Best Regards and Other Phrases You Should Never Use to Sign Your Email

Best Regards and Other Phrases You Should Never Use to Sign Your Email Learning how to effectively communicate via emaille is one of the fruchtwein underrated professional skills we can acquire. For many of us, its the only form of business letter well ever send (aside from, of course, the dreaded cover letter).Every element of your email is important, from avoiding bad grammar to properly spelling the recipients personenname. I cannot tell you how frustrating it is whenever I get an email or letter addressed to Laura. My name (Lauren)is in my email address How did you get that right, but still manage to misspell my name in your greeting?Writing a business letter, in a weird way, is its own art form. The fruchtwein experienced emailers have a one-of-a-kind business email strategy that focuses on every aspect of the letter. One of the most important but overlooked aspects of an email that only a few people have mastered? The email sign-off. Even though theyre in every business letter we format and send, we rarely give these sign-offs the proper attention that they deserve.At first glance, your complimentary close probably sounds like a non-issue. As long as youre not ending your professional email with with love, youre probably set, right? Wrong. The valediction youre closing your letter with might have the opposite effect youre hoping it will.WhatAre Some Signatures That You Should Never Use?1. Best/Warm RegardsWhy should your regards be the best or even kind of warm when you either a) are cold-emailing this rolle and dont know them or b) only know them in a professional setting? This is why you should put best regards on the back burner. Even though it seems like a kind, complimentary close, its too personal for initial business correspondence. Best to save this salutation for when youre emailing your grandma or best friend. Instead, you can sign an email with a simple regards or best. (More on different and better variations of best regards later in this arti cle)2. Yours trulyAgain, this is overly familiar and unprofessional. While it has its pro and con, you want the recipient to hold you in high regard as a professional, not as somebody who might send them homemade cookies. Unless youre emailing your significant other or a family member, steer clear. In general, you should avoid business letter sign-offs that are too friendly, focus too much on well wishes and any letter closing that expresses love.3. Your nameYou should never use this in your initial email to someone. It comes off as impersonal and kind of rude like you couldnt be bothered to properly end your email with a farewell. This is, however, my favorite email signature for when Im in a long email chain with multiple people. It can feel like ending each of my responses with an official sign-off is obnoxious, so just my name is a concise solution.4. I look forward to hearing from youThis signature is one of my pet peeves it is essentially a guilt trip and demands that the rec ipient write you back. (Are you going to be constantly refreshing and managing your inbox until I ping you back?) Instead of writing this, use your power thesaurus to come up with a different email signature. Trust me the recipient will thank youI dont want to just rid you of all of your sign-off faves without providing any alternatives, though.What Are Some Signatures That You Should Use?1. BestThis one is my personal favorite, and I dont care who doesnt like it The meaning of this signature has flexibility, as it leans towards either have the best day or with all my best wishes. Its not incredibly formal but is still professional, which is how I like to live my work life. When writing your next business correspondence letter, you could also opt to use its older and slightly more serious relative best wishes.2. SincerelyThis sign-off is a business letter mainstay for a reason. Yes, its very formal, but its also universally accepted in emails. Its like saying bless you when someone sneezes. No one really thinks twice about what it actually means, they just like that you made the effort to be polite.3. Thank youThis is appropriate for thanking someone for providing you with assistance, helping with a tafelgeschirr or for patronizing your business. You should never use it when you dont legitimately have something for which to thank the recipient, or else it comes off as sarcastic and rude. Thats not how you want to be seen in an email When in doubt, go with a formal salutation. Its better to be seen as kind of more formal as opposed to rude.In the end, emails are pretty subjective, but the above is a reminder that the way you end your emails is worth some thought.What Are Some Other Email Resources?If youre working on writing better emails, be sure to check out Fairygodboss pieces on writing emails that are professional and that will be read. Here are some resources to get you started.How To Write An Email That Will Actually Be Read7 Ways To Close An Email Like A ProWhy You MUST Send A Post-Interview Thank You And How It Should Look3 Super nahe daran sein Tips For Creating A Professional Email SignatureNext time youre writing a message, make sure to keep your signature a priority--Lauren McEwen is an Atlanta-based freelance writer and social media manager for Hermione Granger and the Quarter Life Crisis.