Do you finish your emails with a sign-off?

Steve Safran November 25th, 2006

I have never given this much thought, but that’s why I’m not in the manners business. (Cory’s the polite one at One LR Plaza.) Apparently there is a whole lot of thought going in to how we should end our emails. Generally speaking, I don’t bother with a “Love, Steve” or “Sincerely, Steve” or even “Bugger Off, Steve.” Emails are informal. But when they call for a certain formality, I tend to fall back on “Best” or “Sincerely.” Apparently, those are too cold. How do you end your emails? Love, With All Sincerity, Steve.

16 Comments Add your own

  • 1. david  |  November 25th, 2006 at 9:25 pm

    I got in the habit a few years ago of signing off most of my e-mails with a simple “Cheers!”

    Cheers,
    Dave

  • 2. Swift Loris  |  November 25th, 2006 at 9:39 pm

    I’ve been using “Best” for years unless there’s a good reason to make it more personal or more formal. I think the notion that it’s perceived as a brushoff is just absurd. It’s short for “I send you my best wishes.” How is that a brushoff?

  • 3. Tybois Uphold  |  November 25th, 2006 at 10:51 pm

    I use “Rock On”….it is different and being that I like rock music, it fits.

    Rock on,

    Tybois

  • 4. Amanda  |  November 26th, 2006 at 1:05 am

    Eh, my name and signature block is all you get

  • 5. Guillermo  |  November 26th, 2006 at 8:44 am

    Well, usually I finish my emails by pressing the send button…

  • 6. Sam  |  November 26th, 2006 at 5:45 pm

    “Ciao” to business friends
    “Ciao, Bella” to beautiful women
    “Ciao, Bello” to beautiful men

  • 7. Frank Catalano  |  November 26th, 2006 at 7:02 pm

    Just a simple “Frank” is fine. I go with informality in salutation and close. But I do have a sig file.

  • 8. Alyssa  |  November 27th, 2006 at 9:20 am

    “Thanks” or “Thank you” if I don’t know the person. If I do, they’re lucky to get my name.

  • 9. Dave  |  November 27th, 2006 at 11:13 am

    Thanks!
    Thanks,
    Regards,
    All the best, (to peeps I haven’t talk to in a while)
    Blessings, (to my more religious friends)
    Sincerely,

    I usually start e-mails with:
    Waazzzzuuuuppp!
    (I’m a dork and that’s so 2000)

    :-)

  • 10. tish grier  |  November 27th, 2006 at 11:57 am

    Hey Steve,

    first, that article in the Times seems more like a plug for a book than it does an article about the dilemma of the proper email sign-off (says the woman who was part of a panel at SXSWInteractive on civility in the blogosphere…)

    Email is getting progressively more formal–as we begin to use it more and more for initial business contacts (I blame LinkedIn) So, “best” often works best, with “Sincerely” being a bit too stilted (like addressing a letter “Dear Sir or Madam” or “To Whom It May Concern.”) “Regards” and “thank you” also work, contingent on the content of the email…

    because if you just sign off, the reader could think you’re either awfully rude or lacking in adequate interpersonal social skills.

    Amazing, isn’t it…the way the net influences life and life influences the net? or are they one in the same ;-)

    ciao for now,
    Tish G

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