolutely fine as a chain progresses, it’s nice to end the first volley with a sign off.” 2) DON’T GET TOO CASUAL It doesn’t leave a good impression.”Īnd you should include more than your name: As Lazarus explains, “Simply ending an email with your name can be OK when exchanging quick messages with colleagues but in any other situation it will likely be seen as cold and abrupt.” 1) INCLUDE A CLOSINGĪs Simcha Lazarus explains in the blog article, Email signoff: the definitive guide, “Ending an email without a signoff is like walking away from someone at the end of a conversation without saying goodbye. That said, here are some tips that should help you get it right. As Karen Hertzberg, an author with Grammarly, points out in a blog: “What works for a friend or close colleague won’t work in a strictly professional correspondence with a distant acquaintance or someone you’ve never met before.” You don’t want to sound too breezy, yet you don’t want to be too aloof and brisk, either.īut how to choose a closing that hits just the right note? Unfortunately, there is no simple answer. In a study by the email app Boomerang, emails ending with a variation of “thank you” got significantly more responses than those with other popular signoffs (Getty Images/hero Images)Įmail signoffs: they’re just a few words, but what a difference they can make when you’re trying to put your best foot forward in a business context.
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