Have you ever finished writing a letter to someone\u2014whether for personal, professional, or academic reasons\u2014and found yourself stumped at the right way to finish it? If so, you certainly aren’t alone. Selecting the right closure can sometimes be an uncertainty.<\/p>\n
That’s because how you conclude a letter says something about yourself, your relationship to the other person, and even your command of proper style in American English. In today’s post, we’ll explore some of the most popular ways to end a letter, along with some tips on when they may be appropriate.<\/p>\n
Here are some of the leading letter closures (or closings) you might apply:<\/p>\n
Sincerely<\/em> Yours truly<\/em> Respectfully<\/em> Best wishes<\/em> Kind regards<\/em> I look forward to hearing from you<\/em> Thank you for your time and consideration<\/em> Thanks again<\/em> Love<\/em>
\nWhile being somewhat generic, this closure reinforces that you’ve meant what you’ve written. It’s warm and familiar without being overly personal, making it a good everyday choice.<\/p>\n
\nAs with sincerely<\/em>, a yours truly<\/em> sign-off is polite without being personal. It also can be suitable for a wide range of recipients.<\/p>\n
\nThis closing carries a tone of formality to it. The literary equivalent of a slight nod, it can be a great fit when delivering bad news or following up with someone who is considered a bit higher on the social or corporate ladder (or sees themselves as such).<\/p>\n
\nThis is a simple and friendly way to end a letter that doesn’t give away too much. It simply suggests that you want nothing but good things for the recipient, which can make it a nice choice for both personal and professional correspondence.<\/p>\n
\nThis letter ending is very similar to best wishes<\/em> but perhaps a bit more formal and distanced. Because it doesn’t suggest any sort of closeness or affection, it can be useful for a wide range of recipients and situations.<\/p>\n
\nThis closure is typically used in business settings because it indicates that a response will be expected if not required. If you’re writing to a colleague, partner, or vendor and you need an answer, this is a good way to end your letter.<\/p>\n
\nThis is another popular closure for business letters. It politely recognizes that the other person (or party) has devoted their time and attention to your issue or suggests that they will.<\/p>\n
\nThis is the much less formal version of \u201cthank you for your time and consideration.\u201d It is appropriate for expressing your gratitude to those you know personally.<\/p>\n
\nYou obviously wouldn’t want to end a business or academic letter with an expression of love, but this can be a quick, personal, and touching way to finish a note to someone you have affection for.<\/p>\nClosures to Letters: To Capitalize or Not<\/h2>\n