It appears that concluding a letter should be the easiest part. After all, the content has already been planned and written; all that remains is to add a few closing words. If you’ve ever finished a letter to someone, whether for personal, professional, or academic reasons, and been puzzled as to how to end it, you’re not alone. In today’s post, we’ll look at some of the most common ways to end a letter, as well as some advice on when they might be appropriate.

How to end a letter – Part 1

It appears that concluding a letter should be the easiest part. After all, the content has already been planned and written; all that remains is to add a few closing words. If you’ve ever finished a letter to someone, whether for personal, professional, or academic reasons, and been puzzled as to how to end it, you’re not alone. In today’s post, we’ll look at some of the most common ways to end a letter, as well as some advice on when they might be appropriate.

You’re probably aware that you shouldn’t end a letter to your mother the same way you’d end one to your boss. However, it may still be unclear what the best word choice is for each situation. What’s the difference, for example, between sincerely and yours truly? Is there any distinction?

Each phrase has subtle connotations that can shape your recipient’s reaction. Consider the following phrases and the situations in which they should be used to learn how to end a letter:

PHRASES TO END A LETTER

Sincerely

While somewhat generic, this conclusion reinforces that you meant what you wrote. It’s warm and familiar without being overly personal, making it an excellent choice for everyday use.

Yours truly

A yours truly conclusion, like sincerely, is polite but not personal. It is also suitable for a wide range of recipients.

Respectfully

This conclusion has a formal tone to it. The literary equivalent of a slight nod, it can be an excellent choice when delivering bad news or following up with someone higher up the social or corporate ladder (or sees themselves as such).

Best wishes

This is a simple and friendly way to end a letter that doesn’t reveal too much information. It simply implies that you want nothing but the best for the recipient, making it a good choice for both personal and professional correspondence.

Kind regards

This letter ending is similar to best wishes, but it is a little more formal and distant. It is appropriate for a wide range of recipients and situations because it does not imply closeness or affection.

I look forward to hearing from you

This closing is commonly used in business settings because it indicates that a response is expected even if it is not required. If you’re writing to a coworker, partner, or vendor and need an answer, this is a good way to conclude your letter.

Thank you for your time and consideration

This is another common business letter closure. It politely acknowledges or suggests that the other person (or party) has devoted their time and attention to your issue.

Thanks again

This is a much more informal way of saying “thank you for your time and consideration.” It is appropriate for expressing gratitude to people you know.

Love

You would never end a business or academic letter with an expression of love, but it can be a quick, personal, and touching way to end a note to someone you care about.

How to end a letter – Part 2

It is critical to end your letter on a strong note in order for the recipient to respond positively to your message. Of course, understanding how to end a letter entails more than just the sign-offs.

You may be wondering how to properly punctuate your signature, what to include in your signature, or what P.S. stands for at the end of a letter or email.

PUNCTUATION

When writing your signature, remember to use proper capitalization and punctuation.

Only the first word should be capitalized (e.g., Yours truly), and the sign-off should be followed by a comma (or, in some informal settings, an exclamation mark), not a period:

– Yours truly,

– Thanks again!

– Best wishes,

POSTSCRIPTS

A P.S. (or postscript) follows your signature and name. It is intended to include information that is supplementary, subordinate, or not essential to your letter. A postscript is generally acceptable in casual and personal correspondence. Postscripts should be avoided in formal writing because the information may go unnoticed or ignored; instead, try to include all information in the body text of the letter.

As easy as 1, 2, 3!

So, now that you’ve learned these letter-ending techniques and expanded your letter-ending vocabulary, finishing your next letter or email should be a breeze!

Are you writing a business e-mail or a blog post and need to make sure whether you wrote it correctly? Our proofreaders will gladly help!