Beyond ‘Sincerely’: Mastering Alternative Closings
The word “sincerely” is a ubiquitous closing in English correspondence, but its overuse can make your writing sound formulaic. Mastering alternative closings adds sophistication and personality to your emails and letters, allowing you to tailor your sign-off to the specific context and audience. This article explores a wide array of alternatives to “sincerely,” categorized by formality and purpose, providing examples and usage guidelines to help you choose the perfect closing for any situation. Whether you’re writing a business proposal, a thank-you note, or a friendly email, this guide will equip you with the vocabulary and understanding to end your messages with impact.
This guide is for anyone who wants to improve their written communication skills. It’s particularly useful for students, professionals, and anyone who frequently writes emails or letters. By understanding the nuances of different closings, you can make a stronger impression and build better relationships with your readers.
Table of Contents
- What Does ‘Sincerely’ Really Mean?
- The Anatomy of a Letter Closing
- Categories of Alternative Closings
- Extensive Examples of Alternative Closings
- Usage Rules: Choosing the Right Closing
- Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Practice Exercises
- Advanced Topics: Nuances and Subtleties
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
What Does ‘Sincerely’ Really Mean?
The word “sincerely” is an adverb that means “in a sincere manner; genuinely or truly.” In the context of a letter or email closing, it serves as a polite way to end the communication, indicating that the writer is being honest and earnest in their message. Its function is primarily to provide a courteous and conventional sign-off. However, due to its widespread use, “sincerely” can sometimes feel impersonal or lacking in genuine emotion.
The classification of “sincerely” in grammar is straightforward: it’s an adverb modifying the implied verb “write” or “remain” (e.g., “I sincerely write,” or “I remain sincerely yours”). It acts as a signal to the recipient that the writer’s intentions are honest and that the message should be taken at face value.
The contexts in which “sincerely” is appropriate are varied. It’s generally suitable for formal and semi-formal correspondence, particularly when you don’t know the recipient well or when the communication is of a serious nature. However, in more casual settings or when you have a close relationship with the recipient, alternative closings can be more effective in conveying warmth and personality.
The Anatomy of a Letter Closing
A letter or email closing typically consists of three main components:
- The Closing Phrase: This is the word or phrase used to end the message (e.g., “Sincerely,” “Best regards,” “Cheers”).
- The Comma: A comma almost always follows the closing phrase. This is a standard punctuation rule.
- The Signature: Your typed name follows the closing phrase and comma, usually on the next line. In handwritten letters, your signature goes above your typed name.
The closing phrase should be aligned with the left margin (in block-style letters) or indented (in semi-block style). The signature should be placed directly below the closing phrase. Proper spacing and alignment contribute to a professional and polished appearance.
Here’s a simple example:
Sincerely,
John Doe
Categories of Alternative Closings
Choosing the right alternative to “sincerely” depends on the context of your message and your relationship with the recipient. Here’s a breakdown of different categories of closings:
Formal Closings
Formal closings are suitable for official correspondence, job applications, and communications with individuals you don’t know well. They convey respect and professionalism.
Semi-Formal Closings
Semi-formal closings are appropriate for business communications with colleagues, clients, or acquaintances. They strike a balance between professionalism and friendliness.
Informal Closings
Informal closings are best used in personal emails or letters to friends and family. They convey warmth and familiarity.
Professional Closings
Professional closings are suitable for a broad range of business communications. They emphasize competence and reliability.
Friendly Closings
Friendly closings are ideal for emails or letters to people you know well, conveying warmth and goodwill.
Closings Expressing Gratitude
These closings are used when you want to express appreciation or thankfulness.
Enthusiastic Closings
Enthusiastic closings add a touch of excitement and energy to your message, suitable when you want to convey optimism or anticipation.
Extensive Examples of Alternative Closings
The following tables provide a comprehensive list of alternative closings, categorized by formality and tone. Each table includes numerous examples to help you find the perfect closing for any situation.
