Business Letter Conventions: Complimentary Close
Last time, we talked about the salutations in business letters. We already knew how to write appropriate and formal salutations.
Today, we will learn how to write complimentary closes agreed with your letters’ formality and salutation.
What is a Complimentary close?
Cambridge Dictionary Online (n.d.) describes complimentary close as: “the words that you write at the end of a business letter before you write your name, for example, ‘Best wishes’, ‘Yours truly’, ‘Sincerely’, etc.”
Likewise, Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary (n.d.) explains the definition of complimentary close: “the words (such as sincerely yours) that conventionally come immediately before the signature of a letter and express the sender’s regard for the receiver.”
As can be seen from the two definitions, the complimentary close is a short word that marks the end of your letter, and it usually comes before your name. Moreover, it’s used to show our respect to the letter receiver.
So, when we write the complimentary close, we should consider that what complimentary closes will be consistent with our letter formality.
The Complimentary Close in Business Letters
Two important things we should have to think about when we write a complimentary close are the consistency of salutations and complimentary closes, and styles of operation (British vs American).
The following examples show you the appropriate salutations and complimentary closes and the operation styles.
British English Style
If your salutations are, for example, Dear Sir, Dear Madam, or Dear Sirs, the best complimentary close would be “Yours faithfully,”.
Whereas, if you address your salutations: Dear Mr. Stark or Dear Mrs. Collins, “Yours sincerely,” or “Sincerely yours,” should be placed.
Now let’s take look another type.
American English Style
There are many options to close your formal business letter. Please follow the examples.
For less formal letters, you can use “Kind regards,” “Best regards,” or “Best wishes,” for closing your letters.
Please notice that the first word of complimentary close must be started with a capital letter and usually end with a comma.
References:
Complimentary close. Cambridge Dictionary. (n.d.). Retrieved September 3, 2022, from https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/complimentary-close
Doyle, A. (2022, March 7). How to write the closing of a formal letter. The Balance Careers. Retrieved September 3, 2022, from https://www.thebalancecareers.com/formal-letter-closing-examples-2062307
Kapori, B. (n.d.). Complimentary close in business letters. The valediction (complimentary close) in English business letters. Retrieved September 3, 2022, from https://www.usinggrammar.com/business-english/complimentary-close-in-business-letters.php
Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Complimentary close. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved September 2, 2022, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/complimentary%20close
Parisuthiman, S. (2017). Business communication: A functional approach. Thammasat University Press.
For more information, please visit www.bsru.ac.th.