Should I write 'Yours sincerely' or 'Yours faithfully'? (2024)

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  3. Should I write ‘Yours sincerely’ or ‘Yours faithfully’?

Traditionally, the sign-off Yours sincerely is used in an email message or letter when you are writing to someone you have interacted with before, not a complete stranger.

Yours faithfully is used instead when you are writing to someone you have had no previous correspondence with, especially if you greeted them as ‘Dear Sir or Madam’.

Frequently asked questions: Effective communication

Is it ‘looking forward in hearing from you’ or ‘looking forward to hearing from you’?

‘Looking forward in hearing from you’ is an incorrect version of the phrase looking forward to hearing from you. The phrasal verb ‘looking forward to’ always needs the preposition ‘to’, not ‘in’.

  • I am looking forward in hearing from you.
  • I am looking forward to hearing from you.
What are some synonyms for ‘looking forward to hearing from you’?

Some synonyms and near synonyms for the expression looking forward to hearing from you include:

  • Eagerly awaiting your response
  • Hoping to hear from you soon
  • It would be great to hear back from you
  • Thanks in advance for your reply
Is it ‘looking forward to hear from you’ or ‘looking forward to hearing from you’?

People sometimes mistakenly write ‘looking forward to hear from you’, but this is incorrect. The correct phrase is looking forward to hearing from you.

The phrasal verb ‘look forward to’ is always followed by a direct object, the thing you’re looking forward to. As the direct object has to be a noun phrase, it should be the gerund ‘hearing’, not the verb ‘hear’.

  • I’m looking forward to hear from you soon.
  • I’m looking forward to hearing from you soon.
What’s the meaning of “just checking in”?

Just checking inis a standard phrase used to start an email (or other message) that’s intended to ask someone for a response or follow-up action in a friendly, informal way. However, it’s a cliché opening that can come across as passive-aggressive, so we recommend avoiding it in favor of a more direct opening like “We previously discussed …”

In a more personal context, you might encounter “just checking in” as part of a longer phrase such as “I’m just checking in to see how you’re doing”. In this case, it’s not asking the other person to do anything but rather asking about their well-being (emotional or physical) in a friendly way.

What does “earliest convenience” mean?

“Earliest convenience” is part of the phrase at your earliest convenience, meaning “as soon as you can”.

It’s typically used to end an email in a formal context by asking the recipient to do something when it’s convenient for them to do so.

What does “ASAP” mean?

ASAP is an abbreviation of the phrase “as soon as possible”.

It’s typically used to indicate a sense of urgency in highly informal contexts (e.g., “Let me know ASAP if you need me to drive you to the airport”).

“ASAP” should be avoided in more formal correspondence. Instead, use an alternative like at your earliest convenience.

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Should I write 'Yours sincerely' or 'Yours faithfully'? (2024)

FAQs

Should I write 'Yours sincerely' or 'Yours faithfully'? ›

"Yours sincerely" is typically employed in English when the recipient is addressed by name (e.g. "Dear John") and is known to the sender to some degree, whereas "Yours faithfully" is used when the recipient is not addressed by name (i.e., the recipient is addressed by a phrase such as "Dear Sir/Madam") or when the ...

Is yours sincerely outdated? ›

For any kind of professional correspondence, common choices are “Sincerely,” “Best regards,” “Sincerely yours,” and “Yours truly.” The last two are becoming outmoded. I think that if you're doubtful, “Sincerely” is always best. In a personal letter, one can be more creative with the complimentary closing.

Which is better yours faithfully or yours sincerely? ›

2. 'Yours faithfully' is used in business and other formal letters while 'Yours sincerely' is used in friendly letters. 3. 'Yours faithfully' is used with the salutation 'Dear Sir' or 'Dear Madam,' while 'Yours sincerely' is used with the salutation 'Dear Mr/Miss/Mrs/Ms' followed by the name of the person.

Can I just write sincerely? ›

“Sincerely” is an adverb meaning “genuinely” and is used to emphasize your honest intentions toward the person addressed. This sign-off is relatively formal, but according to some authorities it should only be used when writing to someone you already know, not a complete stranger.

