Handwritten professional letters are becoming a lost art. These days, people email and text their professional correspondence instead of mailing it. While this is convenient for some, it's important to remember that handwritten letters have a personal touch that cannot be reproduced by typing something up on your computer or phone and pressing send.
When you write professional letters, the sign-off is one of the most important parts. What your letter says before your signature can be helpful and insightful, but it's what comes after that really matters in a business setting. Your closing should leave no room for confusion about how to respond or where to send a reply; it should also strive not only to end the letter a way the recipient would appreciate.
SEE ALSO:How to Plan a Surprise Birthday Party
3 TIPS TO CONSIDER BEFORE STARTING YOUR LETTER
- Make sure you have enough time to write the letter. Nothing is more important than taking your time with professional correspondence, so don't rush it!
- Don't just copy and paste a template that another company used - personalize it! Your recipients will appreciate knowing that they are not being ignored or overlooked because of their status as a professional contact.
- Handwritten letters are a lost art, but there's no reason why they can't make a comeback! Make sure to take the time and send out handwritten professional correspondence every once in awhile - it will be appreciated!
SEE ALSO:How to Impact People With Handwritten Cards
4 MISTAKES TO AVOID WHEN WRITING YOUR LETTER
- Don't end your letter by just simply signing it - this is the professional equivalent of writing "Sincerely" at the bottom of a personal letter. You can do better than that!
- Make sure to take time out and write down exactly what you wanted to say in your professional handwritten letter. If you are not fully satisfied with how your professional handwritten letter turned out, your professional contact may not be either.
- Send a physical letter! Writing business letters is becoming a lost art. Stringing more than one word or two by hand happens less and less frequently. Cover letters aside, business correspondence should be tangible. An email is okay for quick thoughts, but for meaningful communications, you should favor warm wishes in a physical package (with a proper closing, of course.)
- Use ink! Don't try to save money by printing with black and white instead of using color- it looks unprofessional and lazy. A printed letter feels cold and impersonal. Your professional contacts deserve the best quality work you can provide them, so make sure that includes using colored ink in order to properly end your letters.
The Importance of a Formal Closing vs. Casual
When you're writing a formal letter, and business letters in general, the business letter closing you choose should reflect the type of relationship you have with the recipient. Business letter closings that are too casual can be off-putting in a professional context. For this reason, it's important to choose a complimentary closing that's appropriate.
When you end a business letter, consider how close you are with the recipient. Do you know them well? Have you known them for a long time? Are you on friendly terms, or is your business correspondence usually purely professional?
The answer to these questions should help you choose an appropriate business letter closing.
If you're writing a professional letter to someone you don't know well, or if it's a formal business letter, use a more professional sign-off. "Sincerely" is always a safe bet, as are "Regards" and "Respectfully." If you want to get a little more creative, try "All the best," "Best wishes," or "Warmest regards."
On the other hand, if you're writing a professional letter to someone you know well, you can use a less formal sign-off. "Cheers," "Take care," or even just "Thanks" are all appropriate in this case.
Ending a professional letter with "XOXO" is almost always inappropriate, no matter how well you know the recipient! Save the hugs and kisses for personal correspondence.
HERE ARE 25 WAYS YOU CAN END YOUR PROFESSIONAL LETTER
Try these business letter closing examples with your next letter. More formal closing thoughts are best for purely professional relationships. Chose the closing phrase best suited to your purposes.
1. Best,
2. Best wishes,
3. Warm regards,
4. Faithfully,
5. Cheers,
6. Yours truly,
7. With regards to you,
8. Always at your service,
9. I am looking forward to hearing from you soon! (friendly)
10. I'm looking forward to speaking with you soon. (business)
11. Thankfully,
12. Warmest regards,
13. Best wishes for your success. (business)
14. You can always depend on me.
15. Wishing you well,
16. Indeed,
17. With best wishes for your success. (business)
18. Yours sincerely,
19. Acknowledge with thanks…(professional letter of recommendation or quotation request)
20. I am looking forward to hearing from you soon." (friendly professional correspondence)
21. I'm looking forward to speaking with you soon." (business professional correspondence)
22. Be well,
23. Good day! (friendly business letter ending)
24. Best regards,
25. Wishing you all the very best! (business professional correspondence)
SEE ALSO:Handwritten Business Letters: How They Can Help Your Business
WHY A PROFESSIONAL SIGN-OFF IS IMPORTANT
A professional sign-off does not happen often, so when one is included in a professional letter it makes an important impact on how professional your business will appear. When you write a professional letter, it is important to include a professional sign-off at the end. This shows that your business is professional.
