How can you end a letter? How to finish a letter in English: phrases for business and personal correspondence. We look forward to working with you...

English culture is inconceivable without the art of correspondence. For centuries, English ladies and gentlemen have exchanged exquisite messages, written in accordance with strict etiquette - it determined what to write, when and why, in what terms, at what time of the day, and on what paper. Letters played - and still play - the most important role in people's lives: they make you laugh, surprise, intrigue, fall in love, offend to death and fill you with happiness.

7 main types of informal letters

In a personal letter, you can

1. Handling: by name, surname or using the words “ Sir/madam”:

2. Opening offer. Here you explain the purpose of your letter. This may be a complaint, consent or refusal to accept an invitation, a response to a received letter.

3. Body of the letter: one or two paragraphs, revealing the topic.

4. Final paragraph in one or two sentences. Summarize what you have written and express your readiness to continue the correspondence. You can also thank the recipient in advance for a favor or prompt response.

5. Final wording:

6. Date and signature(not necessary).

What to look out for

Informal writing allows you to use expressions from different styles, both business and informal, depending on the situation. You can even use colloquial style, slang, abbreviations and abbreviations. Just do not overdo it with vernacular so that your letter does not look cheeky, impolite. Some expressions in colloquial speech sound acceptable, but are inappropriate in a letter, even if the letter is informal.
Idioms and colloquial expressions enrich the language of your writing - feel free to use them.
Follow the structure of the letter, do not overload sentences with complex constructions and develop the idea consistently.
It is customary to leave a blank line between paragraphs for visual convenience. For the same reason, it is advised to start each paragraph with a small indent at the beginning of the first line if you are writing by hand.
Use the time when you want to express your expectations (“ I am looking forward to hearing from you…” - “Looking forward to your answer ...”) or about the purpose of your letter (“ I am writing to you on behalf of/with regard to…”-“ I am writing to you at the request / occasion ...”). Use or when reporting news or describing recent events.
try break the body of the letter into at least two or three paragraphs instead of trying to fit everything you want to say into one big paragraph. Information is perceived much better, being divided into logical parts.
End the letter with a question to the addressee to initiate the continuation of the correspondence. So you show that you are interested in communication and are waiting for his answer - and this will be a logical conclusion to the letter.

1. Letter of invitation

There are unofficial, semi-official and. Such a letter should contain additional information about the event (address, date and time, dress code of the event) and, if necessary, clear instructions on how to get to the venue.

Opening phrase:

Closing phrase:

We would be grateful if you could…	We will be grateful if you can...
Please indicate whether you would be able to attend…	Please let me know if you can attend...
I hope you can make it…	Hope to see you...
Hope you can come.	Hope you can come.
Looking forward to seeing you at…	Looking forward to our meeting…
Please let me know if you can come.	Please let me know if you can come.

2. Letter of acceptance of the invitation

There are informal, semi-official and business. Contains a clear and unequivocal consent to attend the event.

Opening phrase:

Closing phrase:

We await the event with great anticipation.	We are looking forward to this event.
I will be looking forward to the party. See you then.	I'm looking forward to the party. See you.
We are really looking forward to your party.	We look forward to receiving you*.

* Stylistically, in this case, the definition of “reception” rather than “party” is more suitable for translating the word party, since the construction of the phrase is quite formal and it most likely refers to an official and semi-official reception.

3. Letter rejecting an invitation

There are informal, semi-official and business. Expresses refusal to accept an invitation.

Opening phrase:

Closing phrase:

I am sorry to miss the opportunity of greeting you in person.	I'm sorry I miss the opportunity to congratulate you in person.
Thank you again for the invitation.	Thanks again for the invitation.
I hope we will have another opportunity to meet/celebrate…	I hope we get another chance to meet/celebrate.
I am really sorry I will have to miss it.	I'm really sorry that I won't be able to attend.
I'm sure we can get together some other time.	I'm sure we can meet another time.

4. Letter of apology

It also happens business and informal. The letter must contain an apology and an explanation of why anyone has been inconvenienced or why duties or promises cannot be kept.

Opening phrase:

Closing phrase:

Once again, my sincerest apologies for…	Once again, I would like to offer you my sincere apologies for...
I hope you understand.	I hope you understand me.
I hope my apologies will be accepted…	I hope my apologies will be accepted...
I know there is no excuse good enough for… and I just hope you can forgive and understand me.	I know that all my apologies are not enough for... and I only hope that you can forgive and understand me.

