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Best regards, Kind regards, or Yours sincerely, - which is correct

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Anonymous  #498643  Wed, 09 Apr 08 06:30 PM

The expression "yours faithfully" isn't old fashioned. It applies to any letter where the recipient is unknown. Hence, if you begin with Dear Sir/Madam you end with Yours Faithfully. If you know the person in a formal context, or at least their name/sex, then you write Yours Sincerely or Sincerely. Ergo, if it is a letter to a lecturer, it would begin Dear Dr. Euripides and end Yours Sincerely. In cases where you are on a first name basis with the recipient, you can then use a more friendly context specific greeting: kind regards, best wishes, all the best, etc.

Fact. 

 

 
  
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Clive  #498673  Wed, 09 Apr 08 08:42 PM

Hi,

In Canada, I'd say 'Yours faithfully' is rarely used. Everybody wants to be more friendly, I guess. Smile

Best wishes, Clive
  
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Anonymous  #501264  Wed, 16 Apr 08 04:36 AM

Faithfully? Many people do not believe in faith. Regards is personal. Wishes, many people believe that wishes do not exist in a deterministic universe. Best, is the only way to end it.

  
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Anonymous  #504355  Wed, 23 Apr 08 03:06 PM

The grammar teacher did indeed have a point.  The correct usage is either "Best wishes" or "Kind regards" - but never a combination of the two "Best regards" - which is at best clunky and at worst reveals a lack of good grammar.

It is also fine to use "Yours sincerely" although this would normally be applied to a letter rather than a (less formal) email.
  
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Anonymous  #504916  Thu, 24 Apr 08 04:42 PM

Save your fingers. The sender's regard or respect (hopefully high) for the recipient should be evident from the content of an email. Paper communications are maybe a little different being inherently quaint and not very respectful to trees!

David Kirk
  
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Little Cloud  #505359  Fri, 25 Apr 08 03:05 PM

Hi.

Last week I sent a fax to a hotel in London in order to book a room and I addressed the letter to such Mrs. X with whom I exchange some e-mails in preceding days.

So, I knew the name of the person I was writing to, but not personally.

I began the letter writing: Dear Mrs. X

and ended with: Yours sincerely

 

Did I do the right choice? 

 

 
  
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Clive  #505396  Fri, 25 Apr 08 04:51 PM

Hi,

Yes, excellent.

Clive
  
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Anonymous  #507809  Wed, 30 Apr 08 07:31 PM
A friend of mine sent me an email last night and ended by "My Best", her Name. I personally feel that she likes me.

I have never seen anyone end a letter or e-mail with "My Best" and have heard Academics end with "Best".

You are right MrP, it's very disconcerting when someone ends with Best and in my case its even more because she has ended it with "My Best". I'm dying to figure out what she actually meant. So, it would be great If you guys can solve the mystery of what "My Best" means. Thanks
  
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Delmobile  #507983  Thu, 01 May 08 04:28 AM
What about when you end a conversation with something like, "It's been good to see you again, Jack. Please give my best to Doris and the kids. I'm sorry they couldn't come on this trip with you," or "So, you're going to the San Diego office? If you see Sandra Evans out there, give her my best."  Is this usage another one of our quaint southern US idioms, grounded in ignorance and bad grammar? Or is it more widespread?  
  
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