How To End A Letter + Examples In English

Ending a letter can be tricky, especially if you’re unsure of the appropriate way to close it. Whether you’re writing a personal or professional letter, it’s important to leave a lasting impression on the recipient. In this post, we’ll cover everything you need to know about how to end a letter in English, including examples and tips for various scenarios.

1. Understand the Purpose of Your Letter

The way you end your letter will depend on the purpose of your communication. Are you writing a formal business letter, or a more casual letter to a friend? Understanding the purpose of your letter will help you choose the right closing.

1.1 Formal Business Letter

If you’re writing a formal business letter, you should choose a closing that reflects the professional tone of your communication. Some appropriate closings for a formal business letter include:

Sincerely
Regards
Best regards
Yours truly
Respectfully

These closings are all appropriate for a formal business letter and convey a sense of professionalism and respect.

1.2 Casual Letter

If you’re writing a more casual letter to a friend or family member, you can choose a closing that reflects the tone of your relationship. Some appropriate closings for a casual letter include:

Take care
Best wishes
Warmly
Love
Thinking of you

These closings are more relaxed and convey a sense of warmth and affection.

2. Consider the Relationship with the Recipient

When choosing a closing for your letter, it’s important to consider the nature of your relationship with the recipient. If you’re writing to a business associate or someone you don’t know well, a formal closing is more appropriate. If you’re writing to a close friend or family member, a casual closing is more appropriate.

2.1 Business Associate

If you’re writing to a business associate or someone you don’t know well, you should choose a closing that reflects the professional nature of your relationship. Some appropriate closings for a business associate include:

Sincerely
Regards
Best regards
Yours truly
Respectfully

2.2 Close Friend or Family Member

If you’re writing to a close friend or family member, you can choose a more casual closing that reflects the nature of your relationship. Some appropriate closings for a close friend or family member include:

Love
Best wishes
Hugs
Kisses
Thinking of you

3. Use Appropriate Punctuation

When ending a letter, it’s important to use appropriate punctuation. In most cases, you’ll end your letter with a comma followed by your closing. For example:

Sincerely,

If you’re using a more casual closing, you can use an exclamation point instead of a comma. For example:

Best wishes!

It’s also important to capitalize the first letter of your closing, regardless of whether you’re using a formal or casual closing.

4. Examples of Letter Closings

Here are some examples of letter closings for various scenarios:

4.1 Formal Business Letter

Sincerely,
Regards,
Best regards,
Yours truly,
Respectfully,

4.2 Casual Letter

Take care,
Best wishes,
Warmly,
Love,
Thinking of you,

4.3 Thank You Letter

Thank you again,
With gratitude,
Appreciatively,
Yours thankfully,
Many thanks,

4.4 Cover Letter

Sincerely,
Best regards,
Thank you for your time,
Yours truly,
Respectfully,

5. Conclusion

Ending a letter may seem like a small detail, but it can make a big difference in how your message is received. By choosing an appropriate closing and using proper punctuation, you can leave a lasting impression on the recipient. Remember to consider the purpose of your letter and the nature of your relationship with the recipient when choosing a closing.