Table 1: Formal Closings
These closings are best used in formal settings, where respect and professionalism are paramount. Use them when addressing someone you don’t know well or in official correspondence.
| Closing Phrase | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| Respectfully, | Respectfully, Jane Smith |
| Respectfully yours, | Respectfully yours, David Lee |
| Yours respectfully, | Yours respectfully, Emily Chen |
| Very respectfully, | Very respectfully, Robert Brown |
| Very truly yours, | Very truly yours, Michael Davis |
| Sincerely yours, | Sincerely yours, Linda Wilson |
| Yours sincerely, | Yours sincerely, Christopher Garcia |
| Faithfully yours, | Faithfully yours, Barbara Rodriguez |
| Yours faithfully, | Yours faithfully, Kevin Williams |
| I remain, respectfully, | I remain, respectfully, Susan Jones |
| I remain, sincerely, | I remain, sincerely, Richard Martinez |
| With great respect, | With great respect, Jennifer Anderson |
| Awaiting your response with respect, | Awaiting your response with respect, Thomas Taylor |
| Hoping for a favorable response, respectfully, | Hoping for a favorable response, respectfully, Margaret Moore |
| In anticipation of your reply, respectfully, | In anticipation of your reply, respectfully, Daniel Jackson |
| With utmost respect, | With utmost respect, Patricia White |
| Thanking you in advance, respectfully, | Thanking you in advance, respectfully, Anthony Harris |
| I am, respectfully, | I am, respectfully, Elizabeth Martin |
| Yours with respect, | Yours with respect, Paul Thompson |
| With profound respect, | With profound respect, Karen Garcia |
| Looking forward to your reply with respect, | Looking forward to your reply with respect, Steven Perez |
| Hoping for a positive outcome, respectfully, | Hoping for a positive outcome, respectfully, Stephanie Lewis |
| Awaiting your decision with respect, | Awaiting your decision with respect, Brian Robinson |
| With due respect, | With due respect, Deborah Clark |
| Thank you for your consideration, respectfully, | Thank you for your consideration, respectfully, Timothy Rodriguez |
| I remain available, respectfully, | I remain available, respectfully, Rebecca Wright |
Table 2: Semi-Formal Closings
Semi-formal closings are a safe bet for most business communications. They convey professionalism while still maintaining a friendly tone. These are suitable for colleagues, clients, and acquaintances.
| Closing Phrase | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| Best regards, | Best regards, John Smith |
| Kind regards, | Kind regards, Jane Doe |
| Regards, | Regards, Peter Jones |
| Best, | Best, Mary Brown |
| Warm regards, | Warm regards, David Wilson |
| With appreciation, | With appreciation, Susan Garcia |
| Respectfully submitted, | Respectfully submitted, Michael Davis |
| Thank you, | Thank you, Linda Rodriguez |
| Looking forward, | Looking forward, Christopher Williams |
| In anticipation, | In anticipation, Barbara Jones |
| With gratitude, | With gratitude, Kevin Brown |
| Best wishes, | Best wishes, Susan Johnson |
| Yours truly, | Yours truly, Richard Williams |
| Cordially, | Cordially, Jennifer Davis |
| Sincerely, | Sincerely, Thomas Wilson |
| Have a great day, | Have a great day, Margaret Garcia |
| Have a great week, | Have a great week, Daniel Martinez |
| Looking forward to hearing from you, | Looking forward to hearing from you, Patricia Anderson |
| Thank you for your time, | Thank you for your time, Anthony Taylor |
| Appreciatively, | Appreciatively, Elizabeth Moore |
| Thanks again, | Thanks again, Paul Jackson |
| Hoping to hear from you soon, | Hoping to hear from you soon, Karen White |
| With kind regards, | With kind regards, Steven Harris |
| All the best, | All the best, Stephanie Martin |
| Hope this helps, | Hope this helps, Brian Thompson |
| Your assistance is greatly appreciated, | Your assistance is greatly appreciated, Deborah Perez |
| I appreciate your attention to this matter, | I appreciate your attention to this matter, Timothy Lewis |
Table 3: Informal Closings
These closings are suitable for friends and family. They convey warmth and a personal connection. Avoid using these in professional settings.
