Business Letter Closing Examples

Business Letter Closing Examples Business Letter Closing Examples When youre  writing a business letter  or sending an email message, its important to  close your letter  in a professional manner. The ideal ending for a business letter conveys your thanks and respect, without eccentricity or an overly familiar tone. Although it may seem old-fashioned, most business professionals expect written correspondence â€" whether via a letter or an email â€" to be written and formatted in a conservative manner. Not only does this mean that you should focus on neutrality in your letter’s appearance (avoiding the use of colorful paper, brash logo designs, and artistic fonts), but it also means that you should employ a very low-key, unnuanced, and professional closing phrase. The best-case scenario is that the hiring manager, colleague, or connection wont even notice the closing. The following are a list of letter closing examples that are appropriate for business and employment-related correspondence. Business Letter Closing Examples        Sincerely        Sincerely yours        Regards        Best        Best regards        Kind regards        Yours truly        Most sincerely        Respectfully        Respectfully yours        Thank you        Thank you for your consideration Military Correspondence Closings Similar to business or employment-related correspondence, military correspondence also has set standards for the closing (also called a “valediction”) which one should present before one’s signature. If your company conducts business with the military â€" or if you are applying for a job in the military â€" you should be aware that “Very Respectfully” (often abbreviated as “V/R”) is used in written and emailed correspondence between military members. It is established etiquette by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, United States Department of Defense, the U.S. Army, the U.S. Navy, and the U.S. Air Force that the closing “Respectfully yours” be reserved for the President of the United States (according to U.S. Army standards, this also extends to the first lady and the President-elect). Letters to all other dignitaries simply use the valediction, “Sincerely.” What to Put After the Closing   Follow the closing with a comma, space, and then your name. Best regards,Your NameYour Email AddressYour Phone Number Expand What Not to Use as a Business Letter Closing Anything that youd use in an informal communication is inappropriate for a business letter. This includes slang, text-speak, emojis, and anything off-color or casual. If youre used to communicating mostly with friends, family, or even co-workers youve worked with for a long time, an appropriate closing for a business letter will probably feel pretty stilted at first. Dont worry about it â€" your colleague or business associate wont feel that way when he or she reads your correspondence. What seems unnatural to you will feel respectful and polite to the recipient. Formal communication is on the wane in modern life, but there are still times when its the only correct way to reinforce a connection or convey information. If youre applying for a job, looking for a recommendation, or expanding your network, err on the side of formality. Dont let the slightly archaic feel of a formal business letter tempt you into using flowery, outdated language. Remember, youre hoping the person who receives your letter has no memory of your closing at all. The last thing you want is a hiring manager going into an HR meeting with your cover letter in hand, asking the team if they want to meet with Mr. Kindest Personal Regards. Examples of Inappropriate Business Letter Closings CheersCordiallyHopefullyLaterThanks!TTYL/TTFNWarmly A Note About Email Business Letters It might be tempting to  leave out the closing  when youre  communicating by email, but dont give in to that temptation. Although no-closing emails are perfectly fine for everyday communication with your friends and teammates, theyll seem brusque â€" or worse, unprofessional â€" to people you dont know as well. You should also use a business letter closing when youre corresponding with someone professionally about an important issue, whether its a new project or a job opportunity. When You Dont Need a Closing How do you know for sure whether or not to use a closing? One good test is to ask yourself whether this email is more akin to an instant message/text or a business letter. If youre giving your teammate a quick update on an ongoing project, a formal closing might not be necessary; if youre throwing your hat in the ring for a promotion, it definitely is required. When all else fails, and youre still not sure, err on the side of caution and include it. Youll never go wrong by being too polite and respectful.