5. Letter with a response to an advertising offer

There are business and semi-formal.

Usually contains a request for additional information or a request to clarify and supplement the information received earlier.

Opening phrase:

Closing phrase:

"Yes" and "no" personal letter

These rules must be followed:

No matter how informal your letter is, always be polite.
State the purpose of the letter from the very beginning.
Use adverbs and conjunctions to link your thoughts in a logical chain: then(then), later(later), but(but), at the same time(in the same time), finally(finally).
Start a new thought on a new line: text that is not divided into paragraphs is difficult to perceive.
Be restrained in expressing emotions, especially in semi-formal letters (complaint, congratulations, invitations, etc.).

And this is to be avoided:

Do not overuse exclamation marks, even if you are writing to a friend or close relative.
Don't forget about introductory and closing phrases - if the letter has a clearly defined logical structure, it is easier to read and understand.
Do not jump from thought to thought, do not write haphazardly. Thoughts should be arranged in a logical sequence.
Do not use long ones with numerous minor members and . The purpose of the letter - informal as well - is to convey your thoughts to the addressee the first time, and not force him to re-read every sentence in order to understand the meaning of the message.

Now that you have got acquainted with the basic rules for writing informal letters, we offer you a rather interesting example of an informal letter in English. Such letters have become a real flash mob of the English-speaking Internet: they are written by actors, singers, famous bloggers. Write yourself such a letter and you: this is a great way to turn to your inner self (albeit a sixteen-year-old) and take stock of a certain period of your life:

Letter to My 16-Year-Old-Self I know it is hard for you to believe that you could ever receive a letter from the future, but this has become a reality; though your calendar shows that it’s 1996, for me it is already 2013. It is almost dawn, and in a couple of hours I will have to get up (if I even go to bed) and go to work. But don't worry, work is interesting, and I am fully satisfied with it. Why am I saying “don’t worry?” Well, because I am you; I am a 33-year-old Steve writing a letter to myself, when I was just 16.	Letter 16 year old self Dear Steve! I know it's hard for you to believe that you are holding a letter from the future in your hands, but this is reality: although 1996 is on your calendar, 2013 has already arrived for me. It's almost dawn, and in a couple of hours I have to get up (if I lie down at all) and go to work. But do not worry, my work is interesting, and I am completely satisfied with it. Why do I say don't worry? Yes, because I am you; I am 33 year old Steve writing a letter to his 16 year old self.
I've got so many things to tell you, and so many details of my life, both happy and sad. But I think I would have to write a book to describe it all; so I will just focus on what is important for you in those difficult times you will have in 1996.	There are so many things I want to tell you, so many stories from my life, both happy and sad ... But I think I would have to publish a book to describe them all, so I will only focus on what is important to you in 1996 , in not the easiest times for you.
You don't need to be that devastated by what Sally did to you. I know it hurts, it is unfair, and nothing seems to be the same anymore, but just try not to do anything stupid only to decrease pain, because you will only hurt some nice people for no reason. Anyways, your grief will vanish without a trace in a month or so. Here is one little tip for you: on September 16, at 2pm, go to a bus station near your school. Just ask a girl standing there with Whitman's Leaves of Grass in her hands something about poetry. This simple act of curiosity will change your entire life, I promise.	Don't kill yourself like that because of what Sally did. I know it hurts you, you were treated unfairly, and it seems to you that things will never be the same as before. Just try not to do something stupid just to numb the pain, because that way you hurt good people for no reason. And your grief will pass without a trace somewhere in a month. Here's a little tip for you: on September 16 at 2:00 pm, go to the bus stop near the school. Ask the girl standing there with a volume of Whitman's Leaves of Grass something about poetry. This simple display of curiosity will change your whole life, I promise.
Listen to yourself, to your own wishes and beliefs. I know it sounds unoriginal, but it works. Now you feel oppressed by the expectations of your parents, relatives, friends, and society. It may be hard to step over your parents' wishes on your account. But it is just how everything goes: it's you or everybody else. You have only two options: either spend your entire life doing not exactly what you wanted and trying to please people around you; or you can do something for yourself, live a happier life, and make others adapt to your decisions. By the way, don't worry: you will make the right decision. Thank you for that.	Listen to yourself, your desires and beliefs. I know it sounds trite, but it will work. Now you are under pressure from the expectations of your parents, relatives, friends and society. It can be difficult for you to overstep the wishes of your parents for your own sake. But such is life: either you or the rest. You have only two options: either spend the rest of your life doing something you don’t want to do and trying to please others, or do something for yourself, live happily and leave others the right to adapt to your decisions. By the way, don't worry, you'll make the right choice. Thank you for this.
And, in a nutshell, just a couple more tips. Don't start smoking cigarettes. I know (believe me) you think that smoking cigarettes looks cool and rebellious, but the truth is that tobacco will turn you into a walking ruin even before you reach 30. Don’t drive so fast on May 11, 2003; learning how to walk and using help when going to bathrooms is reasonable only in childhood, but not when you are 23. Boldly accept that weird job offer in 2006 despite all your doubts; it will help you keep afloat when everyone around you will be losing their jobs two years later. Finally—just stay as positive and open-hearted as you've always been. In any complicated situation remember that in the end it will all be for the better.	And just a couple more tips. Don't start smoking. I know (trust me) you think it looks cool and rebellious, but tobacco will turn you into a walking wreck before 30. Don't drive so fast May 11, 2003 as a child, but not when you are 23. Feel free to accept that strange job offer in 2006, rejecting all doubts; it will help you stay afloat when everyone around you loses their jobs two years from now. Finally, just stay as positive and open as you have always been. In any difficult situation, remember that, in the end, everything is for the best.
Your life will be just great, believe me!

