Wish at the end of the letter. How to end a business letter in English. Sample email messages

When we write too imposingly, and when our last phrase is excessively and inappropriately official? Natalya Tokar, the author of the business English teaching methodology, talks specifically for Marie Claire about how the signature hierarchy actually works.

When I was studying for a master's degree in Germany, I asked myself the same question - how to properly finish a letter in German when I write an application to the rector, send a resume to an employer, or ask unfamiliar classmates what they asked about film theory. In English I knew how to do all this (so it seemed to me), and German was a new language in which I spoke much better than I wrote. Every time Google "saved" me, and then it turned out that it only spoiled my relationships with people. I didn't understand how the signature hierarchy works. When I write too imposingly, and when my last phrase in the letter is excessively and inappropriately formal? I know that for many people who communicate with clients, partners and investors in English, this hierarchy is also incomprehensible. What I mean? Let's look at an example of how to start letters.

name question

The standard error is to translate a phrase in Russian up to a comma. For example: “Hello, Mr. Peter!” or “Hello, Peter!” English does not put a comma before addresses, and you rarely see an exclamation point at the end of a greeting, unless a bosom friend writes to you in the style of “Hey you!” or “Hey Mike!”

Standard business correspondence begins with "Dear" and ends with a comma. Possible options are “Dear Mr. Jones,” “Dear James,” or “Dear friends,” if you're referring to followers, colleagues, or another group of people. “Dear Sir/Madam,” is recommended if there is no way to get the name of a person who can help you. If there is such an opportunity, but you did not use it, your letter will most likely go to the trash. If you're writing a cover letter for your resume and don't know the name of the HR professional who will be reading it, take the trouble to find out (Google is usually in the know and is willing to help). If you're sending out VIP invitations to a conference, don't leave the word after "Dear" impersonal. People like to be called by their first names, and this is a generally accepted norm, reflecting a polite, considerate attitude towards a person.

From “friendly hugs” to a cold pool of “contacts”

At this point I am usually asked the question: What name should I call them? "Mister" or just "John"? "Miss" or "Mrs"? In short, there are two rules:

1. When addressing women, always write Ms (miss) to avoid even a hint of conflict or misunderstanding. This treatment is acceptable to women of any age and any marital status.
2. Always address the person the way they present themselves. If he introduces himself as John, you can text him "Dear John". If he passed away as John Smith, there is no need to shorten the distance ahead of time and omit the word “Mister”. Start your letter to him with “Dear Mr. Smith". The same rule works in reverse. If in the first letter you greeted in the style of “Dear John”, and then suddenly decided that you shouldn’t have called just by name (you should be more polite with the head of the representative office throughout Eastern Europe), and next time you write to him “Dear Mr. Smith”, you suddenly mark the distance. Sometimes it looks comical, and sometimes it can cause misunderstanding. We usually distance ourselves from people we don't particularly want to deal with or who have exceeded our credibility.

In Russian, it would look something like this. First you write: “Hi, Vasya!”, He answers you in a friendly tone and signs: “I invite you to lunch! Vasya". And you begin the next letter to Vasya with the words: “Dear Vasily Olegovich!” What would you think in Vasya's place? Most likely, Vasya will decide that he did or wrote something wrong, since he was suddenly asked to leave the “friendly hugs” zone and was again sent to the cold pool of “contacts”. John thinks the same. Therefore, if you work with foreigners, pay attention to how people introduce themselves when you get to know each other, and what signatures they put in their letters.

Simply the best

Now about signatures. There are many options, and they all mean something. What, for example, does the word “best” mean? In the same Masters, we had a professor from the USA who always ended her emails like this: “best, Susan”. At that time, for me it was a completely new rule of etiquette in English, which, as it seemed to me, I knew very well.

It turns out that this is the safest way to end business letters. The shade hierarchy looks like this:

"I wish you all the best, Susan", "All the best, Susan" and "Best, Susan"

The first option is the most official. Gradually you move towards the third option. If, when discussing who and how will present the project tomorrow, you have already exchanged letters with each other 25 times, it’s stupid to write “I wish you all the best” every time. Even "best" will already be superfluous. In recent issues, Bloomberg wrote that today people treat emails more like text messages, especially if the correspondence is in real time. That is, you immediately answer to solve some issue. It is quite acceptable to leave such letters without a greeting and without a polite farewell.

Especially with the rise of services like Slack, emails are becoming more like text messages: people don't say hello or goodbye, they get straight to the point. However, when we write a letter to a potential client, partner or employer, the rules of etiquette still apply. Not to say hello and not to say goodbye to the person to whom you are writing for the first (and even the second) time is still impolite.

Best or warmest regards

The most favorite variant of parting in a letter in the Russian-speaking space is “best regards”. It all starts with him, especially if it is a cold letter and you have never met the addressee in your life. This option means you are polite but keep your distance. It is impersonal, and does not express any relation to the interlocutor. Later, people switch to "kind regards", thereby indicating that there is more trust in the relationship. "Warm regards" or "warmest regards" can be too "warm" goodbye if you are discussing options for the supply of equipment. Most often, people quickly switch to just "regards" and leave it for all occasions. The same Bloomberg writes that "regards" and "best" are the two most neutral and therefore the most popular ways to end letters.