A professional sign-off is when you write the person's name and job title. It shows people that your business is professional. It is important to end a professional letter with a sign-off instead of just simply signing it - when the letter is being used in a professional setting, using a professional sign-off shows the recipient that you took the time and effort to include this small but professional gesture. Professional closing phrases don't happen often, so when one is included in a professional letter it makes an important impact on how professional your business will appear!
CLOSE YOUR LETTER WITH A MEANINGFUL SENTENCE, NOT JUST A SIGN-OFF
Let’s end your letter with a bang! One final thought to really make an impression. Closing your letter with a meaningful sentence can be powerful. You want to make sure that the person reading it understands what you are trying to say and how they should feel about it as well, so use only one closing line.
In the end, we should strive for one meaningful sentence that captures our thoughts and emotions in a compelling way. The tone can be whatever you want it to be but I like how concise this passage is because they were able leave out all those extra words without being too short or dull: "Thank You."
SEE ALSO:How to Send Bulk Handwritten Cards Online
Closing Sentence Examples
Your closing sentence should either summarize your message, offer a call to action, or both. This closing sentence is your last chance to make an impression on your letter's recipient. Here are some examples of effective closing sentences that maintain a professional tone and leave a good impression.
- "Please know that we understand your concerns and have taken all appropriate steps to remedy the situation."
- "Your continued cooperation on the matter we've discussed is greatly appreciated. Please feel free to call me with any questions."
- "Thank you for your business. We look forward to continued working together in the future."
- "Thank you for your time and consideration."
- "If there's anything else we can do, please don't hesitate to let us know."
- "Thank you for your interest in our company."
- "We appreciate your feedback and will work to improve our services."
- "Thank you for your support."
- "We look forward to serving you in the future."
- "Thank you for being a loyal customer."
- "Thank you for your time and effort on this project. I truly appreciate it."
- "Thank you for your understanding during this difficult time."
- "We hope that we can count on your continued support."
- "Thank you for giving us the opportunity to serve you."
- "Thank you for choosing our company."
- "Thank you, again, for coming to us with your concerns. We'll do everything we can to resolve the issue as quickly as possible."
- "We'll be in touch soon."
- "Thank you for your patience as we work to resolve this matter."
- "I hope this finds you well."
- "As always, thank you for your business."
- "Please don't hesitate to contact me if there's anything I can do."
- "Have a great day!"
- "We expect to see some real improvement over the coming weeks or your position could be in jeopardy. Please sign and return this to HR within the week."
- "I hope we can come to an agreement on terms so that our business relationship can continue."
- "You've been a valuable member of the team, and we look forward to many more years of your service."
SHOULD YOU USE A SIGNATURE?
When signing off, you may wish to think about whether it's essential to use your actual handwritten signature. Although professional contacts deserve the best quality work you can provide them, your signature is something that's very personal and may not be appropriate for a professional letter. Leave your signature for signing documents and contracts and keep your note personal by staying consistent and just writing your name.When you use a signature, be sure to add a typed name as well.
NEED HELP SENDING YOUR PROFESSIONAL HANDWRITTEN LETTERS?
Heartfelt thank you cards make a lovely closing to a successful holiday party. They serve to rekindle your guests’ holiday cheer and remind them of beautiful memories.
SEE ALSO:Gratitude is a Business Strategy
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FAQs
How do you end a letter professionally? ›
- 1 Yours truly.
- 2 Sincerely.
- 3 Thanks again.
- 4 Appreciatively.
- 5 Respectfully.
- 6 Faithfully.
- 6 Regards.
