Professional Letter Closings

Professional letters have a standard format that need to be strictly followed. The salutation or the opening lines as well as the closing lines are the important aspects of any business letter. Although these are the slightest components of the letter, it can make or mar your efforts in letter writing. But you need not get intimidated by the prospect of writing a professional business letter. There are certain rules and formats that will help you. Business letters form an important part of business writing. Firstly let us have a look at the following things that affect the format of the letter. The pattern of the formal letter may differ according to region, for e.g, the standard American letter format is different from the standard British letter format.The relationship of the sender to the recipient also plays an important role in the style of business letter closings.

Sometimes, the professional letter closings wordings change according to the rank or the designation of the recipient.

The tone of the letter, for e.g, whether the letter is a formal note or a friendly/congratulatory letter; is also important in determining the closing of professional letter. Read more on letter writing.Format of Professional Letter Closings

You must remember that the first letter of the first word is only capitalized and not the second word. Also, one must not forget to put a comma (,) after the professional letter closing salutations. The letter closings is immediately followed by the sender’s name and designation. Address can be optional. The following is the format of the professional letter closings.

Yours sincerely,(leave 3 - 4 lines for your signature)Sender’s nameDesignation

Professional Letter Closings Words

The following are the different formats of letter closings used in formal or business letters.

Business Letter Closings for New Business ContactsThe following are the general closings of professional letters that can be used when writing a letter to a new business contact, or to an employer. These can also be used in nearly all formal letters, as these are the traditional business letter closings that are be universally applicable. It can be noted that according to the format, when the sender does not know the recipient’s name, he ends the letter with ‘Yours faithfully’, while when the sender and the recipient know each other well, ‘Yours sincerely’ is used.

Yours truly,Yours sincerely,Sincerely,Yours faithfully,Yours respectfully,Business Letter Closings for Old Business ContactsThe following formal letter closings can be used in letters for old business contacts or for the people you have known for a long time. Along with professionalism, it is necessary for the sender’s approach to appear friendly. Therefore, the use of the word ‘regards’ cannot be considered inappropriate. Best regards,Warm regards,Best wishes,With appreciation,Cordially,Professional Letter Closings For Thank you NotesSometimes, one may need to thank anyone for any help, advice, etc. You can mention the reason for thanking the person or can just use the simple ‘thank you’, both are acceptable. The following are the appropriate closing lines for formal thank you notes or mails. Thank you for your kindness and consideration,Thank you for your time,Thank you for your attention to the request,Thank you for your help,Many thanks,Kind thanks,Thank you,Professional Letter Closings for Formal Yet Friendly LettersThe following letter closings can be used when writing a letter to a familiar person, while not making it look too casual. These wordings look friendly, yet retain the business like manner. With all good wishes,Best wishes for your future,Warm greetings to all,Wishing you a safe journey,With personal regards,Health and happiness,Peace and blessings,Other Professional Letter Closing WordsSometimes, in case of diplomatic circles, the letter closings can also be elaborate. In case of letters to any head of State or government officials, one can simply conclude with ‘Sincerely’. On the other hand, the traditional style of letter closing is used when writing for kings or monarchs. Here are some examples. I have the honor to be Your Majesty’s humble and obedient servant.May I always live to serve you and the crown.

Sometimes, the closings differ according to the subject of the letter as in apology letter, reference letter or a condolence letter. The following are a few situational closing lines for letters that can be used before the closing wordings given above. I apologize for the inconvenience.I look forward to seeing you again.I am looking forward to your reply.Please feel free to contact for further information.My deepest sympathies are with you and your family.Read more on: Writing Business LetterHow to Write a Business Letter

It is better to give a prior thought on professional letter closings wordings. You can use the traditional letter closings rather than risk offending the reader(s) with casual or informal closings.

List of Business Letter ClosingsWhich Closing Salutation to Use for Professional Letters and E-mails

Professionals must select business letter closings based on who will receive their letters and e-mails. Choosing the right letter closing is essential for success. Deciding on the right closing for a business letter or professional e-mail can be tricky. A letter writer must find a balance between overly used closings and the formality of the letter.Read on for lists of business letter closings as well as guidelines on how to effectively select a professional letter sign-off.Business Letter Closings for New Contacts and Cover LettersWhen writing a business letter to a new business contact, sales prospect, or potential employer it is best to keep the business letter closing to a level of utmost professionalism. Writing a casual sign-off is generally unacceptable.Ending with a respectful closing will help the writer exude professionalism. Some business closings that are polite, courteous, and professional include:SincerelyYours sincerelyRespectfully yoursFaithfully yoursYours trulyWriters can use these closings for a new sales prospect, mass mailings, and cover letters for job applications.E-mail and Business Letter Closings for Familiar Professional Contacts”Sincerely” ranks as too stuffy for a familiar business contact; however, signing off with “Ciao” or “Cheers” comes across as too casual and disrespectful for business letters.Read on Using French Letter ClosingsUsing Spanish Letter ClosingsList of Letter Closings and E-mail GoodbyesBut in the gray area between letter closings that are too formal and sign-offs that are too casual, writers can end a letter with a closing salutation that strikes the right balance. Here are some suggestions on how to sign off a letter to a friendly business contact without coming across as unprofessional:Kind regardsBest regardsWarmest regardsMany thanksKind thanksTrulyWith appreciationE-mail communication offers a little more flexibility in how a writer ends a note to a business contact. Yet it is important to remember that e-mails still require professional letter closings fitting for the tone