What about the rest? Is "Sincerely" really "sincere" or is it a deliberately formal way of saying "goodbye"? "Cheers" is suitable when we share photos from a corporate party or is it possible to write to a client like this? In any case, your writing style reflects your attitude towards the interlocutor. Moreover, with the help of different language units, you can establish or consolidate a variety of relationships between people. I will share with you the conclusions from the real practice of communication with foreign customers, investors and managers. You can also check with publications such as Inc., Business Insider, Bloomberg, or ask Will Schwalbe, co-author of the bestseller SEND: Why People Email So Badly and How to Do It Better. They give very similar recommendations.

So, let's look at each option separately.

"Yours Faithfully"- probably the most outdated and most official version. Expresses deep respect for the interlocutor. The phrase is quite acceptable in the countries of the Near and Middle East, but is rare in Western culture and is used only on the condition that you began the letter with the words "Dear Sir".

"Yours Sincerely" or Sincerely is a good option if you need to be especially polite, but nothing more. There is no "warmth" or "sincerity" here. This is how the lawyer ends the letter, who will still give you an unimaginable bill, or the person with whom you have a business disagreement, but it makes sense to continue to cooperate and keep a professional distance. This is how you can and should end a cover letter to a potential employer. This is how they upload a letter that began with a first name (“Dear John” / “Dear Mr. Jones”).

One nuance: "Yours Sincerely" it can really reflect your reverent and sincere attitude towards a person if you are writing a letter to a relative, family member or very close friend. But since this column is dedicated to business communication, I will focus on exactly what you may need in the office tomorrow.

Best is the safest and most popular option in business correspondence between native English speakers. When in doubt, type those four letters, a comma, and your name.

Thanks- also a safe, but boring option. People say "thank you" everywhere, even when they're not really thanking you for anything, so use it when you really want to say "thank you". Add an exclamation mark - "Thanks!" to show that you do not write this word automatically.

"Many thanks"- this is a good option if the person helped you or promised to help, and you sincerely want to express gratitude. At other times, he seems formulaic and insincere.

TTYL, TAFN, etc. So you should not write, no matter how much you want to show that you know these abbreviations. TTYL ("talk to you later") or TAFN ("that "s all for now"). Such options are unprofessional and may confuse your interlocutor who does not know them or is not used to this style of communication (Outlook is still not a messenger) .

"Looking forward". It makes sense to use this phrase if you really are going to see a person soon, meet on Skype, or discuss a project after making changes over the phone. In other cases, it is better not to use it.

"Speak with you soon" / "Talk soon"- the first option is more formal, the second - more simple. They should be used when you really intend to talk to this person soon. Otherwise, it is insincere and will not serve to improve your relationship with the interlocutor.

"More soon"- so they write when they did not provide all the information in the letter and promise to write a second one - with additions and answers to other questions. If you are not going to do this, it is better to try to write everything at once, than to be branded as a person who says and does not. Promise little, deliver a lot.

"XX"- this option should be used with caution and it is better not to initiate it yourself. I don't use it at all in business correspondence. There are a number of experts who agree with me. However, there is also an opinion that in some situations this signature is appropriate. For example, "Alisa X" is an option for friendly but still professional notes or letters if those "friendships" are already formed. If not, don't tempt fate and don't draw two crosses first. It means "Kisses".

XOXO- this option is completely unacceptable and means "I kiss and hug." Save it for close friends and anyone you want to flirt with.

Cheers- an option that signals to an American that you are most likely from England or Australia, or pretending to be related to these countries. In the United States, such a signature is used extremely rarely. Experts recommend asking yourself, "Would you say that word out loud to another person's face?" and if not, don't use it as a signature.

[“Your Name”]- if you end the letter with just your name, this is a rather "cold" and "sharp" way to say goodbye. Still, it is worth adding something before you remind the person what your name is, and thus demonstrate your attitude towards your cooperation - present or potential.

First Initial (e.g. “A”)- some in the signature do not write the full name, but only one letter. If you remember, at the beginning of the article I clarified that how you sign letters determines how you will be contacted. If a person puts one letter “W” at the end, then it’s hard to say what it means. How to contact him? Will or William? Or Wolfgang? I had a funny experience with Airbnb. I booked an apartment, and the owner signed his letters with one letter - "E". It was very embarrassing for me to start each subsequent letter with the words “Hello E”, but I had no other options. When we met, it turned out that this is a girl, a Japanese woman, and that's really her name - "I". In Japanese, this name is depicted in hieroglyphs, but the girl prefers not to complicate people's lives - in English she writes her name in one letter and asks to address her that way.

"Tricks" of the final letter

How to increase the effectiveness and activity of the final?

Different options for using active and emotional phrases in the final letter can produce different effects and lead to different results.

See for yourself:

ADVICE

If it is important for you to keep the initiative in correspondence with the addressee/client; if it is important to “keep your finger on the pulse” and contribute to a dynamic solution of issues, carefully consider the active part of the final letter!

The end of your letter should end with a wording that is clear to the addressee / client about the next steps.

Do not make the client guess on their own what he should do when he receives your letter. Be sure to communicate what actions you expect from him and when he needs to take these actions.

The effective part of the final must contain information that answers the following questions:

"What's the next step?" and “When should it be done?”

Depending on the situation, it is necessary to adjust the degree of categoricalness of the final.

