Introduction
When you’re bidding farewell to a colleague, client, or friend, ending an email can be difficult. You may ask yourself, “Should I keep it short and sweet?” “Should I add a personal touch?” or “Should I just sign with my name?” These are just a few of the many questions that come to mind when choosing how to end an email. Proper email etiquette is a vital aspect of professionalism, and this article will provide you with principles that will help guide you on how to appropriately end your emails.
Best Practices for Professional Settings
For professional settings like work or business, it’s essential to keep the email sign-off simple and professional. Avoid using slang or overly casual wording. Below are a few examples of the best sign-offs for professional emails:
- Best regards
- Sincerely
- Thank you
- Respectfully
- Yours truly
Demonstrating Gratitude and Friendliness
Showing gratitude in an email is an excellent way to establish a good relationship. A thank you can go a long way and leave a positive impression. Below are a few examples of friendly sign-offs that demonstrate gratitude:
- Many thanks
- Warm regards
- With gratitude
- Appreciatively yours
- Thanks again
For a more casual email, some sign-offs show personality while remaining professional. Consider the following two examples:
- Cheers!
- Take care!
Adding a Personal Touch
Using humor or adding a personal touch is a great way to showcase your personality at the end of an email. While humor may be tricky, it can be an effective way to break the ice and create a positive connection. An email sign-off that includes a fun or witty remark may also be appropriate, depending on the content of the email. Here’s an example of a fun email sign-off:
- “Until next time, keep track of your unicorns!”
It’s worth noting that your personality and relationship with the recipient should be considered when selecting an email sign-off. Choosing the wrong tone for the wrong person could cause misunderstandings and damage to relationships. Therefore, it’s essential to know the recipient’s communication style and relationship with them before selecting an email sign-off.
Knowing When to Skip It
While it’s essential to end an email professionally, certain scenarios do not require a sign-off. In brief or follow-up emails, or emails where there is an ongoing conversation, adding a sign-off may not be practicable. Instead, sign off with only your name, assuming that the previous email contained an appropriate sign-off.
Conclusion
Proper email etiquette is critical in modern-day communication. It can be challenging to determine how to end an email, but by following the principles discussed in this article, you will have a better understanding of how to create a professional sign-off. Consider the context of the email, relationship with the recipient, and your communication style when selecting a sign-off. Below is a comprehensive list of sign-offs to choose from for a variety of scenarios:
- Best regards
- Sincerely
- Thank you
- Respectfully
- Yours truly
- Many thanks
- Warm regards
- With gratitude
- Appreciatively yours
- Thanks again
- Cheers!
- Take care!
- Until next time, keep track of your unicorns!
Remember, this is a great opportunity to showcase your personality while maintaining professionalism. Embrace this opportunity and continue to hone your communication skills.