"Tricks" of the final letter

How to increase the effectiveness and activity of the final?

Different options for using active and emotional phrases in the final letter can produce different effects and lead to different results.

See for yourself:

ADVICE

If it is important for you to keep the initiative in correspondence with the addressee/client; if it is important to “keep your finger on the pulse” and contribute to a dynamic solution of issues, carefully consider the active part of the final letter!

The end of your letter should end with a wording that is clear to the addressee / client about the next steps.

Do not make the client guess on their own what he should do when he receives your letter. Be sure to communicate what actions you expect from him and when he needs to take these actions.

The effective part of the final must contain information that answers the following questions:

"What's the next step?" and “When should it be done?”

Depending on the situation, it is necessary to adjust the degree of categoricalness of the final.

Maintain an appropriate proportion between the effective and image parts of the finale.

Remember: the image component of the final works well to create a positive emotional mood when communicating, but it can significantly reduce the effectiveness of the letter, “blur” the goal and provoke the addressee to a “slow” response.

Make the final more active, keep the initiative!

Specific situations

It often happens that it is very important for us to know the answer of the addressee (his “yes” or “no”). At the same time, the ticklishness of the situation lies in the fact that we have no right to indicate and insist on the answer and its timing. Such an indication may look incorrect, premature, impolite, and sometimes downright intrusive.

For example, in a letter, my addressee is interested in the opportunity to conduct business correspondence training for his subordinates. In my response letter, I describe in detail the option of conducting such a training, and as a result, it is important for me not to lose the thread of dialogue with the addressee and learn about his decision. And it is important to do it as correctly as possible. How?

In such situations, a trick that I called “Indication of a subsequent action” works well.

The essence of the reception: point the addressee / client to an event / action that will occur immediately after you receive his answer.

For example: "Ivan Ivanovich, please let me know how interested you are in my proposal, and we can immediately agree on the dates and details of the training."

Variants of the finals with an indication of the subsequent action:

"Write about your decision - and we will immediately start processing the documents."

“As soon as we receive a response from you, we will be ready to send an adjusted payment schedule.”

"Write which of the sent options suits you best - I will immediately send specific detailed information on the procedure for registration."

"I'm waiting for scans of documents from you - and immediately I give the order for payment."

"Let us know about the chosen option - and we will be ready to send you our commercial offer."

"Write which option suits you best - and I will immediately be able to tell you in detail about the procedure for issuing this card."

When working with the active part of the finale, one should not forget about the emotional part, since positive emotions are far from the last thing in business communication.

Indian wisdom says: "Nothing encourages a person like a kind word." And the catchphrase of the movie echoes it: "A kind word is also pleasant for a cat." So why not end with a kind word a letter to our esteemed addressee?

