'Yours Faithfully, Yours Sincerely or Thanks' - When to use?

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Anonymous

#120327 Fri, 22 Jul 05 02:06 PM

Guest wrote:
when you're writing ' to whom it may concern' how do you sign off? faithfully? sincerely? etc?

Anonymous

Whom

anita_a

#120414 Fri, 22 Jul 05 06:49 PM

I have been following this thread and thought that I should add my opinion too. Though in the composition class in schools the rigid rules of letter writin are taught, and the usage of post scripts(yours sicerely, yours faithfully and the like) are fixed, I personally feel that we can write 'Thanks & Regards' as the best post script for every business letter irespective of whether u know the person or not.That's the modern way of signing off any business letter in opposed to the old way of yours sincerely and yours faithfully.

anita_a

Joined on Tue, Jul 27 2004

Sunny California

Regular Member (822)

Cheers,Anita

Business letters, Regards, Yours faithfully, Yours sincerely

Anonymous

#120417 Fri, 22 Jul 05 07:14 PM

Guest wrote:
when you're writing ' to whom it may concern' how do you sign off? faithfully? sincerely? etc?

Anonymous

Whom

Mister Micawber

#120504 Sat, 23 Jul 05 03:05 AM

Yours faithfully

Mister Micawber

Joined on Wed, Aug 4 2004

Yokohama

Veteran Member (21,224)

'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master-- that's all.'

Yours faithfully

Tallulah Tam

#120521 Sat, 23 Jul 05 04:43 AM

Yours faithfully, is used when the letter starts Dear Sir, or Madam, or To Whom It May Concern. In other words a formal address. When you use a name, eg. Dear Mr.Smith, Dear Clive, etc., the letter should end Yours sincerely. Thanking you, Kindest regards, cheers, etc., are used before Yours sincerely. Yours truly, is also considered to be a formal ending to a letter.

In America they seem to end all their letters with"Sincerely", they don't even bother with the "Yours".

Tallulah Tam

Joined on Sun, Jul 17 2005

Alabama, USA (British)

Full Member (234)

If at first you don't succeed sky-diving is not for you.

Regards, Whom, Yours faithfully, Yours sincerely

cairn

#121102 Mon, 25 Jul 05 11:25 AM

I seldom receive post (I mean the traditional form of post) but when I do the informal letters are often signed off with

hugs and kisses

Isn't it what Pieanne was asking about?

cairn

Joined on Sun, May 8 2005

Junior Member (68)

Formal letters

Tallulah Tam

#121148 Mon, 25 Jul 05 02:24 PM

"I seldom receive post (I mean the traditional form of post) but when I do the informal letters are often signed off with

hugs and kisses"

Yes Cairn, or "Love" or "See you soon" or "Keep smiling" or anything you like...... Anything goes for an informal letter.

In America it is not unusual to receive a letter from an estate agent signed "Fondly". A term I particularly dislike, especially from a real estate agent!

Tallulah Tam

Formal letter, Formal letters

goldmund

#121151 Mon, 25 Jul 05 02:32 PM

If you sign your business letter «Fondly» or «Regards», you do not get my business.

But you may sign your business email «Regards».

Best wishes Smile [:)]

Goldmund

goldmund

Joined on Fri, Jun 10 2005

Regular Member (581)

«Tout homme peut dire véritablement; mais dire ordonnément, prudemment et suffisamment, peu d'hommes le peuvent.» - Michel de Montaigne

Business letters, Regards

Tallulah Tam

#121195 Mon, 25 Jul 05 03:28 PM

Goldmund, "Kindest regards" is more acceptable than "Fondly" and could be used between two people with a working relationship. For instance If I had been to your home and met your family, or if I had been out for a game of golf with you. "Regards and best wishes" would probably be more appropriate. "Kindest regards." I would probably save for someone in hospital, or an elderly person. It suggests caring beyond just sending your regards.

"With regards" is fairly formal, viz "Give My Regards To Broadway." No, I would not be offended if someone ended their letter with "Regards." Regard, has several meanings. All serious and respectful. "Fondly" on the other hand has a sexual connotation, especially in England.

Fondle: Caress, to touch or stroke lovingly. (According to the OED).

Fondly: 1) Affectionate, loving. 2) Over affectionate, doting.

Affectionate: Loving, showing affection. (denoting emotion)

None of these should be used in a business letter.