Last Updated on July 20, 2022 by Dr Sharon Baisil MD
Closing salutations are the final touch in an email, and they can make or break the presentation. The way you end your email will determine how serious, formal, friendly, or informal you want to be perceived by the receiver. Here are 20 different closing salutations that can work for any business letter.
The Importance of Closing Salutations in Business Letters
Good business etiquette begins with attention to detail. From business cards to business letters, it’s important to ensure that you end your communications on the right note. An incorrect closing salutation can be misconstrued as unprofessional and even offensive by the receiver. Even if your business letter is casual in tone, you should still pay attention to the closing salutations you use.
Closing salutations are the final words in a business letter, and they must be formal. It is also important to vary your closing salutations based on the tone of the business letter so that your handwritten signature doesn’t become monotonous or boring each time you send out a formal letter.
A closing salutation can be a great way to leave a positive final impression on the reader, especially in a formal letter. Pick the right one, and it’ll make your message stick in their head after they’ve finished reading.
That being said, you do need to be careful with what you choose. Some words or phrases aren’t appropriate for professional messages because they can sound too casual or flirty. If it’s unclear if the recipient might find them offensive, it’s best to avoid them altogether.
20 Attention-Grabbing Closing Salutation Examples that Generates Replies
1. Hakuna Matata!
This phrase means “no worries” in Swahili. If you’re writing to someone you think might appreciate the relaxed nature of the phrase, then this is a good option for getting your message across without being too formal or serious about it.
2. To infinity and beyond!
Instead of simply signing off with your name, you can instead opt for “With warm regards” which is more formal than just signing with your name alone. This makes it a great salutation to use when replying to an email that has already been sent to you by someone else.
3. May the Force be with you
Now, this is a creative touch! This Star Wars reference will come off as cheeky and fun, which will improve the atmosphere of your message. It’s also a great way to inject personality into your sentences without being too overbearing. There are plenty of other well-known phrases that could work in this context – you have to choose the right one!
4. So long, and thanks for all the fish
If you’re a Douglas Adams fan, this is the perfect reference for you! This phrase from The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is primarily used as a way of saying goodbye. It’s only slightly cheeky, but it doesn’t go overboard either, which makes it a great closing salutation.
5. You rock!
A great choice when you want to express gratitude for somebody’s services or help. The best part about this closing salutation is that it feels a lot less formal than the usual “Sincerely”, which means it can be used in a variety of creative ways.
6. I’m walking on sunshine
Instead of going with a traditional closing salutation, you can use lyrics from a popular song instead. In this instance, we recommend using “I’m walking on sunshine” by Katrina & The Waves because the upbeat nature of the melody will make people smile and become happy when they read it!
7. Let’s make like a fabric softener and “Snuggle”
This is another good one for writing to a specific person you know will appreciate the cheeky humor. It’s also short enough that it doesn’t take away from the content of your message, which is important for making sure people stay invested in what you have to say.
8. Cheers, mate!
Another option for a creative closing salutation is to use a word from another language instead of English. In this case, we’ve chosen the Australian/New Zealand phrase “Cheers, mate!” which is commonly used in many countries worldwide as a casual way of saying goodbye.
9. Talk to you later, alligator!
If you want an even more casual way of saying your goodbyes, then this is the phrase for you! We recommend using it with people you know don’t take offense easily or use excessive formal language; otherwise, they might think your words are offensive.
10. Keep in touch 🙂
This is another innocent greeting that you can use with anyone! It’s also a good way of putting a little more cheer into your messages. You don’t want people to think that you’re being dismissive or rude in the slightest when they read it, so using this phrase will help ensure they understand you care about them enough to say goodbye.
11. Cheers and bye for now
This is yet another casual way of saying goodbye that we like to use! We like it because it’s short, sweet, and to the point – there’s no room for misinterpretation here. Those three words summarize everything you want to say in a friendly manner, so simply adding them as your closing salutation is a great option.
12. Let’s have a triumph!
This is another great way of saying goodbye if you want to lighten the tone of your messages. It works because it’s a cheeky play on words, making it unique and memorable in its own way.
13. I’m outta here!
If you don’t want to use any kind of salutation at all, then this is the phrase for you. Sometimes less is more, and let’s be honest… people are looking for an excuse to stop reading your message! By not including a goodbye, they may actually read the next sentence if they want to know what comes after it – so don’t give them one.
14. Yabba Dabba Do!
If you’re a huge The Flintstones fan, then this is another cute way of saying goodbye. We like it because it’s fun and also short enough that it doesn’t take away from the rest of your message in any way.
15. Cozy greetings
This is another fairly formal option that sounds more appropriate when writing to someone you don’t know all that well. This comes off as very professional, and it can be seen as a nice variation of “Best regards”.
16. Peace
This is the perfect one-word salutation for those who consider themselves spiritual or religious, as it can be seen as a sign of wellbeing and happiness. This also works well as an opening line for many religious letters.
17. That’s all, folks!
This is an example of a closing salutation that works well when writing to someone you know who loves cartoons, especially The Simpsons. If this person gets offended by your casual language or anything else about the way you write, they might stop reading, so be careful!
18. Cheerio
This is another fantastic phrase to use when writing to someone with whom you’re very familiar – in this case, it would be people in the U.K., or someone who regularly uses this term themselves.
19. Stay Awesome
If you want a closing salutation that sums up how awesome your reader is, then this one works well. It might not be the most serious way of saying goodbye, but it’s certainly positive and will make them smile!
20. Shazam!
This is another super-casual way of ending your letter which might suit you if you’re sending a message to somebody who’s not so formal themselves.
9 Tips for Using the Right Closure in Your Business Letter
As you’ve seen, there are tons of different closing salutations out there! Your choice will depend on the situation, your relationship with the recipient, and your personal taste. You can use these helpful guidelines to choose one for yourself:
1. Remember that you’re writing in a professional capacity. That means it’s best not to rely on any words that would be too casual, like “chillax” or “peace out”.
2. Always try to use a closing salutation that is appropriate for the situation and your recipient. You wouldn’t use something like “Cheerio!” if you were writing to your friend’s mother!
3. Use an expression that will make people feel good. Try to avoid anything that would be negative or offensive, even if you know the person will get a laugh out of it.
4. Have a variety of closing salutations in your arsenal so you can use them at different intervals and for different situations. That way, you’ll have more control over your formal letters and won’t accidentally offend anyone!
5. If you want to be extra safe regarding wording, avoid using humor in your business letter closures. Humor is a much better tactic for face-to-face communication, and can easily backfire when written down.
6. Make sure you don’t use the same closing salutation repeatedly! This makes people feel like you’re not really paying attention to their messages.
7. Don’t overuse complimentary closings – especially “Thanks!” or “Thanks a bunch!”. These expressions get old very quickly and sound insincere even when they’re genuine.
8. Try using your closing salutation less often if it’s being perceived as inappropriate for the situation, you’re using it too often, or the recipient just doesn’t care for it.
9. If you have a more personal relationship with someone, then being more casual might be okay! Try to write a closing salutation that is a little less formal and reflects your real personality more.
Conclusion
The bottom line is that when it comes to the end of your email, you always want to make sure that you have a closing salutation. It’s not just about being polite or finishing off what you started with a “Sincerely yours” or something like that. A proper ending can keep your readers reading and increase their chances of taking action on whatever it was they were offered in this email. Which of these are some of your favorites? Do you use something else altogether? Let us know!
References
https://www.grammarly.com/blog/how-to-end-a-letter/
https://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2013/09/27/57-ways-to-sign-off-on-an-email/?sh=c98a30525d04
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