Image/emotional part of the finale

The finale of a business letter (and the letter as a whole) looks more dignified and professional if, along with the presentation of our position, we demonstrate attention to the interests and personality of our addressee/client.

READY CLICHES (USE TO WRITE FASTER)

Options for image/emotional phrases in the final letter:

We look forward to collaborating!

We will be glad to cooperate with you!

I will gladly answer your questions.

If you have any questions, please get in touch. We will definitely answer them!

If you have any questions - write or call. We will definitely answer you!

Looking forward to fruitful cooperation...

Always ready to help and answer your questions.

Sincerely…

With respect and hope for fruitful cooperation…

I sincerely hope that our cooperation will be positive and productive.

We will be glad to see you among our happy customers!

Thank you for your cooperation!

NOTE. IT IS IMPORTANT!

When working with the image part of the final, it is important to understand that the final phrase should be consonant with the content of the letter. It often happens that we enter the final image phrase into the signature block - and, alas, it does not always correspond to the semantic context of the letter itself. It turns into a dead template that does not fulfill its original purpose or (worse) begins to contradict the content of the letter.

Confirmation of this is in the letter below.

From: Ivanova Valentina

Sent: Thursday, August 26, 2010 7:13 PM

To: Nikolai Petrovich

Subject: Chief accountant vacancy

Good evening, Nikolai Petrovich!

I am writing to you in connection with the situation with the selection of candidates for the position of chief accountant in your service. The position has been open for over two months. The position is rather difficult.

At the end of July, a meeting was held with Ekaterina Kozlova, a real and worthy candidate to fill the vacancy. She completed all the practical tasks, we handed them over to your service. The results of the assignments have not yet been analyzed. At the beginning of last week, we sent you 2 more questionnaires of candidates for the position of an accountant and the answers of these candidates to questions. The situation is the same - no answer. Nikolai Petrovich, I am sure that there is no point in continuing work in this vein.

I inform you that from today the vacancy of the chief accountant is being transferred to the category of non-urgent. This means that if there are a sufficiently large number of current vacancies in the personnel department, we will work on finding candidates for the position of chief accountant on a residual basis.

Good mood and good day!

Valentina Ivanova

Head of Human Resources

ADVICE

Be sure to correlate the sound of the final emotional phrase with the main content of the letter. To speed up your work, keep a list of cliché phrases handy.

A universal version of the image phrase is the phrase: “Respectfully…”

Only it can be placed in an automatic signature block. All other image phrases need additional attention and coordination with the content of the letter.

Attention! At the end of the letter, avoid mistakes in the use of the following phrases:

"Thank you for your understanding" / "Thank you for your understanding"

"Thank you for your attention"

"All the best!"

"All the best!

"Good luck!"

Let's consider in more detail.

Final phrase: "Thank you for your understanding!" / "Thank you for your understanding"

This phrase has a semantic connotation of apology. Therefore, use it only in cases where you need to apologize to the addressee.

See letter options below. Pay attention to how the final phrase changes the meaning of the letter.

Do not use this phrase in a situation where you want to express gratitude for a common work. In this case, the phrases sound more organic:

"Thank you for your cooperation!"

"Thank you for the fruitful cooperation!"

Also, do not use this phrase to thank the recipient for their attention to your information and to express the hope that everything is clear to him. For these cases, other options are appropriate:

“I have tried to be as precise as possible about the essence of the situation. If at the same time some points remain incomprehensible to you, please let me know, and I will explain in more detail”;

“If there are unclear points in the sent information, please let us know. I will give the necessary comments”;

“I tried to explain the essence of the issue in as much detail as possible. However, if you have any other questions, write, and I will be happy to answer them.

Ending phrase: "Thank you for your attention"

When using this phrase, it is important to understand the following. It is appropriate only in a business situation, when you express gratitude for the attention paid to you in response to your request / question. More correct in sound and meaning in such a situation would be the option: “Thank you for the attention you paid me.”

The phrase "Thank you for your attention!" absolutely inappropriate in a situation where you are the initiator of a business letter.

Why? The point is its semantic subtext. We usually use the phrase "Thank you for your attention" to thank you for attention that could not have been paid. (A typical example of such a situation in everyday life: information on TV about the weather forecast.)