Maintain an appropriate proportion between the effective and image parts of the finale.

Remember: the image component of the final works well to create a positive emotional mood when communicating, but it can significantly reduce the effectiveness of the letter, “blur” the goal and provoke the addressee to a “slow” response.

Make the final more active, keep the initiative!

Specific situations

It often happens that it is very important for us to know the answer of the addressee (his “yes” or “no”). At the same time, the ticklishness of the situation lies in the fact that we have no right to indicate and insist on the answer and its timing. Such an indication may look incorrect, premature, impolite, and sometimes downright intrusive.

For example, in a letter, my addressee is interested in the opportunity to conduct business correspondence training for his subordinates. In my response letter, I describe in detail the option of conducting such a training, and as a result, it is important for me not to lose the thread of the dialogue with the addressee and learn about his decision. And it is important to do it as correctly as possible. How?

In such situations, a trick that I called “Indication of a subsequent action” works well.

The essence of the reception: point the addressee / client to an event / action that will occur immediately after you receive his answer.

For example: "Ivan Ivanovich, please let me know how interested you are in my proposal, and we can immediately agree on the dates and details of the training."

Variants of the finals with an indication of the subsequent action:

"Write about your decision - and we will immediately start processing the documents."

“As soon as we receive a response from you, we will be ready to send an adjusted payment schedule.”

"Write which of the sent options suits you best - I will immediately send specific detailed information on the procedure for registration."

"I'm waiting for scans of documents from you - and immediately I give the order for payment."

"Let us know about the chosen option - and we will be ready to send you our commercial offer."

"Write which option suits you best - and I will immediately be able to tell you in detail about the procedure for issuing this card."

When working with the active part of the finale, one should not forget about the emotional part, since positive emotions are far from the last thing in business communication.

Indian wisdom says: "Nothing encourages a person like a kind word." And the catchphrase of the movie echoes it: "A kind word is also pleasant for a cat." So why not end with a kind word a letter to our esteemed addressee?

Image/emotional part of the finale

The finale of a business letter (and the letter as a whole) looks more dignified and professional if, along with the presentation of our position, we demonstrate attention to the interests and personality of our addressee/client.

READY CLICHES (USE TO WRITE FASTER)

Options for image/emotional phrases in the final letter:

We look forward to collaborating!

We will be glad to cooperate with you!

I will gladly answer your questions.

If you have any questions, please get in touch. We will definitely answer them!

If you have any questions - write or call. We will definitely answer you!

Looking forward to fruitful cooperation...

Always ready to help and answer your questions.

Sincerely…

Sincerely…

With respect and hope for fruitful cooperation…

I sincerely hope that our cooperation will be positive and productive.

We will be glad to see you among our happy customers!

Thank you for your cooperation!

NOTE. IT IS IMPORTANT!

When working with the image part of the final, it is important to understand that the final phrase should be consonant with the content of the letter. It often happens that we enter the final image phrase into the signature block - and, alas, it does not always correspond to the semantic context of the letter itself. It turns into a dead template that does not fulfill its original purpose or (worse) begins to contradict the content of the letter.

Confirmation of this is in the letter below.

From: Ivanova Valentina

Sent: Thursday, August 26, 2010 7:13 PM

To: Nikolai Petrovich

Subject: Chief accountant vacancy

Good evening, Nikolai Petrovich!

I am writing to you in connection with the situation with the selection of candidates for the position of chief accountant in your service. The position has been open for over two months. The position is rather difficult.

At the end of July, a meeting was held with Ekaterina Kozlova, a real and worthy candidate to fill the vacancy. She completed all the practical tasks, we handed them over to your service. The results of the assignments have not yet been analyzed. At the beginning of last week, we sent you 2 more questionnaires of candidates for the position of an accountant and the answers of these candidates to questions. The situation is the same - no answer. Nikolai Petrovich, I am sure that there is no point in continuing work in this vein.

I inform you that from today the vacancy of the chief accountant is being transferred to the category of non-urgent. This means that if there are a sufficiently large number of current vacancies in the personnel department, we will work on finding candidates for the position of chief accountant on a residual basis.

Good mood and good day!

Valentina Ivanova

Head of Human Resources

ADVICE

Be sure to correlate the sound of the final emotional phrase with the main content of the letter. To speed up your work, keep a list of cliché phrases handy.

A universal version of the image phrase is the phrase: “Respectfully…”

Only it can be placed in an automatic signature block. All other image phrases need additional attention and coordination with the content of the letter.

Attention! At the end of the letter, avoid mistakes in the use of the following phrases:

"Thank you for your understanding" / "Thank you for your understanding"

"Thank you for your attention"

"All the best!"

"All the best!

"Good luck!"

Let's consider in more detail.

Final phrase: "Thank you for your understanding!" / "Thank you for your understanding"

This phrase has a semantic connotation of apology. Therefore, use it only in cases where you need to apologize to the addressee.

See letter options below. Pay attention to how the final phrase changes the meaning of the letter.

Do not use this phrase in a situation where you want to express gratitude for a common work. In this case, the phrases sound more organic:

"Thank you for your cooperation!"

"Thank you for the fruitful cooperation!"

