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Original poster

How do you sign off on work Emails?

242 replies

WindyWilma · 22/02/2022 08:53

I used to sign off Kind regards but DD28 says this is very bad!! and at least change it to Best Regards.
I am re-joining the workforce after several years out so am a bit clueless on the correct sign off etiquette. So how do you do it?

OP posts:
BeingATwatItsABingThing · 22/02/2022 09:16

Depends who I am emailing.

I work in a school and we’re fairly casual with each other.
Hi x
—
Thanks.
Being

If I’m emailing a parent:
Good morning/afternoon/evening
—
Best wishes
Mrs Twat

I see nothing wrong with kind regards but I may be out of the loop of office etiquette.

BreakingUpWithMyPhone · 22/02/2022 09:17

I have a complicated system which includes formal, formal and you've upset me, moderately formal, and day to day colleague versions. I may have over-thought this 😄.

I struggle with other people saying Hello or Good morning, and usually mirror what they do. It doesn't feel natural though.

MunchyMonsters · 22/02/2022 09:18

Depends - range from Cheers, Thank you, speak later, give me a call when you are free to I look forward to hearing from you.

Chocoqueen · 22/02/2022 09:19

Most of the time - Thanks
Formal - Kind Regards
When I'm pissed off - Regards

DH reverses 'Regards' and 'Kind Regards' (so KR when annoyed) which I think is odd.

I agree 'Best' seems odd, and I hate when people shorten 'Kind Regards' to 'KR'

Whelmed · 22/02/2022 09:19

Nowadays 'Kind regards,' but some of my colleagues use 'Best wishes'.

I used to just put 'Many thanks' when I worked in a less formal environment.

FinallyFree2022 · 22/02/2022 09:21

@LaCerbiatta

I thought 'best' was friendly and informal ☹. Why is it twatish??
Twatish to me and many of my colleagues!
Susu49 · 22/02/2022 09:23

"Regards"

Because to put anything before it results in a ridiculous assumption of passive aggression!

StrawberryLollipops · 22/02/2022 09:29

In general, I find every workplace has a culture of what's acceptable and what's not. Just follow what you receive initially till you settle in.

BackwardsPrawn · 22/02/2022 09:30

I just checked and it's a mixture of:

  • regards
  • thanks
  • many thanks
Sparklingbrook · 22/02/2022 09:30

Kind regards or thanks, sometimes 'I look forward to hearing from you' (ie get a move on with this)
I don't like 'best' not sure what they're saying with that. Best what?

DetailMouse · 22/02/2022 09:31

For a lot of short messages I've stated not using any salutation or sign off!

I have one contqct who starts every email with "I trust you and your family are well" - he knows my DH just died, but that would get on my nerves anyway.

Sparklingbrook · 22/02/2022 09:32

'Hope you are well' always sounds like they're after something or special treatment.

DetailMouse · 22/02/2022 09:33

What I really struggle with is when I send an email in the evening, knowing they won't see it till morning. I can't put good evening but it's not morning either!

howdidigettobe50something · 22/02/2022 09:34

I usually use kind regards or sometimes many thanks if appropriate to the email. Never seen best regards but have a few colleagues that have started using warm regards.

MoiraNotRuby · 22/02/2022 09:34

I vary between

Best
And
Very best

Started as an experiment- I used to be a Regards/Kind regards person. But since switching to Best/Very best I get much better replies to my emails. I think people might assume I'm a twatty man.

BitOutOfPractice · 22/02/2022 09:34

Depends on how well I know them!

Formal:
Good morning X. Hope you are well.
-
Kind regards
Bit

Know them well

Hi X. Good weekend? / feeling better? / how's your mom? (as appropriate - I don't ask about someone's mom unless they've told me something about their mom)

Thanks!
B

I one had to take a colleague (not British but working in Britain) aside and tell him that signing his emails "sunny greetings" would likely see him dead by teatime.

IsolaPribby · 22/02/2022 09:35

I use either Kind Regards or Many Thanks, depending on context.

BitOutOfPractice · 22/02/2022 09:35

@DetailMouse

What I really struggle with is when I send an email in the evening, knowing they won't see it till morning. I can't put good evening but it's not morning either!
Yes. me too. I usually go with "hello!" It's a minefield!
HunterHearstHelmsley · 22/02/2022 09:35

@Sparklingbrook

'Hope you are well' always sounds like they're after something or special treatment.
We've been told we have to put something like this..! Good customer service apparently.
Horriblewoman · 22/02/2022 09:35

I work in banking and say thanks in most emails unless it's people more senior who I haven't met yet in which case I say kind regards.

Idontevenknow · 22/02/2022 09:37

Kind regards, unless they have pissed me off, in which case it is just regards.

WhatHaveIFound · 22/02/2022 09:37

I always put Kind Regards unless i'm asking the person to do something for me. In which case I write Many Thanks.

Comefromaway · 22/02/2022 09:37

If I received a business email saying hope you are well from someone who I don't know I would find it over familiar.

Sparklingbrook · 22/02/2022 09:37

@HunterHearstHelmsley I am fine with ‘hope you are well’ if the know/have met me previously.
But if I’ve never heard of them I’m always a bit Hmm that’s a bit familiar what you after?

DDfollowed · 22/02/2022 09:37

Definitely don't capitalise the second word you use be it 'regards' or 'wishes'. Putting just 'Best' looks really lazy. If you shorten to KR, BR or BW you look incredibly lazy, an email you should be written as you would say it and not text speak.