Finishing our informational message with this phrase, we broadcast two semantic meanings:

1. “I am grateful to you for the time you gave me, since you had every right not to listen to me”;

2. "Goodbye" ("Thank you all. Everyone is free").

Both of these semantic meanings are inorganic for a business letter.

Firstly, it is inappropriate to say goodbye to the client so categorically, leaving no reason and hope for resuming the dialogue.

Secondly, it is strange and inappropriate to write letters that you are not sure about the relevance of. Even if you write such a letter, you need to end it with an indication of the usefulness and applicability of your information.

Summary: the phrase "Thank you for your attention" is inorganic at the end of a business letter.

Instead, it is better to use phrases:

“I sincerely hope that our information will help you…”

“We are sure that this information will be useful for…”

“I sincerely hope that the information that I have given you will be useful / help you ...”

Phrases in the finale: "All the best!" / "All the best!"

Both phrases are variants of a polite but final goodbye. They are appropriate in situations where we are interested in ending the dialogue.

If we want to express to the client / addressee our wishes for good or sincere participation, then the phrases “All the best!” and "All the best!" better to replace it with:

"Have a good day!"

"Good mood and have a good day!"

"With best regards..."

"With sincere regards..."

Ending phrase: "Good luck!"

This short phrase at the end of the letter carries two semantic connotations.

1. A wish for a successful combination of future circumstances.

2. An indication that the sending addressee will not be related to these circumstances (“this will happen without me, without my participation”).

Decide for yourself how acceptable these semantic contexts are in your correspondence with clients/partners.

So, we have clarified the issue with the main tool of clear writing - its structure. The basis of clarity is clearly defined three points of attention, including the "tricks" of the finale of the letter.

This is a "semantic triangle", a kind of "semantic frame" of the letter.

Now in this "frame" we need to place the main content of the letter. Place in such a way as to provide our addressee with the utmost clarity, speed and comfort of reading and perception. Clarity tools help with this. Let's remind them.

1. A clear structure of the letter (including three points of attention) - we have already mastered this.

And with the next we have to deal with.

2. The volume of the letter, comfortable for perception.

3. Presentation of information in a logic that is extremely understandable to the addressee (principle 5 x 5).

4. Graphic means of systematization and expressiveness of the text: paragraphs, headings, numbering.

5. The nature of the proposal (volume and structure).

Let's go in order.

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Tired of “Respectfully yours” and want something new? The MediaDigger team, a platform that automates the storage of a database of contacts and makes it possible to send bulk personalized letters through it, has made a selection of alternative signatures that you can use to end your email. After all, in spite of everything, email is still the main way of business communication:

1. Sincerely- For lovers of the classics. The safest option.

2. Sincerely yours- There is something in this, but not everyone can afford such a signature. You have to be and look a certain way.

3. Best regards– Slightly less formal and applicable in a business letter.

4. Just enter a name- Quite suitable, especially in cases where there is an active exchange of letters.

5. Your initials- Also acceptable, but the question arises why it was impossible to just write your name in full, and an unpleasant aftertaste remains.

6. Have a nice day- For the final letter, when you don’t expect to hear anything else from the interlocutor during the day, it’s quite suitable.

7. Have a nice week- The same as “have a good day”, only if you don’t communicate anymore during the week.

8. Best regards– English version of “respectfully”. The most secure for business communication. Some Russian speakers only use this signature. In principle, this is acceptable, but if you communicate a lot with foreigners and everyone knows this. Otherwise it looks a little strange.

9. Kind regards- The same as best regards, but a little less formal.

10. With friendly regards“Never seen this, but heard about it. One would like to say that they called from the 70s and asked to return the signature to them.

11. See you soon- In case you agreed to meet in the near future and emphasize that you remember about it.

12. Good luck in your hard work!- Such a signature can be used when you tried to help someone (or failed to do it), and you are trying to somehow cheer up the interlocutor.

13. Sent from Iphone- You can somehow explain why there may be typos in the letter, but it may seem that you are showing off your phone model.

14. Sent from smartphone– Safer than “sent from Iphone”: the interlocutor understands that you wrote from the phone and the auto-corrector could make typos, while you don’t brag about your phone.

15. Thank you for your attention- This phrase is better left for those who are trying to sell you something.

16. Thank you- If you are really grateful, then you can. But you should not sign every letter like this when you give someone an instruction. It will give an orderly tone.