Also, do not use this phrase to thank the recipient for their attention to your information and to express the hope that everything is clear to him. For these cases, other options are appropriate:

“I have tried to be as precise as possible about the essence of the situation. If at the same time some points remain incomprehensible to you, please let me know, and I will explain in more detail”;

“If there are unclear points in the sent information, please let us know. I will give the necessary comments”;

“I tried to explain the essence of the issue in as much detail as possible. However, if you have any other questions, write, and I will be happy to answer them.

Ending phrase: "Thank you for your attention"

When using this phrase, it is important to understand the following. It is appropriate only in a business situation, when you express gratitude for the attention paid to you in response to your request / question. More correct in sound and meaning in such a situation would be the option: “Thank you for the attention you paid me.”

The phrase "Thank you for your attention!" absolutely inappropriate in a situation where you are the initiator of a business letter.

Why? The point is its semantic subtext. We usually use the phrase "Thank you for your attention" to thank you for attention that could not have been paid. (A typical example of such a situation in everyday life: information on TV about the weather forecast.)

Finishing our informational message with this phrase, we broadcast two semantic meanings:

1. “I am grateful to you for the time you gave me, since you had every right not to listen to me”;

2. "Goodbye" ("Thank you all. Everyone is free").

Both of these semantic meanings are inorganic for a business letter.

Firstly, it is inappropriate to say goodbye to the client so categorically, leaving no reason and hope for resuming the dialogue.

Secondly, it is strange and inappropriate to write letters that you are not sure about the relevance of. Even if you write such a letter, you need to end it with an indication of the usefulness and applicability of your information.

Summary: the phrase "Thank you for your attention" is inorganic at the end of a business letter.

Instead, it is better to use phrases:

“I sincerely hope that our information will help you…”

“We are sure that this information will be useful for…”

“I sincerely hope that the information that I have given you will be useful / help you ...”

Phrases in the finale: "All the best!" / "All the best!"

Both phrases are variants of a polite but final goodbye. They are appropriate in situations where we are interested in ending the dialogue.

If we want to express to the client / addressee our wishes for good or sincere participation, then the phrases “All the best!” and "All the best!" better to replace it with:

"Have a good day!"

"Good mood and have a good day!"

"With best regards..."

"With sincere regards..."

Ending phrase: "Good luck!"

This short phrase at the end of the letter carries two semantic connotations.

1. A wish for a successful combination of future circumstances.

2. An indication that the sending addressee will not be related to these circumstances (“this will happen without me, without my participation”).

Decide for yourself how acceptable these semantic contexts are in your correspondence with clients/partners.

So, we have clarified the issue with the main tool of clear writing - its structure. The basis of clarity is clearly defined three points of attention, including the "tricks" of the finale of the letter.

This is a "semantic triangle", a kind of "semantic frame" of the letter.

Now in this "frame" we need to place the main content of the letter. Place in such a way as to provide our addressee with the utmost clarity, speed and comfort of reading and perception. Clarity tools help with this. Let's remind them.

1. A clear structure of the letter (including three points of attention) - we have already mastered this.

And with the next we have to deal with.

2. The volume of the letter, comfortable for perception.

3. Presentation of information in a logic that is extremely understandable to the addressee (principle 5 x 5).

4. Graphic means of systematization and expressiveness of the text: paragraphs, headings, numbering.

5. The nature of the proposal (volume and structure).

Let's go in order.

This text is an introductory piece. From the book Individual Entrepreneur [Registration, accounting and reporting, taxation] author Anishchenko Alexander Vladimirovich

2.6. Tax "tricks" In order to reduce the amount of taxes paid, the heads of various organizations and their assistants are constantly busy looking for optimal tax schemes. This is quite normal, if it does not go beyond the law. It is not so rare in

author

Typical tricks and gimmicks of car sellers Earlier, we have repeatedly said that the main goal of any car dealer is to sell a car as quickly and with the greatest benefit for themselves. It is from this that the buyer must proceed in order not to be

From the book How to cheat when buying a car. Guide for the Thrifty author Gladkiy Alexey Anatolievich

Other tricks and tricks used in car dealerships In general, the process of purchasing a car at a dealership or car dealership has many subtleties and nuances. Be aware that the employees of these structures are experienced professionals, and their income most directly depends on

From the book Police Check: Lawyer's Practical Recommendations for Protecting Business author Selyutin Alexander Viktorovich

Inspection and search. Our tricks against the tricks of the police

From the book Fraud and provocation in small and medium-sized businesses author Gladkiy Alexey Anatolievich

From the book The Logical Framework Approach and Its Application to Analysis and Planning of Activities author Gotin Sergey Valerievich

WHAT ARE THE LITTLE Tricks AND THE BIG PROBLEMS? Again, every donor has different budgeting requirements. However, let's try to formulate some fairly general rules that will allow you to submit a preliminary budget in

From the book Do not let yourself be fooled by an accountant! A book for managers and business owners author Smooth Alexey

Little tricks In this section, we will consider several small tricks that allow the director to control processes, transactions, operations, and in general - to observe the activities of an accountant, and unnoticed by others. It is no secret that one of the most

From the book How to Make Money Online: A Practical Guide author Dorohova Marta Alexandrovna

10.1. Surfing and paid letters Surfing is a type of income where you are paid for viewing sites. Paid letters are earnings similar to surfing, only in this case, an email arrives in your mailbox that contains a link to a site. you pass through

From the book How to Become a CEO. Rules for ascending to the heights of power in any organization author Fox Jeffrey J.

