Are you trying to figure out if “sincerely” is an appropriate email closer? Perhaps you’re worried it’s too formal, and you want an alternative to mix things up.
Well, you’re in luck! This article will explore different ways to say “sincerely.”
Is It Professional to Say “Sincerely”?
It is professional to say “sincerely.” Some would argue it’s the most professional way to sign off an email or letter.
It’s a great formal email closer. However, it’s a bit too formal because it’s very old-fashioned. You won’t often come across people using it today because it sounds a bit dated.
This example will help you understand how it works:
Dear Mr. Jensen,
Thank you so much for contacting me.
Sincerely,
Darren Harding
Pros
- It’s one of the most professional ways to sign off an email.
- It’s very polite and respectful.
Cons
- It’s old-fashioned.
- It’s overly formal, which will put most people off.
“Sincerely” is clearly an excellent closer for a formal email. However, it’s a bit dated, so you should have a few synonyms ready to keep your emails fresh.
Read on to find out how to say “sincerely” professionally. Each of our examples will be another email closer that works in formal situations.
What to Say Instead of “Sincerely”
- Yours
- All the best
- Best wishes
- Thank you
- It was nice talking to you
- My best
- Looking forward to hearing from you
- Kind regards
- Best regards
- Regards
1. Yours
You can use “yours” instead of “sincerely” to sound formal without going over the top. It’s a great way to end an email that shows you’re respectful and polite.
We highly recommend using it when you know the recipient well. For instance, it’s a good one when emailing a customer who has got in touch a few times in the past.
Also, it’s quite useful as a generic closer. It works when you’ve never met the recipient before, so it’s always a polite one to include when you’re stuck.
Here’s a great example to help you with it:
Dear Derek,
Thank you for reaching out. I’m still working on a solution, but I’ll contact you as soon as I find a reasonable one.
Yours,
Sally Young
2. All the Best
If you’re looking for a more friendly alternative to “sincerely,” you can try “all the best.” It’s a great option that keeps things respectful and polite.
You should use it when contacting clients. It shows you respect them enough to sign off an email positively.
Of course, most email closers are based on personal preference. So, we can’t tell you exactly why some people prefer “all the best” over others like “sincerely” or “yours.”
Nevertheless, if you like the tone it gives off, it’s worth including it in your emails.
Check out the following email example as well:
Dear Mr. Walker,
This isn’t the first time this situation has come up. I’ll do what I can to ensure it doesn’t happen again.
All the best,
Rebecca Tall
3. Best Wishes
You could even use a slightly more informal closer in some business emails. Something like “best wishes” goes a long way when emailing people you get along well with.
For instance, you can use “best wishes” when emailing customers. It shows you appreciate them for buying from your company.
It’s very polite and friendly, making it an excellent choice if you don’t know what else to use. We always recommend using “best wishes” when trying to maintain a friendly relationship.
We also recommend the following example:
Dear Ross,
I’m sorry that things didn’t go according to plan. However, I will speak to my team to see what we can do.
Best wishes,
Sarah Catford
4. Thank You
One of the best email closers to use is “thank you.” It’s great because it’s versatile and friendly. So many iterations work well at the end of an email.
For instance:
- Thank you so much
- Thanks a lot
- Thank you for all your help
- Thank you very much
- Many thanks
“Thank you” is a great option to include in formal emails. You can always experiment with it to find the most useful tone to remain polite and professional.
Here’s a useful email sample to show you how it works:
Dear Robbie,
I don’t know how you did it, but I appreciate your help. Is there anything you’d like me to do in return?
Thank you,
Willis Paulson
5. It Was Nice Talking to You
If you can show positivity at the end of an email, it will usually allow you to end it in a good place. A recipient that reads a positive email closer will also usually be put into a good mood.
That’s where “it was nice talking to you” comes in. It’s a very positive phrase that allows you to sound polite and enthusiastic.
We recommend using it after emailing a customer. It shows that you value their opinion and would like to hear from them again soon.
If you’re still unsure, refer to this email example:
Dear Melissa,
Thank you so much for reaching out. I look forward to hearing more about this when you have information to share.
It was nice talking to you,
George Carlton
6. My Best
Returning to a slightly more conversational alternative to “sincerely,” you can write “my best.” It’s quite a common choice when emailing coworkers because it shows you care about them.
We recommend using it as a way to offer your best or kindest wishes.
It’s very polite and caring. For that reason, it’s probably not as effective when emailing your boss or supervisor (unless you already have a good relationship with them).
Don’t forget to refer to this sample email:
Dear Jessie,
I appreciate that things aren’t going well for you at the moment. Please take as much time as you need.
My best,
Rachel Riley
7. Looking Forward to Hearing From You
Have you already set up a meeting time with someone? Or maybe you’re sending an email detailing all the relevant meeting times right now.
Either way, “looking forward to hearing from you” is a great formal email closer after setting a meeting.
We recommend using it when contacting your clients. It shows you’re looking forward to a meeting and want to hear more about their thoughts or ideas.
Here’s a great sample email to help you with it:
Dear Mr. Keating,
I hope you’ll have some availability over the next few days. I’d certainly like to meet with you to discuss this.
Looking forward to hearing from you,
Steven Smith
8. Kind Regards
Another way to say “sincerely” is “kind regards.” It also happens to be one of the most common email closers in professional emails.
Of course, since it’s quite common, you may want to avoid it. It won’t give you a unique voice when signing your emails off.
Still, we recommend using “kind regards” as a generic yet professional closer. It shows you wish the recipient well, regardless of the content of the email.
Check out this example as well:
Dear Maria,
I know you’re busy, but I still appreciate all the work you did for me. I’ll let you know when I have more to give you.
Kind regards,
Sam Hazelton
9. Best Regards
While “kind regards” is useful in professional contexts, “best regards” is an alternative to “sincerely” that mixes things up further.
You can write “best regards” at the end of an email to wish the recipient well. It shows you’re offering your best wishes or regards when saying goodbye to someone.
There are plenty of situations where “best regards” works. Again, it’s one of the more prevalent choices when it comes to formal email closers.
You may also benefit from reading this sample email:
Dear Katie,
Thank you so much for all the work you put in over the holiday. I’m glad you’re part of the team.
Best regards,
Jon Wilkinson
10. Regards
You also don’t need to include an adjective before “regards.” The word in itself is already a suitable formal email closer. It’s a great replacement for “sincerely.”
It’s also very basic. If you use “regards,” it implies that you do not want to include positive adjectives.
You may use it when emailing employees after they’ve done something wrong. “Regards” might suggest that you’re upset with them and need them to fix whatever they broke.
Here is an example email to show you how it works:
Dear Matilda,
I’m very disappointed in your choices lately. I will need to contact you again soon to plan a meeting about this.
Regards,
Mr. Barrow