Introduction
How you end your emails and letters matters just as much as what you write. Using “sincerely” is fine, but trying different closings can make your messages feel warmer and more personal.
This guide shows you thirty simple alternatives sincerely with real examples. You’ll learn which closing fits each situation, whether you’re writing to your boss, a client, or a friend.
What Does “Sincerely” Mean?
This closing phrase shows honesty and respect in your writing. When you write sincerely, you’re telling the reader that your words are truthful and come from the heart.
People have used this phrase for years in letters and emails. It’s a simple way to show you mean what you’ve written and respect the person reading it.
Is It Professional/Polite to Say “Sincerely”?
Yes, sincerely is both professional and polite. You can safely use it in business letters, work emails, and thank-you notes without worrying about seeming inappropriate or casual.
This phrase works well because everyone understands it and accepts it. However, sometimes other closings can better match your message’s tone or your relationship with the reader.
Pros and Cons of Using “Sincerely”
Pros:
Everyone knows this closing and considers it appropriate for professional writing. You can use it with anyone, from your CEO to a potential employer, without causing offense.
Sincerely keeps things neutral and respectful, which is perfect when you’re unsure about the right tone. It’s a reliable choice that rarely feels wrong in formal situations.
Cons:
Using the same closing repeatedly makes your emails feel boring and impersonal. When thousands of people end messages the same way, nothing stands out or feels special.
This phrase can sound too stiff for friendly work relationships or casual business contacts. Sometimes a warmer closing better shows your personality and builds stronger connections.
Synonyms For “Sincerely”
- Best regards
- Warm regards
- Kind regards
- Yours truly
- Yours faithfully
- Regards
- With appreciation
- Respectfully
- Yours respectfully
- Cordially
- With gratitude
- Many thanks
- With respect
- Truly yours
- Yours sincerely
- Cheers
- All the best
- Best wishes
- Warmly
- Yours warmly
- With best regards
- Faithfully yours
- With heartfelt regards
- In appreciation
- Gratefully
- With best wishes
- Yours in appreciation
- Take care
- With kind thoughts
- With best intentions
Alternative Ways to Say “Sincerely”
Best regards
Use this for most work emails when you want to sound professional but friendly. It’s warmer than sincerely but still keeps things businesslike and appropriate.
Examples: “Best regards,” • “Warm regards,” • “Kind regards,”
Tone: Professional and friendly. Works great for clients, coworkers, and business partners.
Warm regards
This closing adds a personal touch to professional emails. It shows you care about the person while still keeping proper workplace boundaries.
Examples: “Warm regards,” • “Sending warm regards,” • “With warm regards,”
Tone: Friendly and thoughtful. Perfect for people you work with regularly.
Kind regards
Common in business emails, especially with people you’ve met or worked with before. This phrase feels polite and shows you’re thinking about the reader.
Examples: “Kind regards,” • “With kind regards,” • “Best kind regards,”
Tone: Polite and professional. Softer than sincerely but still appropriate for work.
Yours truly
Traditional letters and formal notes use this classic closing. It adds a personal feeling while still sounding respectful and proper.
Examples: “Yours truly,” • “Always yours truly,” • “Truly yours,”
Tone: Formal but warm. Works for both business and personal letters.
Yours faithfully
Very formal letters use this closing, especially when you don’t know the person’s name. It’s traditional British English that shows strong respect.
Examples: “Yours faithfully,” • “Faithfully yours,” • “With faithful regards,”
Tone: Very formal and respectful. Use when starting with “Dear Sir/Madam.”
Regards
Short, simple emails need quick, polite closings like this one. It stays professional while acknowledging you’re keeping the message brief.
Examples: “Regards,” • “Best regards,” • “Warm regards,”
Tone: Neutral and professional. Safe choice everyone accepts.
With appreciation
Thank-you emails and grateful messages work perfectly with this closing. It clearly shows you’re thankful for whatever the person did.
Examples: “With appreciation,” • “With sincere appreciation,” • “Appreciation always,”
Tone: Grateful and respectful. Makes people feel valued.
Respectfully
Formal emails to bosses or important people need this respectful closing. It shows you understand their position and treat them accordingly.
Examples: “Respectfully,” • “Respectfully yours,” • “With respect,”
Tone: Formal and polite. Shows proper deference to authority.
Yours respectfully
Very formal messages where showing respect matters most use this phrase. It’s even more formal than sincere and sounds quite traditional.
Examples: “Yours respectfully,” • “Always respectfully,” • “Respectfully yours,”
Tone: Very polite and professional. Good for official government or academic letters.
Cordially
This closing balances friendly feelings with professional standards. It sounds warm but still maintains appropriate business distance.