Do people still use sincerely? ›

So do I need to start dropping “Yours sincerely” from my correspondence? Yes, but don't try too hard to keep with the trends because they move fast. “Best wishes” even seems quite formal these days. Try signing off with “Best” or “Thanks” – or just your name.

What should I write instead of yours sincerely? ›

Try the following formal email sign-offs when sending an email to a client or coworker:
  • All my best.
  • Best or Best wishes.
  • Goodbye.
  • Regards or Warm regards.
  • Respectfully.
  • Looking forward to hearing from you.
  • Speak to you soon.
  • Take care.
Jul 31, 2024

Do people still say yours sincerely? ›

'Yours sincerely' and 'Yours faithfully' should be reserved for formal emails and letters, such as job applications and business correspondence. You're unlikely to encounter these in day-to-day email correspondence. Therefore 'Kind regards' and 'Best regards' are better options for workplace emails.

How do I end a friendly letter? ›

Often, the body of a letter will close with a request to write back. Closing: One of the final things a writer should include in a friendly letter is a closing. This may consist of "Best regards," "Warmly," "Truly," "Best wishes," "Sincerely," "Your friend," "Best," or any other ideas.

How to write yours truly in a letter? ›

Yours truly is a standard sign-off that you can write before your name to end an email or letter. It combines the possessive pronoun “yours” with the adverb “truly” (be careful not to misspell it as “truely“) to express a sense of honesty toward the person you're addressing.

How to end a letter formally? ›

Use 'Yours sincerely,' when writing to a named person. Use 'Yours faithfully,' when using the 'Dear Sir/Madam' greeting. Use the semi-formal 'Best regards,' or 'Kind regards,' if you wish the tone to be slightly less formal.

What is the most sincere way to end a letter? ›

They can help you avoid embarrassing errors.
  • Sincerely. Sincerely (or sincerely yours) is often the go-to sign off for formal letters, and with good reason. ...
  • Best. ...
  • Best regards. ...
  • Speak to you soon. ...
  • Thanks. ...
  • [No sign-off] ...
  • Yours truly. ...
  • Take care.

Is yours truly romantic? ›

In formal correspondence, “Yours truly” is the closing for business letters. “Sincerely yours” is for social correspondence short of the love-and-kisses stage, or the more restrained “Fondly yours” or “Affectionately yours” for close friends and relatives.

Is sincerely unprofessional? ›

Sincerely (yours),

A classic sign-off for any kind of correspondence, Sincerely is formal, but not excessively so. This sign-off, or its slightly more formal version Sincerely yours, is a good choice for something like a job application but may strike too formal a tone for an email to a coworker.

What's a better way to say sincerely? ›

Perhaps it has become devalued now that many use “Best wishes,” or just “Best,” instead of “Yours sincerely” or “Yours truly” to close letters.

Is yours faithfully outdated? ›

Yours faithfully

While this ending may be OK for letters, it's too old-school for modern emails.

What to say instead of cheers in email? ›

The best way to sign off your email, according to the study, is with “Kind Regards.” Other good choices are “Thanks” or “Regards.” The worst work email sign-offs are “Love,” “Warmly,” “Cheers,” and “Best.”

Is Yours sincerely Grammatically correct? ›

Whether you use “Sincerely Yours” or “Yours Sincerely” depends on where you live. Americans use “Sincerely” and “Sincerely yours.” “Yours sincerely” is British. It's just one of the differences between British English and American English.

Is it OK to end an email with yours? ›

Professional email sign offs

Sincerely / Yours sincerely: Ideal for formal business and legal emails. Regards / Best regards / Kind regards: Safe and professional choices. Respectfully / Yours respectfully: Suited for senior executives or officials.

What is the informal version of sincerely? ›

Any of the following, as appropriate according the tenor and content of the letter: Yours truly, Very truly yours, Fondly, Fondly yours, Warm regards, Warmest regards, Warmly yours, Best to you, Best regards, Lovingly yours, Lovingly, With love, Most sincerely.

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