The day I realized my 'professional' email sign-off was a total joke

I sent a client a proposal with 'Best regards, Nina' for three months. They finally replied asking if I was okay, because their whole office thought it sounded like I was signing off from a hospital bed. What's a normal way to end work emails without sounding weird?

3 comments

3 Comments

thomas.parker2mo agoTop Commenter

Regards is fine... but I've always liked "Thanks" for most emails. Keeps it simple and doesn't sound like you're dying or anything. Nobody overanalyzes "Thanks" unless you start adding exclamation points or something weird. Warmly and Cheers are both too much for my taste, feels like you're trying too hard. Just pick one and stick with it, nobody really cares after the first few emails anyway.

the_adam2mo ago

Switched to just "Regards" after a similar mix-up. It's short, polite, and nobody reads into it. "Thanks" works well too, especially if you're asking for something.

terry_jones2mo ago

You're right about "Regards," it's a solid neutral choice. I've seen so many small talk traps in emails where people overthink a simple hello or goodbye. It reminds me of how we edit texts now to avoid seeming too eager or too cold. Your point about "Thanks" is good for keeping things moving, especially when a task is on the line. We spend more time on these tiny signals than the actual message sometimes.