Possible Email Sign Offs

I posed this question on Facebook a while ago, but there was some great discussion, and I’d love to get some closure. As a freelancer, I have to send a lot of professional emails to people I don’t know. One thing I grapple with is what my email sign off should be.  Here are some options I’ve explored and what works/doesn’t work about each of them:

1)  Thanks

At best, “thanks” sounds like a form letter and at worst, it sounds like Lumbergh from Office Space, especially when you’re asking for a favor.

2) Best

Where did “Best” come from? I’m guessing it’s shorthand for, “Wishing you the best,” but it still sounds like you’re trying to imply that you’re the best. I mean, try substituting another adjective for best, and you’ll see what I mean. Also, it’s super generic.

3) All the best

This is actually a more palatable version of “best” for me, but it  insists upon itself a little bit, especially for most casual (even work-related) emails.

4) Cheers

5) Sincerely

This one isn’t terrible, but it also makes it sound like you’re about 102 years old and lends an unnecessary air of formality.

6) Yours

I’m not yours, I belong to me, thank you very much.

7) Regards (including best or warm ones)

I’m pretty sure the regards people are the same ones as the sincerely people. Regards people also include faux Nigerian princes.

8) Warmly

This can seem really artificial if you’re not writing something particularly warm.

9) Take care

This feels a little too final.

10) -Natasha

Just signing my name, with or without the dash, feels like I couldn’t come up with a sign off. Which is totally the truth, but feels like a failure.

What do you use? Any better ideas? Please put them in the comments section.

With sincere cheers and warmest regards,

Natasha