of the message.End a professional e-mail in the same way as closing a letter with a familiar business contact.How to Choose the Right Business Letter ClosingsIn choosing the right business closings for letters and e-mails, professionals need to consider a few questions:Consider the seniority of and the relationship to the addressee: Is the person a Senior Vice President or a Sales Rep at the company’s office products supplier? Depending on the relationship, both recipients may warrant the most formal letter closings or simply casual sign offs.Consider the tone of the letter: Is the letter a memo regarding new financial policies or a note to congratulate a colleague on a promotion? The more personal the business letter the less formal the closing needs to be.Consider how others end letters: What do you, personally, like to read at the end of a business letter? Review marketing letters from different companies and cover letters to gauge a personal response to various business letter closings.For more suggestions on how to end a letter, read List of Letter Closings and E-mail Goodbyes.

List of Letter Closings and E-mail GoodbyesHow to End E-mails and Letters for Various Types of Correspondence Beyond the overused “sincerely”, there are many ways to sign off a letter or e-mail. When writers choose letter closings, the endings can offer insight into how readers should follow up. “Write soon” welcomes the reader to respond, while the more reserved “Wishing you the best” may be saved for a difficult sympathy card.Here is a list of letter closings organized by formality.

List of Proper Business Letter Closings:Be it for marketing letters, cover letters or professional e-mails, writers can use a great variety of business letter closings to sign off a work-related document. Denote a friendly-but-business-like tone with the letter closing “Kind regards”, or keep things ultra sharp by ending an important letter with “Confidently yours”.Best regards/wishesConfidently yoursKind regards/wishesMany thanksRespectfully yoursWarm regardsWith anticipationYours respectfully/sincerely/trulyList of Friendly Goodbyes to End a LetterWhether it’s for the family holiday card, a letter wishing better health, or a thank you note, choosing the

right letter closings for friends is a fine and fun art. Here are some suggestions that denote the warmth of friendship, but still hold a respectful and well-wishing air:Cheerful greetings to allHugsKind thoughtsTake careWishing you the bestWrite soonYour friendYours in friendshipList of Online Goodbyes Used to Sign off an E-mailWriters have more flexibility in the endings they use for e-mails than in written letters. To add a little more life to personal e-mail closings, consider signing off with one of these e-mail salutations:Be good/wellCheerioCheersI’m outMore to comeSmilesTa ta for nowTake careTake it easyUntil next timeQuote Funny and Famous Closings to End a LetterFrom Obi-Wan Kenobi’s classic line from Star Wars “May the force be with you” and the hockey-themed “Keep your stick on the ice”, television, music, and movies have given us some of the most popular and creative letter closings.Read on Using Spanish Letter ClosingsList of Business Letter ClosingsUsing French Letter ClosingsHere are some letter closings and e-mail salutations that will be familiar to most:All you need is loveHappy trails to youHasta la vista, babyKeep your stick on the iceKiss kiss bang bangLive long and prosperMay the force be with youOver and outOver to youPeace, love, and unity

Start the enginesStay tunedTag! You’re itTo be continued…Yabba dabba doLoving Endings for Valentine’s Day Letter ClosingsSigning off a Valentine’s Day card or a love letter remains a careful operation. A valentine likely won’t appreciate the ending “Your friend” or a professional “Best regards”. So to ensure a happy Valentine’s Day, be sure to add a loving goodbye with lots of personal thought:Lots of loveLove always/eternally/foreverMuch loveThinking sweet thoughts of youYoursFriendly Goodbyes in Other LanguagesAdding a letter closing in another language can be a fun way to end a written note or e-mail. From French goodbyes to Spanish farewells, here are some international ways to sign off a written note:AdieuAdios amigo (use “amiga” for a female letter recipient or “amigos” for a family or group)AlohaAu revoirCiaoNamasteSelecting the Right Letter Closings and E-mail Sign-offs

Whichever letter closings or e-mail endings writers use, be sure to think about the recipients and how they will interpret each goodbye. When in doubt, err on the side of more formal letter closings and e-mail endings rather than risk offending readers with casual or inappropriate sign offs.