XXV. Write letters by hand Impersonal communication is spreading more and more. Fax, e-mail, mail that is automatically sent to hundreds of addresses, answering machine entries, pagers, ATM machines, talking car doors, automatic porter picking up

From the book How to Work Four Hours a Week author Ferris Timothy

Life according to the book "How to work four hours a week" Cases, examples, tips and tricks Zen and the art of living like a rock star. Art lovers needed. Photo finish. Virtual jurisprudence. Flying with Ornithreads. Out-of-work training. That the doctor

author

Killer sales letters Each of the sales letters that you will see below has already brought us more than one million rubles. Just take them as a model. As we, in turn, did, using the letters of the strongest Western information businessmen. It's time to get out of

From the book Infobusiness. Making money selling information author Parabellum Andrey Alekseevich

Strengthening the sales letter Video message It strengthens the sales text of the video message very well. And you don't have to do it professionally. Take the most ordinary camera, turn on the video mode, record. And the site already has a "talking head", it is believed much

From the book Business e-mail correspondence. Five Rules for Success author Vorotyntseva Tamara

The structure of the letter The structure is the key to the clarity and harmony of the meaning. The structure of the letter (Fig. 4) is as follows. Rice. 4. Structure

From the book Career for Introverts. How to gain credibility and get a well-deserved promotion author Enkovits Nancy

Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor are an excellent method for anyone who enjoys expressing their views in writing. In addition, it contributes to increasing popularity. That is, it is an ideal method for introverts. Many of my friends strongly recommend the profile site

author Parabellum Andrey Alekseevich

Writing letters How to write a sales letter? At the beginning, there should be a welcome video or a catchy picture. In addition, there are several blocks in a good letter: 1. Pain. Here you can ask questions or describe the current state of the client, his problems and

From the book Infobusiness at full capacity [Doubling Sales] author Parabellum Andrey Alekseevich

Next Letters Let's move on to the third letter. The structure is basically the same: a greeting, words that you want to give another secret bonus, a story about the bonus itself and a link to it. In the last letter (there are seven in total) there is again a small teaser for the next gift. A plus

Tired of “Respectfully yours” and want something new? The MediaDigger team, a platform that automates the storage of a database of contacts and makes it possible to send bulk personalized letters through it, has made a selection of alternative signatures that you can use to end your email. After all, in spite of everything, email is still the main way of business communication:

1. Sincerely- For lovers of the classics. The safest option.

2. Sincerely yours- There is something in this, but not everyone can afford such a signature. You have to be and look a certain way.

3. Best regards– Slightly less formal and applicable in a business letter.

4. Just enter a name- Quite suitable, especially in cases where there is an active exchange of letters.

5. Your initials- Also acceptable, but the question arises why it was impossible to simply write your name in full, and an unpleasant aftertaste remains.

6. Have a nice day- For the final letter, when you don’t expect to hear anything else from the interlocutor during the day, it’s quite suitable.

7. Have a nice week- The same as “have a good day”, only if you don’t communicate anymore during the week.

8. Best regards– English version of “respectfully”. The most secure for business communication. Some Russian speakers only use this signature. In principle, this is acceptable, but if you communicate a lot with foreigners and everyone knows this. Otherwise it looks a little strange.

9. Kind regards- The same as best regards, but a little less formal.

10. With friendly regards“Never seen this, but heard about it. One would like to say that they called from the 70s and asked to return the signature to them.

11. See you soon- In case you agreed to meet in the near future and emphasize that you remember about it.

12. Good luck in your hard work!- Such a signature can be used when you tried to help someone (or failed to do it), and you are trying to somehow cheer up the interlocutor.

13. Sent from Iphone- You can somehow explain why there may be typos in the letter, but it may seem that you are showing off your phone model.

14. Sent from smartphone– Safer than “sent from Iphone”: the interlocutor understands that you wrote from the phone and the auto-corrector could make typos, while you don’t brag about your phone.

15. Thank you for your attention- This phrase is better left for those who are trying to sell you something.

16. Thank you- If you are really grateful, then you can. But you should not sign every letter like this when you give someone an instruction. It will give an orderly tone.

17. With perfect respect For those who like to stand out. A little bit romantic.

18. Please think about nature before you print this letter.“First of all, don’t blame anyone. Secondly, this inscription can sometimes be longer than the text of the letter itself. Thirdly, does anyone else print letters now?

19. Ready for service– Hmmm. Simply no.

20. With love- Nice and acceptable if you've known each other for a long time.

21. Good luck- It's more suitable if you do not expect to communicate with someone in the near future.

22. Kiss hard- Suitable for relatives and loved ones.

23. With paternal tenderness- You can, but only if you are really a father and only learned what the Internet is.

24. Yours forever- It is better to leave for the registry office.

25. Have a nice weekend- This is usually written by those who diligently try to spoil them for you, sending a letter at the end of the working day on Friday indicating the things that need to be done. In general, it is possible, but when you do not burden someone, otherwise it smacks of sarcasm.

26. Hearty greetings- It is permissible in the event that you previously addressed each other as “comrade”, everyone else is not.

27. Your obedient servant- Strongly smacks of toadying and it's hard to imagine a situation where it would really be appropriate.