17. With perfect respect For those who like to stand out. A little bit romantic.

18. Please think about nature before you print this letter.“First of all, don’t blame anyone. Secondly, this inscription can sometimes be longer than the text of the letter itself. Thirdly, does anyone else print letters now?

19. Ready for service– Hmmm. Simply no.

20. With love- Nice and acceptable if you've known each other for a long time.

21. Good luck- It's more suitable if you do not expect to communicate with someone in the near future.

22. Kiss hard- Suitable for relatives and loved ones.

23. With paternal tenderness- You can, but only if you are really a father and only learned what the Internet is.

24. Yours forever- It is better to leave for the registry office.

25. Have a nice weekend- This is usually written by those who diligently try to spoil them for you, sending a letter at the end of the working day on Friday indicating the things that need to be done. In general, it is possible, but when you do not burden someone, otherwise it smacks of sarcasm.

26. Hearty greetings- It is permissible in the event that you previously addressed each other as “comrade”, everyone else is not.

27. Your obedient servant- Strongly smacks of toadying and it's hard to imagine a situation where it would really be appropriate.

28. Sincerely devoted to you- The same problems as "Your Obedient Servant".

29. Looking forward to further fruitful cooperation- A little long, but acceptable, for example, for the first letter when writing to a stranger.

30. Kiss- If you write to your other half, then it is permissible.

Know more options? Write to us at

Etiquette formulas are required in the design of a business letter. They are determined by the genre of the message (letters of invitation, letters of congratulations, letters of condolence) and are largely conditional, ritual in nature. More A.S. Pushkin remarked in Journey from Moscow to St. Petersburg: “Every day we sign as our humble servants, and it seems that none of this has yet concluded that we should be asked to be valets.”

Business letters of invitation and congratulations include many etiquette phrases. Instead of an etiquette frame (words of greeting and farewell), business letters use the following appeals: Dear Nikolai Ivanovich! Dear Mr. Bobylev! V At the end of the letter, before the signature, the final courtesy formula is placed: Yours sincerely!;Sincerely;With sincere respect!;Best wishes!;Thanks in advance for your reply…;We hope that our request will not be difficult for you.…;We look forward to a successful continuation of cooperation…;We look forward to your interest in expanding connections…etc.

These closing remarks of courtesy are followed by self-name official signing the document, and his signature. Self-naming includes an indication of the position held and the name of the organization, if the letter is not sent on the letterhead of the institution, otherwise - only the position:

If a letter is sent on behalf of the Academic Council of a scientific institution, the self-name is an indication of the role that this or that person performs in this body:

Etiquette rituals expressed by performative verbs are included, as a rule, in set expressions, like the rest of the formulas of speech etiquette: With pleasure) invite You to take part in...; Thanks to You for participation...; Sincerely thank you You for...; Cordially thank you You for...; I beg You will be directed to our address...; I assure You that we will do our best...; wish Good luck to you and we look forward to future mutually beneficial cooperation...; With thanks confirm receiving from you...;

Etiquette rituals used in business letters include

- different kinds praise : You showed heartfelt attention to orphans and children left without parental care...(direct praise); Considering your great contribution to the development of technological progress in industry...(indirect praise); Since your firm is a leading supplier of computer equipment...(indirect praise)

expression of hope, confidence, gratitude at the end of the letter : I express hope for…;I hope for further good and mutually beneficial relations…; We hope for a speedy decision ... We hope that the result of the negotiations will be a long-term and fruitful cooperation between our enterprises…; We look forward to further fruitful cooperation…; We wish you success and look forward to future mutually beneficial cooperation…;We hope that our request will be considered as soon as possible.…;We hope for a speedy answer (solution of our issue) ...;We were glad to receive your letter.…;Thank you very much for the fax dated 04.06.2010…; We acknowledge with gratitude the receipt of your letter…;Thanks to per...;

expression of congratulations, apologies, wishes: Congratulations ...; We wish you success in…;We apologize for… about…etc.

Polite form addressee naming in business correspondence involves the use of the pronouns "You", "Your" with a capital letter: According to your request we send To you latest catalogs of our products; At the end of this month, we will be happy to use your services.

It is impossible not to take into account the effectiveness of etiquette formulas, the arsenal of which in Russian speech etiquette is very large. The success of the case largely depends on the tone of the letter.