| Closing Phrase | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| Cheers, | Cheers, John |
| Love, | Love, Jane |
| Take care, | Take care, Peter |
| Best wishes, | Best wishes, Mary |
| Warmly, | Warmly, David |
| All my love, | All my love, Susan |
| Talk soon, | Talk soon, Michael |
| See you soon, | See you soon, Linda |
| Hugs, | Hugs, Christopher |
| Best, | Best, Barbara |
| Lots of love, | Lots of love, Kevin |
| Thinking of you, | Thinking of you, Susan |
| Yours, | Yours, Richard |
| Take it easy, | Take it easy, Jennifer |
| Later, | Later, Thomas |
| Ciao, | Ciao, Margaret |
| Peace, | Peace, Daniel |
| XOXO, | XOXO, Patricia |
| Have a good one, | Have a good one, Anthony |
| Keep in touch, | Keep in touch, Elizabeth |
| Missing you, | Missing you, Paul |
| With love and affection, | With love and affection, Karen |
| Much love, | Much love, Steven |
| Can’t wait to see you, | Can’t wait to see you, Stephanie |
| Until next time, | Until next time, Brian |
| Best always, | Best always, Deborah |
Table 4: Professional Closings
These closings are versatile and suitable for a wide range of professional communications. They convey competence and reliability.
| Closing Phrase | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| Sincerely, | Sincerely, John Doe |
| Best regards, | Best regards, Jane Smith |
| Regards, | Regards, Michael Brown |
| Thank you, | Thank you, Emily Wilson |
| Respectfully, | Respectfully, David Garcia |
| Looking forward to your response, | Looking forward to your response, Susan Rodriguez |
| Yours truly, | Yours truly, Christopher Davis |
| Kind regards, | Kind regards, Barbara Williams |
| Best, | Best, Kevin Jones |
| Appreciatively, | Appreciatively, Linda Brown |
| Respectfully submitted, | Respectfully submitted, Richard Wilson |
| Thank you for your consideration, | Thank you for your consideration, Jennifer Garcia |
| I appreciate your time, | I appreciate your time, Thomas Rodriguez |
| Looking forward to hearing from you, | Looking forward to hearing from you, Margaret Davis |
| With appreciation, | With appreciation, Daniel Williams |
| Thank you for your assistance, | Thank you for your assistance, Patricia Jones |
| Hoping for a favorable outcome, | Hoping for a favorable outcome, Anthony Brown |
| Anticipating your reply, | Anticipating your reply, Elizabeth Wilson |
| With sincere appreciation, | With sincere appreciation, Paul Garcia |
| Your attention to this matter is appreciated, | Your attention to this matter is appreciated, Karen Rodriguez |
| Thank you for your prompt attention, | Thank you for your prompt attention, Steven Davis |
| I value your input, | I value your input, Stephanie Williams |
| Thank you for your collaboration, | Thank you for your collaboration, Brian Jones |
| Looking forward to working with you, | Looking forward to working with you, Deborah Brown |
| I am grateful for your support, | I am grateful for your support, Timothy Wilson |
| Thank you for your understanding, | Thank you for your understanding, Rebecca Garcia |
Table 5: Closings Expressing Gratitude
These closings are perfect for thank-you notes and emails where you want to express your appreciation.
