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Comment by Overtonwindow | Hacker News Reader

"Regards”. “best wishes”. “Warmly”. “Cheers”. “Take care”. The words at the end of a professional email may seem banal."
First, go easy on informality. ....Affectionate terms such as “toodles” or “lots of love” do not enhance proximity to the recipient unless the closeness is already there. “Smiles” is unspeakable."
"Use proper grammar and spelling."

"Avoid being prescriptive. “Have a nice day”, “Happy Monday” or “Take it easy” emphatically do not promote relaxation."

Reading over this, it doesn't seem to give any concrete examples of what, precisely, one should close an email with. A lot of advice about what not to say, it's like we should end emails with just "End of email, Goodbye."

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"Cheers" is my go-to. "Thanks" has somewhat positive connotations, and "Best" has a little stink on it.

If I ever send an email that ends in "Toodles" that's exclusively because I need for the person to understand the depth of my disdain for them or the predicament that led to that email in a way that is not subject to legal action or discovery.

I like "cheers" for informal email or for people I've had a longer professional relationship with.

I think its too intimate/informal for new acquaintances or new customers, so "regards" gets used for that. I think its a better sign off for conveying deference and respect, without sounding like Mr Darcy with "yours sincerely".

That one I reserve for lawyers .

I've heard that "have a nice day" is prescriptive or even rude before and I just don't get it. It's not saying "I demand you have a good day", it's "I hope you have a good day".

That said, I just don't use signatures unless required to by corporate policy.

Fussell's response to "Have a nice day".

"Thank you, but I have other plans."

> I've heard that "have a nice day" is prescriptive or even rude before and I just don't get it.

For some people, 'have a nice day' is code for 'f you'. Dropping your kid off and they're being a pest, but you don't want to drop an f-bomb? Tell them to 'have a nice day'. Your parent is being a pest while dropping you off? Tell them to 'have a nice day'.

Then it's a little weird when a snack machine says it, and kind of fitting when it's on the front of the Facebook commute busses.

'Have a good day' is totally fine though. I mean it's still gonna upset the people who had other plans, but at least it's not rude.

You are trying to outrun a euphemism treadmill of sarcasm. It won't work. Once you assume that words don't mean what they say, you can't solve the problem by changing words.

Basically what happens in fascism

I think I’ll try “end of email, goodbye” and see if anybody even notices. The odds of somebody reading to the bottom of an email message are already low as it is…

Yes, the article is a vapid piece of crap. I wish I had the time I spent reading it back.

Probably trying hard not to be a rule book.

This is brilliant.

Thanks,

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