28. Sincerely devoted to you- The same problems as "Your Obedient Servant".

29. Looking forward to further fruitful cooperation- A little long, but acceptable, for example, for the first letter when writing to a stranger.

30. Kiss- If you write to your other half, then it is permissible.

Know more options? Write to us at

« Remember the last phrase”- these are the words of the famous movie hero from one Soviet television series. The remark went “to the people” and is now a common aphorism. Indeed, the last words affect the whole impression of the conversation. Therefore, when composing business or personal correspondence, you should carefully consider how to finish the letter in English and politely say goodbye to the interlocutor. The ability to tactfully and appropriately use standard cliché phrases at the end of the letter will be the subject of today's material.

A formal letter requires increased attention to the norms of politeness. With successful business communication, the end of the letter allows you to enhance the effect of the above text.

The ending in a business letter should make a favorable impression: there should not be obsession, excessive emotionality, flattery, bias, and even more rudeness and hostility. Therefore, in business correspondence, it is customary to use impersonal speech clichés. The table below shows the standard phrases that often appear in the completion of a business letter in English.

Should you need any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.	If you need more information, please feel free to contact me.
We would appreciate your cooperation in this matter.	We would appreciate your cooperation in this matter.
Thanks for your extremely helpful attention to this matter.	Thank you for your extremely helpful attention to this issue.
Thanks again for your attention, consideration, and time.	Thank you again for your attention, your interest and your time.
We look forward to building a strong business relationship in the future.	Looking forward to establishing a successful and strong cooperation in the future.
We take this opportunity of thanking you for your assistance.	We take this opportunity to thank you for your assistance.
We are looking forward to your confirmation.	We are waiting for your confirmation.
We look forward to hearing from you soon.	We hope to receive a prompt reply.
It's always a pleasure doing business with you.	It's always a pleasure to do business with you.
Assuring you of our best attention at all times.	We are ready to listen to you at any time.

These expressions will help to beautifully complete the text of the message. But this is not the whole ending, because. no letter in English needs a signature. Usually this short remark expresses their respect or wishes for success. The translation of many of these phrases into Russian coincides, and even when switching to English, they are used almost interchangeably, with only very slight emotional differences.

A business letter in English may end with a signature of the following form:

• Yoursfaithfully* - with sincere respect;
• Respectfully yours* – respectfully;
• Sincerelyyours-Yours sincerely;
• With appreciation- sincerely grateful
• With gratitude- sincerely grateful;
• Thanks and regards- with gratitude and best wishes;
• bestregards – with best wishes;
• kindregards- with good wishes;
• bestwishes- with wishes of success.

* These expressions are used only if the writer does not personally know the addressee of his letter.

Paying tribute to the accepted norms of courtesy, they put a comma and write the personal data of the signatory on a new line: first name, last name and position held. This letter ends.

So, we figured out the official messages and learned how to finish them beautifully. But one more important question remained unsolved: how can one complete a letter to a friend in English or an appeal to foreign relatives? We will discuss this in detail in the next section.

English phrases of farewell in friendly correspondence

Informal correspondence also adheres to a polite tone, but provides incomparably more opportunities for expressing emotions and emphasizing the closeness and warmth of relationships. Therefore, there are a very large number of answers to the question of how to finish a letter in English in personal correspondence.

Let's start with the fact that an informal text should also have a logical conclusion: a kind of last note or a final line. And sometimes it is at the finishing stage that a stupor occurs: you write about the latest news and events, and a beautiful end to the letter does not come to mind.

Of course, everyone has their own style of writing letters, but even in friendly correspondence there are often template phrases. Don't know how to finish your English letter? Feel free to choose and write one of the expressions below. In our material, they are also highlighted in a separate table.

Well got to go now.	Well, that's probably all.
Anyway, I must go and get with my work.	Anyway, it's time for me to go and do my job.
I must finish my letter because I must go to bed.	I have to finish the letter because it's time for me to sleep.
Do keep in touch!	Let's be in touch!
I'm sorry I must go to ...	I'm sorry, but I have to go now....
I have much to work to do.	I have a lot of unfinished business.
Hope to hear from you soon.	Hope to hear from you soon.
Well, I must finish now.	Well, it's time for me to wrap up.
Write back soon!	Answer quickly!
Write soon and let me know all the news.	Write back soon and let me know about all the news.
Can't wait to hear from you!	I can't wait to hear from you again!
Don't forget to write!	Don't forget to write!
Please, tell me more about…	Please tell me more about….
Let me know what happens.	Let me know what's going on with you.
Drop me a line when you're free	When you're free, write me a couple of lines.
Bye for now!	And now goodbye!
Have a nice day!	Have a good day!

Other English topics: Stories about the sights of London in English

Using these clichés, you can give a beautiful and meaningful look to any letter.

It remains only to put a polite formula and your initials. There are just a lot of signature options for an informal letter, but we have selected the best and most frequently used examples from it. So you don’t have to think long about how to sign a letter either.

If the addressee of your message is relatives or good friends, it would be appropriate to use such forms of farewell as:

• Yours cordially- cordially yours;
• Yours ever – always yours;
• Eternally yours- always yours;
• Your loving brother- Your loving brother;
• your friend – Your friend;
• Your very sincere friend- Your devoted friend;
• bestwishes – Best wishes;
• Give my regards to… - Send greetings ...;
• Allthebest – Best wishes.