The universal principle of using etiquette means is the principle of politeness, which is expressed in the recommendations given to readers in one old Russian letter book and which have not lost their relevance to this day: “The first duty of the writer is to remember his own position, to know the position of the person to whom we are writing, and to imagine the latter is as clear as if we were standing in front of him and talking. This is especially important today, when official correspondence is becoming more personal and dynamic. Today, the genre of business writing requires from the compiler not only the standardization of language means, but also the manifestation of their own individuality.

In both business and friendly correspondence, it is important to know how to finish a letter in English. If you want to present yourself as an educated person, then you should not neglect the established rules of correspondence.

Please note: farewell in a letter written in English is put on a new line after the letter itself.

Business letter ending

When you use the following expressions, you mean "sincerely yours":

Sincerely
Sincerely yours
Most sincerely
Yours faithfully
Yours truly

Gratitude (for the attention paid to reading the letter) can be expressed using the standard Thank you or Thank you for your consideration (thanks for considering this issue).

business letter example

Letter to a friend

It is difficult to draw a clear line between the formal and informal end of the letter, because people who are in a working correspondence can have friendly relations and put a “warmer” farewell at the end of the letter.

At the end of the letter, you can hint at the next conversation or meeting. The presence of the personal pronoun "I" already indicates a more personal form of address.
Here are some phrases with the expression to look forward (expect):

I am looking forward to meeting you
I am looking forward to hearing from you

Analogues of the Russian “with respect” will be the expressions:

Regards
kind regards;
Best regards
Respectfully

And a more cordial expression of Cordially. The phrase "best wishes" can be displayed using Best wishes. The following are examples of goodbyes at the end of a letter that you can write to a loved one:

Cheers
Warmly
Always
Later
Till next time
take care
Write soon
kisses

Very personal expressions for saying goodbye to a loved one in a letter can be:

Affectionately yours
Yours forever
Passionately yours
your darling
Longing to see you

Tip: not everyone knows how to sign a letter in English correctly - leave a comma after parting, and then write your name on a new line, while you can indent a few lines.

Phrases for ending an informal letter

Examples of letters

Look at examples of excerpts from letters with different options for parting, pay attention to the style of writing and the corresponding parting.

Please let me know if you have any comments on the video I sent you. During the next few weeks we will be adding new videos to the website. I would really like to know what you think of them.
Sincerely yours,

(Please let me know if you have any comments on the video I sent you. We will be adding more videos to the site over the next few weeks. I would love to know what you think of them.)
I was waiting for your reply since Monday but obviously you have a lot on your plate right now. Anyway, I`m going to visit you next week and we will have a chance to chat.
(I've been waiting for your reply since Monday, but obviously you're very busy right now. Anyway, I'm going to visit you next week and we'll have a chance to chat.)
I will be grateful if you would send me the price-list on your new products. Please specify the terms of the delivery and the possible discount. Thank you in advance.
Faithfully yours,

Dylan Park.

(I would be grateful if you could send me a price list for your new products. Please indicate the delivery time and possible discount. Thanks in advance.)
If you require any further information I will be happy to provide it. Do not hesitate to contact me and clarify any details.
most sincerely,

James Burton.

(If you need more information I'll be happy to provide it. Feel free to contact me for any details.)
Mike, I'm still waiting for the pictures you promised to send me last month. Oh, by the way, my sister says "Hi".
(Mike, I'm still waiting for the photo you promised to send last month. Oh, by the way, my sister says hi.)

Words and expressions

It's time to improve your vocabulary. Read and memorize the following expressions:

To let know - inform;
To send - send;
To think of smth. - to think about something;
Obviously - obviously;
To have a lot on plate - have a lot of things to do;
To specify - indicate, determine;
Discount - discount;
In advance - in advance;
To require - require;
To provide - provide;
Delivery - delivery;
Possible - possible;
To clarify - clarify;
To hesitate - hesitate, be shy;
To promise - to promise.

Remember that it is up to you whether the end of the letter in English will simply serve as its actual completion or have additional meaning, so it is so important to choose the right words at the end to leave the reader with the impression you need.

By the way, in the last sentence, it will never be superfluous to thank the reader for their attention, and if this is a person close to you, then finish the letter with warm and friendly words, reminding him of how much you miss him and how glad you will be to receive an answer. Here are some more tips for writing letters: