Emailers Search for the Right Sign-Off

Regards? Best? XOXO? That's me, yo?

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Aug 4, 2009 9:25 AM CDT

(Newser) – Saying goodbye at the end of an email, especially a business one, is a puzzling minefield of etiquette with no clear rules, Ruth McCann writes at the Washington Post. "Best" is becoming more popular, McCann observes, but many swear by the slightly stiff "Sincerely," while others still shower even colleagues with "xxx"s. Confusion reigns, McCann writes, when somebody receiving the cold "Cordially" wonders if they've caused offense.

A recent survey doesn't do much to clear things up, McCann notes. "Best" hardly features, but a quarter of respondents use "Sincerely," and a fifth some variant of "Thanks." Lesser-used options included "That's me yo," "Hope you live through the night, and "Wonka wonka." "Until email etiquette starts being taught in elementary school," McCann concludes, "perhaps we've little choice left but to hit send first and ask forgiveness later."

[Images (1)]

[Quotes (2)]

A quarter of emailers sign off with "Sincerely," according to one survey. (Shutter Stock)

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You can really do a lot of damage, even with a careless closing. And one of the terrifying things about email is: You may never know - Will Schwalbe, co-author of
Send: Why People Email So Badly
and How to Do It Better

One thing that is kind of interesting is how more and more people are actually signing off by telling you where they are. Like, 'Sent while being yelled at by a flight attendant to turn off all electronic devices.' - Arianne Huffington

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Emailers Search for the Right Sign-Off