If you and your interlocutor are very close friends or you have a warm romantic relationship, then the following wishes will come to the rescue:

• Affectionately- With tenderness;
• Lots of love- I love you very much;
• Lots of kisses – Kisses;
• Hugs- I hug;
• With love and kisses- Love and kisses;
• With all my love– With all love;
• Passionately yours – Passionately yours;
• Always and forever Yours forever and ever;
• Missingyou – Missing You;
• sendmyloveto… – Send my regards…;
• takecare – Take care;
• Tillnexttime– Until next time;
• Seeyousoon – See you soon;
• Seeya- See you;
• Cheers– Bye ;
• Ciao– Chao!

And after expressing our feelings, do not forget to put a comma, and sign your name on a new line.

Now we are familiar with the rules for processing all types of correspondence. But still, it is better to see a complete sample of writing once than to read a theory abstracted from practice several times. At the end of the material, we suggest that you look at examples of English letters of a different nature with Russian translation.

How to finish a letter in English - samples and excerpts from correspondence

In this section, you will find several examples that clearly show the format of letters in English, as well as the correspondence between their styles and forms of politeness.

Letter of congratulation

Dear Daniel and dear Sarah, Please accept our warmest congratulation on your silver wedding anniversary! It seems like you joined your fates only yesterday. Yet twenty-five years have passed since that wonderful day. With great pleasure we want to wish such an ideal couple all the best: a lot of love, much healthy, eternal youth and long and happy life together! It's a delight to be your friends! Best wishes for your anniversary Jonathan and Elizabeth Livingston

Dear Daniel and Sarah,

Please accept our heartiest congratulations on your silver wedding anniversary!

It seems that you connected your destinies just yesterday. It's been 25 years since that wonderful day.

With great pleasure, we want to wish such an ideal couple only the best things: a lot of love, good health, eternal youth and a long and happy life together. Being your friends is an honor and a pleasure!

With best wishes on your anniversary,

Jonathan and Elizabeth Livingston.

Letters to a friend

Hey Emily! I'm still waiting for the book which you promised to send me at our last meeting. You don't write to me since then but obviously you have a lot on your plate right now. Anyway, I`m going to visit you in a week and we have a chance to meet.What do you think about it? Drop me a line when you are free.

Hey Emily!

I'm still waiting for that book you promised to send me at our last meeting. Since then, you have not written to me, apparently, you are now very busy with business.

Anyway, I'm going to visit you in a week and we can meet. What do you think about that? Scribble a couple of lines when you're free.

Dear Jack, Many thanks for your letters! Lovely to hear from you! I must apologize for not writing earlier. I worked very much and didn't have any free time. But now I can tell you about my news. Since yesterday I'm on vacation. My boss let me go on vacation for a month. I am very glad, now I can go to Spain, finally! I saved money for this travel for two years, and yesterday I have boughta round trip ticket to Barcelona. I'll spend two weeks in Barcelona. You cannotimagine how muchI dreamed about it! I am just in seventh heaven! Later, when I'll return Moscow, I'll go to my parents. They live in Sankt-Petersburg. I spent my childhood in the city of Sankt-Petersburg, so I have many friends there.I will be very pleased to meet with them. After this trip to the city of my childhood, I'll return Moscow again and write you all my experiences. Well, I must finish now. Hope to hear from you soon! With love and kisses

Dear Jack,

Thank you very much for your letter! It's great to hear from you!

I must apologize for not writing sooner. I worked very hard and didn't have a minute of free time. But now I can tell you about my news.

I have been on vacation since yesterday. My boss allowed me to go on vacation for a whole month. I am very happy, now I can go to Spain, finally! I saved up money for this trip for two years, and yesterday I bought round-trip tickets to Barcelona. I will spend two weeks in Barcelona. You can't even imagine how much I dreamed about this! I'm just in seventh heaven!

Later, when I return to Moscow, I will go to my parents. They live in St. Petersburg. I spent my childhood in Saint Petersburg, so I have many friends there. I will be very pleased to meet them. After this trip to the city of my childhood, I will return to Moscow again and write you all my impressions.

Well, it's time for me to wrap up. Hope to hear from you again soon.

Love and kisses,

Excerpts from business letters

Please accept our sincere apologies for the recent inconvenience. Rest assured that we will take all necessary measures to ensure that this does not happen again in the future. As compensation, we have issued a 30% discount on your order.

Once again we apologize for the inconvenience caused.

All the best,

Robert Fletcher

General manager

The signature "with respect" at the end of the letter is a standard formula of politeness. Is it always necessary to end the letter with this phrase? How to write it correctly in Russian and English? Let's look at examples.

Download related materials:

How to end a business letter with respect

There are no random phrases in official correspondence. Stylistics requires conciseness and careful selection of words from the author. Closing phrases reinforce positive emotions, express confidence and appreciation at the same time. A clear signature helps maintain contributes to the achievement of the goal. Respect the interlocutor and compose the text so that it is pleasant to read. Politeness combined with professionalism speaks of the competence of a specialist.

When writing a formal message, remember that you are speaking on behalf of the entire company. The secretary must be correct, as he represents his leader. Compliance with the generally accepted rules of business correspondence creates a positive image of the company in the eyes of partners and customers.