- 7 Best regards.
Sincerely
This professional sign-off is always appropriate, especially in a formal business letter or email.
“Sincerely,” “Yours truly” and “Cordially” work well for most forms of correspondence. However, if you know the reader well and the tone of the message calls for a more personal ending (for example, an email to congratulate a colleague on a promotion), you could use “Best wishes,” “Regards,” or “Warmest regards.”
What is a strong closing sentence? ›Your concluding sentence should wrap up your entire work with a synthesis of key points. Write your final point clearly and succinctly, providing closure to the reader, leaving them with a strong impression of its significance within a broader context.
How do you write a powerful closing sentence? ›- Restate the topic sentence using a different kind of sentence. - Wrap up your paragraph. - Consider using transition words to signify the end of your paragraph. - Copy the exact wording of the topic sentence.
What's a good sentence for sincerely? ›I should like most sincerely to congratulate him. I sincerely believe that we need an ambitious reform. I sincerely trust that his legislative attempts will be more successful than those we have had in the past. I sincerely hope this word will not be omitted.
What can I say instead of best regards? ›- Respectfully.
- Best.
- All the best.
- Thank you.
- Thanks again.
- Thanks in advance.
- Thank you for your time.
- Cheers.
- Cheers!
- Sincerely (a close that's both casual and formal, depending on the context)
- My best.
- Take care.
- Be well.
- Warm wishes.
- All the best.
- Many thanks.
It is becoming a common way of ending an email between friends, and even people who do not know each other. Where it is not appropriate to end with “love”, “All the best” is appropriate because it is a congenial salutation.
What are professional salutations? ›Salutations for business letters
The most formal salutation is Dear, [title], then the last name. If you're unsure of the person's pronouns, it's a good idea to use Dear [First and last name] or Dear [First name]. When you don't know the recipient's name, you can use Hello or Greetings.
What are 3 examples of salutations? ›
“Good morning / afternoon / evening” “Hello” / “Hi” / “Hey” “How are you?” / “How are you doing?” / “How is it going?” / “How's everything?” “Greetings”
What is an informal closing salutation? ›4. Closing Salutation. This is where you say goodbye. Typically, closing salutations for informal letters include such phrases as: "Yours truly,", "Your friend,", "All the best,", Take care,". These days, more informal closing salutations are also acceptable, such as: "See you soon,", "Don't be a stranger,", etc.
Which is the most professional closing salutations? ›“Expressing gratitude and kind regards is always a good idea!” Professional email sign-off examples include: Sincerely. Best.
Can you end a letter with warmly? ›“Warmly” is a nice way to end an email and bring, well, a warm and fuzzy feeling to your recipient.
How do you politely end? ›- #1: Bring up future plans.
- #2: Make a plan together.
- #3: Gaze into the distance.
- #4: Use one more thing.
- #5: Check in with the host.
- #6: Point your toes towards the door.
- #7: Distance yourself.
- #8: Recall a story.
- Best.
- Sincerely.
- Regards.
- Thank you.
- Respectfully.
- Please let me know if you have any questions.
- Looking forward to our meeting.
- Thank you for your consideration.
I look forward to hearing from you soon / meeting you next Tuesday. I look forward to seeing you soon. I'm looking forward to your reply. We hope that we may continue to rely on your valued custom.
What are the 3 sentences in a conclusion? ›- Topic sentence. This is where you repeat your thesis statement. ...
- Supporting sentences. Paraphrase the major points and arguments that you made throughout the paper. ...
- Closing sentence. This is where you connect back to a point, image or anecdote that was made in the introductory paragraph.
Sincerely, Sincerely yours, Regards, Yours truly, and Yours sincerely. These are the simplest and most useful letter closings to use in a formal business setting.
What can I say instead of in conclusion? ›- To summarize.
- Overall, it may be said.
- Taking everything into account.
- On the whole.
- In general, it can be said that.
- With this in mind.
- In the end.
- Considering all this.
What should you not end a sentence with? ›
Perhaps the most notable example of such is the rule against ending a sentence with a preposition (also known as preposition stranding, or sentence-terminal prepositions, for those of you who would like to impress/alienate your friends).
