How do you sign your professional e-mails? A writer at Ragan’s PR Daily tackled this interesting question. Personally, I prefer to use "Best,"; "Thank you,"; or "Kisses from your snuggle munchkin,".
I’ve become obsessed with how people sign off on their emails and determining which signoff is the best. It seems like there should be some kind of industry standard on how to sign a business email, or maybe a few choices for clients, your boss, your co-workers, your vendors, etc.
Given the variety I see daily, it’s clear that no one agrees on one best way.
Recently, I asked about this topic on Twitter and Facebook and the answers were not only varied, but in some cases the topic got heated, especially when I explained my unadulterated hatred for “Best.”
Who knew people were so passionate about the way they sign off on emails?
Here are some of the responses I received:
• Most sincerely yours
• Thanks
• Best
• All the best
• Best Regards
• Warm Regards
• Regards
• Warmest Regards
• Thank you
• Yours truly
• Sincerely
• Cheers
• Truly
• Very truly
• Warmly
• NoneI am not a fan of any of these.
The word “best,” or anything describing the warmness of the sender’s regards, is like nails on a chalkboard to me. I tend to use “thanks” for an informal email and “thank you” for more formal.
I didn’t have a better alternative, until a colleague told me about her favorite signoff: “~ plus first name.”
I love it because it avoids the awkwardness of pledging yourself (“truly yours”) to your copy paper vendor and maintains a business tone to the email. Plus, it doesn’t look too formal or unfriendly.
I am going to start a petition for “~ plus first name” to become the industry standard for signing business emails. Who is with me? And who has other signoffs to suggest or ridicule?
I thought I’d chime in with my normally used sign off. I like to use “Kindest regards,” I know that is awfully close to some that you listed, but I remember in high school I read a letter that John Adams wrote to his wife and he used that. I thought, “that sounds cool” so I’ve used it ever since. Lame story but true story.
I’ve always been a solid believer in the “Thank you” sign off being sufficient enough for most situations. Of course, I sometimes tend to overuse “thanks” throughout the email, and then feel funny signing off with it too. But, I don’t like any of those others that are listed any better than a simple, “thank you.” Not a huge fan of the “~name” phenomenon…seems too impersonal.
Of course, I had never thought of “kisses from your snuggle munchkin.” Maybe I’ll throw that into the rotation!
I’d add “In Christ,” and “Regretfully yours,” to the mix as well.