| Closing Phrase | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| Thank you, | Thank you, John Smith |
| Gratefully, | Gratefully, Jane Doe |
| With gratitude, | With gratitude, Peter Jones |
| With sincere appreciation, | With sincere appreciation, Mary Brown |
| Appreciatively, | Appreciatively, David Wilson |
| Thanks again, | Thanks again, Susan Garcia |
| Many thanks, | Many thanks, Michael Davis |
| Thank you so much, | Thank you so much, Linda Rodriguez |
| With heartfelt thanks, | With heartfelt thanks, Christopher Williams |
| Deeply grateful, | Deeply grateful, Barbara Jones |
| I appreciate your help, | I appreciate your help, Kevin Brown |
| I am thankful for your support, | I am thankful for your support, Susan Johnson |
| Your kindness is appreciated, | Your kindness is appreciated, Richard Williams |
| I owe you a debt of gratitude, | I owe you a debt of gratitude, Jennifer Davis |
| Thank you for everything, | Thank you for everything, Thomas Wilson |
| I am forever grateful, | I am forever grateful, Margaret Garcia |
| Your generosity is deeply appreciated, | Your generosity is deeply appreciated, Daniel Martinez |
| I am indebted to you, | I am indebted to you, Patricia Anderson |
| Many thanks for your assistance, | Many thanks for your assistance, Anthony Taylor |
| Thank you for your time and consideration, | Thank you for your time and consideration, Elizabeth Moore |
| I cannot thank you enough, | I cannot thank you enough, Paul Jackson |
| Your support means the world to me, | Your support means the world to me, Karen White |
| I am truly grateful for your help, | I am truly grateful for your help, Steven Harris |
| Thank you for your invaluable assistance, | Thank you for your invaluable assistance, Stephanie Martin |
| I deeply appreciate your involvement, | I deeply appreciate your involvement, Brian Thompson |
| Your contribution is greatly appreciated, | Your contribution is greatly appreciated, Deborah Perez |
Usage Rules: Choosing the Right Closing
Selecting the appropriate closing is crucial for conveying the right tone and maintaining professionalism. Here are some key rules to consider:
- Know Your Audience: Consider your relationship with the recipient. Are they a client, a colleague, a friend, or a family member? The closer your relationship, the more informal your closing can be.
- Assess the Context: The nature of the communication matters. Is it a formal business proposal, a thank-you note, or a casual email? Choose a closing that aligns with the message’s purpose.
- Maintain Consistency: Use a consistent tone throughout your message, including the closing. Avoid jarring shifts in formality.
- Err on the Side of Formality: When in doubt, opt for a more formal closing. It’s better to be slightly too formal than to be perceived as disrespectful or unprofessional.
- Avoid Overused Phrases: While “Sincerely” is acceptable, explore alternatives to make your message stand out.
- Consider Cultural Differences: Be aware of cultural norms regarding formality in written communication, especially when corresponding with individuals from different countries.
Remember that the closing is the final impression you leave on the reader. Choose wisely to reinforce your message and strengthen your relationship.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Even experienced writers can make mistakes when choosing and using letter closings. Here are some common errors to avoid:
- Using Informal Closings in Formal Contexts: Closings like “Cheers” or “Love” are inappropriate for business correspondence.
- Misspelling Closing Phrases: Double-check the spelling of your chosen closing.
- Forgetting the Comma: Always include a comma after the closing phrase.
- Using Inconsistent Tone: Ensure that the closing matches the overall tone of the message.
- Overusing the Same Closing: Variety is key. Experiment with different closings to keep your writing fresh and engaging.
Here are some examples of correct and incorrect usage:
Correct: Best regards,
John Smith
Incorrect: Best regards John Smith
Correct: Respectfully,
Jane Doe
Incorrect: Respectfully,
Jane Doe (extra line break)
Correct: Cheers,
Peter (to a friend)
Incorrect: Cheers,
Peter (to a client)
Practice Exercises
Test your knowledge with these practice exercises. Choose the most appropriate closing for each scenario.
Exercise 1: Choosing the Right Closing
Read each scenario and select the best closing from the options provided.
