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Which of the three phrases in the concluding phrase is most appropriate when sending a work-related email?

Could the three be ranked in terms of their overall level of formality?

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closed as not constructive by Kristina Lopez, MετάEd, Carlo_R., Robusto, FumbleFingers Jan 17 '13 at 3:00


I use "Regards" or if appropriate for the mail, "Thanks", since email is informal as business-correspondence goes, but still more formal than personal correspondence, and that seems to strike the balance to my mind. I wouldn't offer it as an attempt at a definitive answer though, as personal preference as to how one expresses oneself plays an important role). –  Jon Hanna Jan 17 '13 at 0:09
I work with a large Russian company that uses a system called "Klar" to latinize Russian words in their in-house email; there's also a good deal of English mixed in, and many abbreviations, so it's not always obvious to me which words are in which language. It took me several readings to understand that "BRGDS" at the end of each message is short for "Best regards". –  MT_Head Jan 17 '13 at 1:14

2 Answers 2

As with most things, it depends on the context. Any of your three options are essentially short for the more complete thought, "I send this letter with my regards." You have to ask yourself, does "sending regards" actually make sense in the context of your business position? One would typically use this phrase for long-distance communication, as they are "sending" their emotional investment in which they can not personally deliver themselves (in a metaphorical sense), and having it travel along with the mail. If you are talking about an office environment, it makes a bit less sense.

I recommend using some form of "Thank you" instead, as one is usually asking for the help of coworkers, managers, customers, or such; at the very least, you are asking for their time and effort in reading your message. "Thank you," "Thanks," "Greatly Appreciated," and "As Always, Thanks Again" are all reasonable options.

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You're using logic to give what I consider bad advice about the illogical ancient rituals of opening & closing salutations, none of which make sense on any level but the ritualistic. Why presumptuously thank someone in advance? And why be so, to me at least, offensively familiar in a business letter, which is, AFAIC, always a formal document, even when done in email? I hate it when some unknown receptionist at a business office in the US asks who's calling & then calls me "Bill" instead of "Mr Franke". I'm a client, not a friend; a customer, not a peer. –  user21497 Jan 17 '13 at 3:56
when to use Thanks and Regards? whats right way for sending email to coworkers in case of sending them an information. –  Dineshkumar Jan 5 at 7:29

Entirely up to you! "Regards" is the most formal and "Best regards" the least formal. With Regards somewhere in between.

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