Signing Off: How to End a Letter in English
If you’d like to write a letter in English, there are plenty of information sources online that can help you. In fact, we’ve already written an article on our blog.
But even if the rest of your letter is written perfectly, you aren’t finished until you’ve "signed off," or added an appropriate conclusion. This article will take a look at different ways to complete your email or letter depending on the kind of message you’re writing and who you are writing to.
Formal letters
The following are all standard choices for ending formal letters, such as business emails and invitations to formal events.
- Sincerely,
- Respectfully,
- With respect,
- Best/Kind/Warm regards,
- Cordially,
"Sincerely" is the adverb form of "sincere," which describes true, genuine feelings. Meanwhile, "cordially" is the adverb form of "cordial," which means friendly and polite.
Informal letters
If your letter is not related to business or professional matters — or if you simply have a closer relationship with the recipient — you can use one of the following sign-offs:
Best,
This is a shortened version of "Best regards," as we've covered earlier.
Talk soon, / See you soon,
These are useful for people that you see frequently, or for people you plan to see in the near future.
(Many) Thanks,
This is a friendly way to end a letter even if you aren't thanking the recipient for something specific.
Have a good day/evening/weekend,
Simple!
Yours truly,
This expression is quite common even for formal letters. However, that doesn't mean it's actually appropriate in those situations. In reality, telling someone that you are "theirs" has a nuance of closeness that should be saved for special people in your personal life.
Thank-you letters
If the purpose of your message is to thank the other person, you can also use one of the following expressions:
- With gratitude,
- With much appreciation,
- Thank you for your time/consideration,
"Thank you for your time/consideration" sounds more formal than the others and is especially good for things like cover letters sent with résumés.
Other ways to sign off
The following ways are all quite casual and should be reserved for friends and close family members.
Love,
This one probably does not need to be explained. This is best for people very close to you.
Cheers,
This is a common way of saying "Thanks" in British English.
XOXO
This is a short way of saying "hugs and kisses," so it is obviously not appropriate for professional messages!
Wrap-up
When it’s time to wrap up your letter, choose one of these expressions to match the type and tone of your message. This is the best way to leave your reader with a positive impression and create opportunities for more communication in the future.
