The fact that this issue is one of the most difficult that I wrestle with on a daily basis will certainly reveal something about my character. But I am willing to humble myself in order to seek greater clarity on the matter. Perhaps I missed this lesson in an English class one day, or perhaps I am just inordinately clueless, especially given that I send about 5,000 emails a year and still haven’t figured it out. In any case, I would value any intelligent insight.
What is the purpose of the closing line? Or how does it function? What exactly does it mean “Sincerely” – am I not sincere if I don’t use that? Is it better to use “Yours sincerely”? It seems that some of these are mere formalities and not to be taken too seriously, but if someone signs their note with “Best regards” and I use “Regards,” is that an insult? What are “regards” anyway? Is “Best wishes” a way around saying that you have regard for someone? Or is it all a simple formality that I shouldn’t spend any time thinking about?
The apostle Paul seemed to favor, “Grace and Peace.” Maybe you could just plagiarize him. But they were more concerned with the opener and not so much focused on the closer. Paul seemed to really vary on the opener himself…Paul, an apostle…Paul, a servant…etc. If Paul said He was a servant in one letter does that mean he wasn’t a servant in another letter?
Let your audience be your guide. Spending time thinking of a closer shows that you are reflecting on your relationship with this person and closing your correspondence in a way showing your relationship with them is more important than one short email. Paul opened his letters uniquely to show unique love for each area he wrote to (maybe a stretch). Likewise, struggling with a closer shows a healthy desire (perhaps) to personalize each email appropriately. A default closer for everyone may show personal insensitivity. So struggle away. If it’s too hard, though, just go with the dash followed by your initials and let them speculate if you are being friendly or distant.
All follow-up emails, however, require no closer.
Best wishes with sincere regards,
Tim
I’m pretty sure that these are just a formality and nothing more. You can use them to try and give people something to think about, like when you use a verse in that line, etc. But, more than anything it’s a formality.
When I was in Seminary Dr. Stitzinger encouraged us to use a phrase from one of the reformers. I chose, “Truth is Immortal” from Hubmaier. I have people ask me about it sometime and it provides a good opportunity to talk about the immortality of truth.
this makes me laugh, as I’ve actually had this conversation several times in my life. My friends and I still joke about ‘giving our regards…our best ones’.
I just emailed you a little treasure of a document re: sig lines. Hope you like it.
Todd
Just don’t use one.
Danny
You really want to know, Todd? The closing line is called the valediction, and the common “Sincerely” is a much abbreviated version of an old, formal formula: “(as I take my leave of you) I remain, most sincerely, your humble servant, John Doe.” This is also where we get the rare self-reference “yours truly” (“I am [your s]ervant, [truly]”) Naturally, it didn’t take long for people to start shortening such niceties.
Regards are sentiments of esteem; it is perfectly all right to give them without making them your best (who gives second-class expressions of esteem, anyway?) and your best wishes (wishing the recipient the best) are fine as well. If you regard yourself as the other’s servant (as we are called to do,) then by all means, sign “sincerely” and be sincere about it.
I beg to remain your servant,
Laura
I’m glad I asked. Thanks to all for their thoughts.