How to End Any Professional Email (Plus a List of Sign-Offs for When You’re Tired of Saying “Best”)

How to End Any Professional Email (Plus a List of Sign-Offs for When You’re Tired of Saying “Best”)

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What to Include When Ending an Email

Here are the most common elements of a professional email ending: - Closing line: Jumping from the main subject of your email directly to your sign-off might be jarring, especially for longer messages. You can ease the transition with a closing line that expresses gratitude or well wishes.

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What to Include When Ending an Email

- Closing (or sign-off): This is the word or phrase that goes right above your name. Think “Sincerely,” “Best,” “Thanks,” or something like “Have a great weekend!” Unless you’re more than a few emails into an email thread (especially over a short period of time) or you’re very close with the recipient, you need a professional closing for your email.

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What to Include When Ending an Email

Name: If this is the first email you’re sending someone, you should generally go with your full name (first and last or whatever you commonly go by) or your first name followed by a default email signature that has your full name in it. For conversations with people you already know, your first name is usually enough.

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What to Include When Ending an Email

Pronouns: This is at your discretion and dependent on your comfort level—especially if you identify as LGBTQ. But for allies: Keep in mind that when you share your pronouns, you help create a safe environment and normalize the act in general so that trans and nonbinary people don’t feel conspicuous as the only ones doing it.

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What to Include When Ending an Email

- Title and company:You might include one or both of these as part of your email ending, depending on who you’re contacting and why. If you’re emailing someone outside of the organization you work for, including both tells the recipient what you do and where you work. 

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What to Include When Ending an Email

Contact info: The person you’re emailing already has your email address (though you could include it in a default email signature), but you might want to consider adding other methods of reaching you such as a work or cell phone number. But only list ways you actually want to be contacted.

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What to Include When Ending an Email

More context about who you are/the work you do: If you’re making a first introduction or creating your default email signature, you can also use your email signature to give your email recipient more context about what you’ve done in the form of links to your LinkedIn profile, personal website or portfolio, and/or your social media accounts.

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Examples of Email Sign-Offs

Here’s a list of possible email closings to help you change things up. When considering what type of sign-off to go with, think about who you’re emailing and why.  If you’re replying to someone else’s message, try to pay attention to cues and gauge the formality of their note in order to match it.

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Examples of Email Sign-Offs

If You Need Something Formal: – All my best, – Best, – Best regards, – Best wishes, – Looking forward to hearing from you, – Regards, – Respectfully, – Sincerely, – Speak with you soon, – Take care, – Warm regards.

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Examples of Email Sign-Offs

If You Want Something Friendly: – Cheers, – Good luck, – Great catching up with you, – Happy [day of the week], – Happy holidays, – Have a good one, – Have a great day, – Here’s to a great [day of the week], – Hope this helps, – Sending good vibes, – Talk soon.

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Examples of Email Sign-Offs

If You Want to Show Appreciation: – All my thanks, – I can’t thank you enough, – I owe you, – Many thanks, – Much appreciated, – Thank you for everything, – Thank you in advance, – Thanks, – Thanks a million, – Thanks for your help, – You’re a lifesaver.

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Examples of Email Sign-Offs

Closings to Avoid: – Have a blessed day, (or anything else with religious overtones) – Love, – Peace out! (or any other slang) – Thx (or any other abbreviations) – Yours truly (or any closings that suggest a devotion that’s a bit too much for the workplace).

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