Official correspondence always has specific goals. The purpose determines the structure of the text. In general the text is divided into several semantic parts: introduction, statement of the problem, argumentation and conclusion. Each part performs specific tasks. The introduction, for example, prepares for the perception of the main ideas. Conclusion - expresses wishes and hopes , assures further partnership.

Letter of thanks to an employee from the head of the organization

Note! For each of the tasks there are generally accepted formulas. By ending the letter politely, you show that you respect your partner, set him up for positive emotions and leave a good impression.

How to spell "respectfully" at the end of a letter

A single regulation of business correspondence and bringing it to common standards is typical for large companies. Design letterhead , the form of "autographs" at the end of the message becomes part of the corporate culture, an element of style. Whether it is a paper or electronic message, compliance with a single standard is an indicator of attention to detail and important subtleties.

There are several types of closing phrases in business correspondence. Their choice depends on how well you know the addressee. For example, the signature "with respect" in a formal letter is neutral. If you want to focus your partner’s attention on something or once again remind him of the request, use restrained phrases:

• Yours sincerely...
• Sincerely...
• Best wishes...

When choosing the final formula of politeness, try to do without familiarities. Be aware of how well you know the person you are writing to. If the acquaintance is formal, stick to the official style.

The answer was prepared jointly with the editors of the electronic journal " Secretary's Handbook».

Answered by Maria BELDOVA,
With. n. With. VNIIDAD, expert in the field of documentation management

What are we waiting for when sending a letter to a partner or client? So that our information, even negative, makes a favorable impression on the addressee and causes a response or decision. This can be achieved if you follow the rules of correspondence etiquette, properly format the letter and prepare a high quality text. Your text should be of moderate length; contain the necessary arguments and clear language and have a structure that best conveys the information.

Reception 1. Separate the main from the secondary

The text of a business letter should have a volume sufficient to ...

The full version of the answer is available after free

"Respectfully" at the end of the letter: with or without a comma

The final form of politeness is given at the end of the text. It is placed on the same vertical with the date, on the right side. The phrase is separated from the main text by two or three intervals. Slightly below are props "Signature" , including the name of the position of the compiler, his personal signature and transcript. This arrangement complies with the standards of GOST 6.30-97, which defines the requirements for paperwork. If the message is issued on official letterhead or is of a private nature, the title of the position and the transcript of the signature are not put.

The question of how to write at the end of the letter "with respect": with or without a comma, does not have a clear answer. Both options are acceptable. The absence of a sign can be perceived as negligence and even illiteracy. On the other hand, according to the rules of punctuation, this comma should not be placed. From the point of view of Russian grammar, the sign is redundant. The words "with respect" are not an introductory turnover, and the signature is an appeal. This phrase implies that "This letter was written with respect to you by N.N.". As in it, in the abbreviated version, the comma is not put according to the rules.

Why is it so common in practice? AT rules of correspondence in English, German and other European languages, this sign is required. The phrase "with respect" at the end of the letter in English is separated not only graphically, but also punctuation. Over time, although it is grammatically erroneous, the rule became part of the norms of the Russian language.

Letter Conclusion: Sample "Regards"

How to write "respectfully" in a business letter in English

Rules business communication in English in many ways similar to those adopted in Russia. At the end, the addressee is thanked for their time and expresses their intention to continue the correspondence. Common phrases are also used: "with respect", "with gratitude", "with best wishes". After a new line indicate the name and surname of the compiler, as well as his position. Let's look at an example: how to sign a letter in English "with respect ..."

Table 1. Final formulas of politeness in English

	Yours faithfully
Used if in circulation is the name of the recipient. The most common option.	Obsolete variant, found in British English. It is written in the absence of the name of the addressee in the appeal: Dear Sir or Dear madam	American equivalent for British yours faithfully.	A less formal option, acceptable for correspondence with a familiar person. Variations: Kind regards, Warm regards, Regards, Kindest regards
yours sincerely, Aleksandr Klimov Marketing Director	yours faithfully, Aleksandr Klimov Marketing Director	yours truly, Aleksandr Klimov Marketing Director	kind regards, Aleksandr Klimov Marketing Director

The ability to tactfully and correctly use standard cliché phrases is an indicator of the level of professionalism and knowledge of the language. In English writing, the phrase "respectfully" can be expressed in different ways. When composing a text for a foreign partner, consider all the factors and choose the most suitable translation.

How to sign a letter correctly: "with respect" and other politeness formulas

When compiling a message, the sender should be guided not only by generally accepted standards, but also by the rules of good manners. If you are writing to a stranger, and the appeal is strictly formal, use established expressions. The style of business speech strictly limits the choice of phrases.

If the matter concerns email or communication with well-known people, one can deviate from rigid canons, while remaining polite and correct. Let's look at a few examples of final phrases that are acceptable in less formal communication.

Table 2. Use of alternative final expressions

Indication of a name without a courtesy formula	Valid if there is an active exchange of messages.
Have a good day	Suitable for the final message if you do not plan to continue the correspondence today.
See you	If you have arranged a meeting in the near future and want to emphasize that you have not forgotten about it.
Good luck in your hard work	It is acceptable when trying to cheer up the recipient if he asked for advice or help.
Thank you for your attention	Used at the end of commercial offers