Truly, Very Truly, Sincerely, Best Regards, Love & Kisses

[Mother Theresa]

How do you usually close letters?

For business letters, the lawyers in the firm where I first worked for a few years in the US all seemed to close with "Very truly yours," so that's what I did, but in retrospect it looks a little stupid. After all, what does it really mean?

In recent years I close business letters with "Best regards." If it's more of a threatening letter and I obviously don't wish any best regards for the recipient I might use "Sincerely."

For some people, I suppose "Warm regards" would be a perfect closing for letters to close friends/family, but to me it sounds a little too phony and pretentious. I'm just not a "warm regards" kind of guy I guess.

Not that I'm afraid of intimacy. With all my family, letters are closed with "Love, ___." But, can't use that for female friends, I've learned, lest they get confused and believe it's more than just a word one has to stick at the end of the letter, which is basically all it is in that case.

How about you, how do you close letters?

[Taffy]

Letters, as opposed to email?

For formal letters, I only use two: "Yours faithfully" where I have used the correspondent's name at the top (Dear Mr. Chen), and "yours sincerely" where I have used an anonymous form of address (like "Dear Sir/Madam").

Can't be bothered with anything more complicated than that.

EDIT: Um, the above is complete bollocks brought on by lack of caffeine. Please reverse the polarity, press Control Alt Delete and then continue.

[Baas Babelaas]

I finished my last letter to my lady with "Lotsa Love - Your Big Egg".

Hard to explain - might not be suitable for most letters.

[Enigma]

"Your immediate attention is strongly suggested"

[Mother Theresa]

I finished my last letter to my lady with "Lotsa Love - Your Big Egg".

Hard to explain - might not be suitable for most letters.

Wow, that's great. I love it. Mind if I start using that for my business letters?

As for not being suitable, I suppose some could say the same about Taffy's "Yours faithfully."

[Mucha Man]

Cheers. All the best. Yours.

Omniloquacous often ends with Toodle Pip to which I respond Poodle Poop.

[Belgian Pie]

How does 'Pay up or we go court' sound ...

[kate.lin]

I never write English letters, but a lot of email. I use Best Regards in business context, Sincerely to professors, Take Care, Cheers to friends.

[Screaming Jesus]

Awaiting you further correspondence, I have the pleasure to remain,

Your servant,

Or

Hari Bol!
All glory to Sri-la Prabhupada!
Jai!

Or

You my cuddly wuddly yes you ARE !!!

Wuv & XOXOXOX !!!!

Or

Rahowa!
Shemhamforash! Our time draws nigh!
Is there no help for the son of a widow?

In My holy name,
Jesus

[irishstu]

Letters, as opposed to email?

For formal letters, I only use two: "Yours faithfully" where I have used the correspondent's name at the top (Dear Mr. Chen), and "yours sincerely" where I have used an anonymous form of address (like "Dear Sir/Madam").

Can't be bothered with anything more complicated than that.

Erm... I thought it was the other way around. Please tell me I haven't been doing it wrong all these years.