How to Sign Off Letters

Letters are used for all kinds of purposes. You might be writing a personal letter to a friend or a business letter to a colleague. Either way, the letter should follow the standard formula for letter writing. For example, almost all letters should end in a similar way. When you sign off your letter, you need to make it clear that the letter is ending and you need to indicate from whom the letter is coming.

Choose a closing. All letters need a closing after the final paragraph. This tells the reader that the message is complete. Your closing depends on the tone of your letter. For example, a formal business letter might close “Sincerely.” A more casual business letter might close “Kind regards” and a friendly letter might close “Yours truly.” Other common closings: “All the best,” “Faithfully,” “Thank you,” “Best wishes,” “Yours” and “With gratitude.”

Add a comma after your closing. Skip three or four lines after your closing, and type your name. Again, what you type depends on the tone of the letter. A business letter or other professional letter should include your full name. However, if you’re writing to a friend or relative, you can usually skip the typed name and move on to the next step.

Print out your letter. Sign or write your name between your closing and your typed name. For professional letters or letters written to someone you don’t know, include your full signature. If it’s a letter to someone you know personally, you can just write your first name.