What is a good sentence for fulfill? ›Example Sentences
He fulfilled his pledge to cut taxes. She failed to fulfill her obligations. The program is intended to fulfill the basic needs of children in the community. If we could have that house, our dreams would be fulfilled.
Sincerely yours vs.
Whether you use “Sincerely Yours” or “Yours Sincerely” depends on where you live. Americans use “Sincerely” and “Sincerely yours.” “Yours sincerely” is British. It's just one of the differences between British English and American English.
Kindest regards (or kind regards) is a common sign-off in emails and other forms of correspondence. It's used to wish the recipient well without being overly familiar. It is a less formal alternative to 'sincerely yours' and 'yours truly', but it's more formal than other sign-offs like 'warm regards'.
How do you say regards professionally? ›- Formal (business): Yours sincerely; Sincerely.
- Semi-formal: With best regards; With kindest regards; Warmest regards.
- Informal: Regards; Kind regards; Best regards.
- Personal: Yours truly; Cheers; Love.
Respectfully. Signing off using 'Respectfully' is a formal way of showing respect and care for the recipient. You might choose this variation if you're writing to a supervisor or executive.
Can you end a letter with gratitude? ›The respectfully salutation is a great for letter closers. Some other great closings include: Gratefully yours. With respect.
Is sincerely or best better? ›'Yours sincerely' and 'Yours faithfully' should be reserved for formal emails and letters, such as job applications and business correspondence. You are unlikely to encounter these in day-to-day email correspondence. Hence, 'Kind regards' and 'Best regards' are better options for workplace emails.
What is more professional than sincerely? ›Regards or Warm regards. Respectfully. Looking forward to hearing from you. Speak to you soon.
Which is the most acceptable salutation? ›Dear: This salutation is appropriate for most types of formal written or email correspondence. You can use it whether you know the person or not and whether the letter's recipient is a supervisor or a business acquaintance.
What are some formal Greetings? ›
- Good morning/afternoon/evening. These are classic, formal phrases to use when greeting someone, whether it's the first time meeting them or if you've already met them before. ...
- Pleased to meet you. ...
- It's nice to meet you. ...
- It's good to see you. ...
- How are you? ...
- Hey. ...
- What's up? ...
- What's new?
The best greeting for a formal letter is 'Dear (first name) (last name)'. It shows respect, politeness, and demonstrates professionalism. With 'Dear', you can include the recipient's title if you know it. If you don't know their first and last name, their job title is appropriate to use.
What is business salutation etiquette? ›Start with the word "Dear"
Although in certain situations it is appropriate to use "Greetings" or "Hello" before the name of the recipient, using the word "Dear" at the beginning of a business letter is the preferred professional approach.
Make sure to offer thanks for their time and consideration, and choose a professional closing salutation such as, “Sincerely,” “Best regards” or “Thank you for your consideration.” Avoid overly familiar phrases like, “Yours,” “Cheers” or “Take care.”
Is Best regards professional? ›"Best regards" is probably the most popular signoff for an email or letter. It can be used both formally in a professional or business setting, but it can also be used informally, say in birthday card or personal letter.
How do you end a semi formal letter? ›The most common closing for formal or semi-formal letters is "sincerely" or "sincerely yours". These closings will always be appropriate for professional correspondence in email or written letters. Variations, including "yours faithfully" or "yours sincerely" are more common in British English.
How do you end an appreciation letter? ›- With sincere gratitude,
- Best regards,
- With sincere thanks,
- Gratefully yours.
- With deep respect,
- With gracious thoughts,
- All my thanks,
- With true appreciation,
- Write your name and contact information. ...
- Include the date. ...
- Include the recipient's name and contact information. ...
- Write a subject line for AMS style. ...
- Write a salutation for block style. ...
- Write the body of the letter. ...
- Include a sign-off. ...
- Proofread your letter.
- I appreciate you!
- You are the best.
- I appreciate your help so much.
- I wanted to thank you for your help.
- I value the help you've given me.
- I am so thankful for you in my life.