| Question | Options | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1. You’re writing a formal letter to a potential employer. | a) Cheers, b) Sincerely, c) Talk soon | b) Sincerely, |
| 2. You’re sending an email to a close friend. | a) Best regards, b) Respectfully, c) Love | c) Love |
| 3. You’re writing a thank-you note to someone who helped you with a project. | a) Regards, b) With gratitude, c) Later | b) With gratitude, |
| 4. You’re sending a follow-up email to a business contact. | a) See you soon, b) Best, c) Faithfully yours | b) Best, |
| 5. You’re writing a letter of complaint to a company. | a) Warmly, b) Respectfully, c) Peace | b) Respectfully, |
| 6. You’re emailing a colleague you work with on a daily basis. | a) Sincerely yours, b) Best, c) XOXO | b) Best, |
| 7. You’re sending a holiday card to a distant relative. | a) Cheers, b) Warm regards, c) Later | b) Warm regards, |
| 8. You’re writing a formal request to a government agency. | a) Yours truly, b) Respectfully, c) Take care | b) Respectfully, |
| 9. You’re sending a quick email to a friend about weekend plans. | a) Kind regards, b) Talk soon, c) Yours faithfully | b) Talk soon, |
| 10. You’re writing a thank you letter after a job interview. | a) Later, b) Sincerely, c) Hugs | b) Sincerely, |
Exercise 2: Filling in the Blanks
Complete the following sentences with the most appropriate closing phrase.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. I am writing to express my sincere appreciation for your help. __________, [Your Name] | With gratitude, |
| 2. I look forward to hearing from you soon. __________, [Your Name] | Best regards, |
| 3. I hope you have a wonderful holiday season. __________, [Your Name] | Warmly, |
| 4. I am submitting my application for the position. __________, [Your Name] | Respectfully submitted, |
| 5. I hope everything is going well with you. __________, [Your Name] | Take care, |
| 6. Thank you for your time and consideration. __________, [Your Name] | Thank you, |
| 7. I’m excited about our upcoming meeting. __________, [Your Name] | Looking forward, |
| 8. I’m sending you all my best from afar. __________, [Your Name] | All my love, |
| 9. I’m hoping you can help me with this project. __________, [Your Name] | Appreciatively, |
| 10. I’m finishing my email with a friendly tone. __________, [Your Name] | Cheers, |
Advanced Topics: Nuances and Subtleties
For advanced learners, understanding the subtle nuances of letter closings can further enhance their communication skills. Here are some advanced topics to consider:
- Regional Variations: Different regions may have preferred closings. For example, “Yours faithfully” is more common in British English than in American English.
- Combining Closings: You can combine closings to create a more personalized sign-off (e.g., “With kindest regards and appreciation”).
- Using Closings to Reinforce Your Message: Choose a closing that reinforces the main point of your message. For example, if you’re expressing enthusiasm for a project, an enthusiastic closing like “Excitedly,” can be effective.
- Avoiding Clichés: While some closings are standard, avoid overly cliché phrases that sound insincere.
- Adapting to Different Industries: Certain industries may have specific conventions regarding letter closings. Research the norms in your field to ensure you’re using appropriate language.
Mastering these subtleties can help you craft more impactful and professional communications.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about alternative closings:
- Is “Sincerely” always a safe option? While generally acceptable, “Sincerely” can sound generic. Consider alternatives to add personality.
- When is it okay to use an informal closing in a business email? Only when you have a well-established, friendly relationship with the recipient.
- What’s the difference between “Best regards” and “Kind regards”? They are very similar, with “Kind regards” perhaps sounding slightly warmer.
- Should I always include a comma after the closing phrase? Yes, a comma is standard punctuation.
- Is it ever appropriate to use no closing at all? In very informal emails to close friends, it can be acceptable, but generally, a closing is recommended.
- How do I choose between “Respectfully” and “Respectfully yours”? “Respectfully” is slightly more concise, while “Respectfully yours” adds a touch of formality.
- What if I don’t know the recipient’s name? Use a formal closing like “Yours faithfully” (in British English) or “Sincerely” (in American English).
- Can I use emojis in my email closing? In professional settings, it’s generally best to avoid emojis. In very informal communications with friends, they may be acceptable.
Conclusion
Mastering alternative closings is an essential skill for effective written communication. By understanding the nuances of different closings and tailoring your sign-off to the specific context and audience, you can make a stronger impression and build better relationships. This article has provided a comprehensive overview of various closings, usage guidelines, and common mistakes to avoid.
Remember to consider your relationship with the recipient, the purpose of your message, and the overall tone you want to convey. Experiment with different closings to find what works best for you. By practicing and refining your skills, you can confidently choose the perfect closing for any situation, adding sophistication and personality to your writing.
