The Right (and Wrong) Ways to End an Email in English
Every week I read and answer emails from all over the world. I’ve read some fantastic emails written by my students. And I know they have thought carefully about their email. They have learned the right language to communicate effectively and professionally.
And sometimes I read emails that surprise me. Not in a good way.
If you often write emails in English, especially for work or professional situations, be sure to watch today’s lesson so you don’t make mistakes that make you look unprofessional.
The focus in today’s lesson is the right and wrong ways to end an email. The goal is to sound professional and friendly every time. In the video, you’ll learn the right ways to close an email for professional emails and casual emails plus a few common mistakes to avoid.
If this topic is important for you, be sure to also read how to Avoid Common Mistakes in Emails and 7 Rules for Professional Emails in English.
Get your English emails right, every time.
Lesson by Annemarie
After you’ve watched the video, I’d love to hear from you.
Share with me your thoughts.
- What is your greatest challenge or frustration when writing emails in English? Is there one thing that drives you crazy? What is it?
- What is one new expression you’d like to start using from this lesson? Or do you know of other ways to close an email in English that you like to use?
The best place to share and receive feedback from me is directly in the comments section at the bottom of the lesson.
Thanks so much for joining me and I’ll see you next week for your Confident English Wednesday lesson.
~ Annemarie
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Hi Annemarie,
I work for Cognizant.
My manager shared me an username and temporary password via email.
Look at my reply to manager:
Hi [Manager Name],
I have successfully reset the password for the ID: [xxxx]
I am able to login to the Foremost Mainframe successfully.
Thanks & Regards,
Daniel Samuel
I feel guilty that I did not say Thank you properly to my manager.
Would you be able to help me?
Hi Annemarie, My favorite sentence to close a professional email is -I look forward to hearing from you- specially when I send proposals to clients. I think that it is a way to demand a feedback. What situations do you recommend this sentence for? Thank you so much … I love a lot Speak Confident English so I enjoy it and I take advantage of all the resources available from your great website! Best regards, -Melva
Hello Melva,
I think that’s a great line to use in an email when you do expect to receive a reply from someone. You’re right that it indicates that we are waiting for feedback or for an answer. For an email that simply provides details or information, you could use the same ending you used in your comment here – best regards. 🙂
And thank you for the kind comments!! I’m thrilled that you enjoy it and are using the resources I have available.
Hi Annemarie,
As closure I’m using the common “Regards” followed by “Kind regards” and for special greetings”Warm regards”. From time to time I’m using “Sisterly” but it depends on the person/colleague and more informal content of the E-Mail.
Sometimes I’m receiving an E-mail without a closure from non native speaking colleagues as me. Surprisingly that I’m feeling this behaviour is rude.
Thank your for this lesson.
Kind regards
Hi Wilma,
It sounds like you’re using great closures with Regards, Kind regards, and Warm regards. I’ve never heard ‘sisterly’ before. Can you tell me why you use that?
Hi Annemarie,
I’m often aked for advice by my colleagues. All of them are non-native speakers.
It depends on the message behind or the situation.
If it is positive I’m using ‘Best regards’. In case I know that my advice will not be what is expected I’m using ‘Sisterly’.
First time I used this closue, one of my collegues called me and told me that he direcly accepted and heeded it. He understood that my recommondation was in best manner.
Hi, I always use Thanks and Regards together for closing. Is that ok? I am a Trainer myself so I teach my students about Email Writing. This is video is really informative. Thank you so much.
Hi Monica,
Thank you so much for the comment and question. I’m thrilled to know the video was helpful to you. I would say that either thanks or regards is sufficient. I typically only recommend using thanks when you really have a reason for thanking someone. For example, they answered a question you asked or sent you a document you wanted. However, if I send someone an email and I ask them a question, I probably wouldn’t end with thanks but rather with simply ‘regards’ or ‘best.’ I hope this helps.
I got it thanks a lot!
Annemarie, thanks a lot for your lessons! I often use Best wishes or just Regards.
Hello Irene,
You’re so welcome. Thank you for taking the time to comment. And it sounds like you’re using great closings for your emails. 🙂
Annemarie, thank you for this lesson! My case is the following: I have to write an email to ask if the person had a chance to check something that he promised to look at. It has been 2 weeks and I get no answer from him, the detail is that I don’t know the person personally and I don’t want sound rude. So How could I write to this person?
Best,
Great question, Emilia. And that is a sticky situation. I would start with a friendly greeting and then use something like, “I’d like to check in to see if you’ve been able to take a look at [name of project].” Instead of “to check in” you could also use “to follow up.” You could also include something like, “Please let me know if there is anything more you need from me or anything I can do to help. I appreciate your time in reviewing [name of project].” –> It may be that the person just hasn’t had time or doesn’t… Read more »
I often finish my emails with regards
Perfect example, Rabab. Thank you for sharing.
I generally close my emails best regards or kind regards
Hi Derya,
Those are perfect for emails! 🙂