If you use initials, you risk irritating recipients who may view this shorthand as a sign that they are not worth the time it would take to write your actual name. As a general rule, though, don’t sign off with just your initials. In more casual emails, it may be fine to sign off without a closing phrase and just put your name. If you feel the temptation to do so, resist it. Some businesspeople put periods after their names in closings. Alternative Closing Format, Formal Email.Otherwise it may seem as though you didn’t bother to “sign” your email. If, however, your signature file has been specially formatted (preferably by your art department or a professional designer) so that its appearance is distinct from the rest of the text in the body of your message, you should in a formal email repeat your full name after your closing, as shown in Figure 5. In Figures 3 and 4, the font used in the email body is the same as the signature file font. His closing word ( Regards) and name appear on consecutive lines. If he were sending a message to a potential client, though, he might sign his message as follows: If you are writing more formally and are addressing the recipient by last name, it is usually preferable to close your email with your full name.įigure 3 shows a closing, accompanied by the signature file (which is covered in detail in the next section), for an email from a person who knows his recipient fairly well. If you know your recipient and are addressing him or her by first name, in most cases you can then add just your first name. First you must choose your closing word or phrase, if you wish to include one - for example, Thank you or Regards. There are multiple ways to close email messages. Conclusion: Concluding Thoughts on Email.Section 3.8: Responding to Careless Emailers.Section 3.7: Abbreviations and Emoticons.Introduction: Communicating in an Electronic Age.Email Etiquette for Business Professionals.

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