Best Letter Endings: How to Leave a Lasting Impression

Understanding the Purpose of a Letter Ending

A letter ending serves multiple purposes: it wraps up your message, reinforces your main points, and sets the tone for future interactions. The choice of closing can influence how your reader interprets your letter, so it's crucial to select an ending that aligns with the purpose and tone of your message.

Formal Business Letters

In a formal business setting, your letter ending should reflect professionalism and courtesy. Common closings include:

• Sincerely: A standard choice for formal business correspondence. It conveys respect and professionalism.
• Best regards: Slightly less formal but still professional, making it suitable for both initial and ongoing communications.
• Yours faithfully: Used when addressing someone whose name you don’t know. It’s a traditional and formal closing.
• Kind regards: A warm, yet formal, option that maintains professionalism while adding a personal touch.

Examples:

• Sincerely, John Doe
• Best regards, Jane Smith
• Yours faithfully, Michael Brown
• Kind regards, Emily White

Friendly and Informal Letters

For personal or informal letters, you have more freedom to express your personality and warmth. Here are some endings that can make your letter feel more personal:

• Warmest regards: A friendly and warm closing that conveys a personal touch.
• Take care: Shows concern for the recipient’s well-being, making it suitable for casual letters.
• Cheers: A cheerful and informal way to end a letter, often used among friends.
• Love: A very personal closing, appropriate for letters to close family members or significant others.

Examples:

• Warmest regards, Anna
• Take care, Tom
• Cheers, Lisa
• Love, Sarah

Professional but Approachable Endings

In a business context where a personal touch is appreciated, you might want to blend professionalism with approachability:

• Looking forward to your response: Encourages engagement and signals that you are awaiting feedback or action.
• Thanks for your attention: Expresses gratitude and acknowledges the recipient’s time and consideration.
• Best wishes: A versatile closing that can work in various contexts, blending professionalism with a touch of personal warmth.

Examples:

• Looking forward to your response, David
• Thanks for your attention, Claire
• Best wishes, Rachel

Creative and Unique Endings

For those who want to stand out and make a memorable impact, creative closings can be effective. While these may not always be appropriate for formal settings, they can work well in less conventional contexts:

• Stay awesome: A quirky and informal way to end a letter, suitable for creative industries or close acquaintances.
• Until next time: Implies that you expect further communication or interaction, creating a sense of continuity.
• With gratitude and anticipation: Combines appreciation with eagerness, ideal for scenarios where you are looking forward to a specific outcome.

Examples:

• Stay awesome, Jake
• Until next time, Emma
• With gratitude and anticipation, Leo

Choosing the Right Ending for Your Context

The key to a great letter ending is to align it with the tone, purpose, and relationship you have with the recipient. Here are some tips to help you select the right closing:

• Match the tone: Ensure your ending reflects the overall tone of your letter—formal, informal, or somewhere in between.
• Consider your relationship: Choose a closing that is appropriate for your relationship with the recipient.
• Be sincere: Your closing should feel genuine and reflect your true sentiments.

Final Thoughts

The ending of your letter is not just a formality; it’s an opportunity to reinforce your message and leave a positive impression. By choosing the right closing, you can effectively wrap up your correspondence and pave the way for future interactions.