Examples: “Cordially,” • “Yours cordially,” • “With cordial regards,”
Tone: Warm and polite. Creates friendly professionalism.
With gratitude
Messages expressing thanks use this closing to emphasize appreciation. It clearly shows you’re grateful while staying professional.
Examples: “With gratitude,” • “Deepest gratitude,” • “With heartfelt gratitude,”
Tone: Thankful and warm. Perfect for expressing real appreciation.
Many thanks
Casual work emails use this friendly closing when showing appreciation. It feels approachable while still being appropriate for business.
Examples: “Many thanks,” • “Many thanks in advance,” • “Thanks so much,”
Tone: Friendly and polite. Quick way to show gratitude.
With respect
Formal messages requiring courtesy use this respectful closing. It shows you value the reader and their time.
Examples: “With respect,” • “Respectfully,” • “With all respect,”
Tone: Polite and formal. Emphasizes courtesy.
Truly yours
Personal emails or letters use this warm closing to show genuine care. It feels more connected than standard business phrases.
Examples: “Truly yours,” • “Always truly yours,” • “Truly yours always,”
Tone: Warm and personal. Shows authentic care.
Yours sincerely
Formal letters to named people traditionally use this standard closing. It works everywhere and everyone understands it.
Examples: “Yours sincerely,” • “Sincerely yours,” • “With sincere regards,”
Tone: Polite and professional. Classic formal choice.
Cheers
Casual emails among coworkers and friends use this upbeat closing. It creates friendly energy while staying appropriate for work.
Examples: “Cheers,” • “Many cheers,” • “Cheers always,”
Tone: Casual and friendly. Informal but pleasant.
All the best
Messages wishing someone well use this positive closing. It shows goodwill and works in many different situations.
Examples: “All the best,” • “Wishing you all the best,” • “Best wishes,”
Tone: Friendly and warm. Shows positive feelings.
Best wishes
This versatile closing works for almost any email or letter. It balances friendliness with professionalism nicely.
Examples: “Best wishes,” • “Warmest wishes,” • “Sincere best wishes,”
Tone: Friendly and professional. Works almost anywhere.
Warmly
Personal emails use this intimate closing to show care. It adds warmth while still being appropriate for work relationships.
Examples: “Warmly,” • “Warmly yours,” • “With warm regards,”
Tone: Personal and caring. Adds warmth to messages.
Yours warmly
Friendly emails benefit from this warm, personal closing. It shows genuine care while staying professional enough for work.
Examples: “Yours warmly,” • “Always yours warmly,” • “Warmest regards,”
Tone: Warm and personal. Shows real care.
With best regards
Formal emails use this polished closing for professional courtesy. It sounds slightly more formal than simple “best regards.”
Examples: “With best regards,” • “Best regards always,” • “Always best regards,”
Tone: Polite and professional. More formal option.
Faithfully yours
Letters emphasizing trust use this traditional closing. It shows you’re reliable and dependable.
Examples: “Faithfully yours,” • “Yours faithfully,” • “Always faithfully yours,”
Tone: Respectful and sincere. Traditional and trustworthy.
With heartfelt regards
Messages showing deep care or gratitude use this sincere closing. It highlights real emotion while staying professional.
Examples: “With heartfelt regards,” • “Heartfelt regards,” • “Sending heartfelt regards,”
Tone: Warm and sincere. Shows deep care.
In appreciation
Thank-you emails use this closing to directly express gratitude. It clearly communicates your thankfulness.
Examples: “In appreciation,” • “With appreciation,” • “Deep appreciation,”
Tone: Thankful and professional. Direct gratitude.
Gratefully
Quick thank-you notes use this brief, warm closing. It shows appreciation without taking up much space.
Examples: “Gratefully,” • “Yours gratefully,” • “Always gratefully,”
Tone: Thankful and sincere. Short and appreciative.
With best wishes
Emails balancing friendliness and professionalism use this polished closing. It works in many different contexts.
Examples: “With best wishes,” • “Best wishes always,” • “Sending best wishes,”
Tone: Friendly and polite. Versatile choice.
Yours in appreciation
Thank-you letters use this grateful closing to show respect. It clearly expresses both gratitude and professionalism.
Examples: “Yours in appreciation,” • “Always yours in appreciation,” • “In appreciation, yours,”
Tone: Grateful and professional. Shows respect clearly.
Take care
Casual emails to friends and coworkers use this warm closing. It feels thoughtful and shows you care about them.
Examples: “Take care,” • “Take care always,” • “Take care and best,”
Tone: Friendly and caring. Casual and warm.
With kind thoughts
Messages expressing support or goodwill use this caring closing. It shows thoughtfulness and understanding.
Examples: “With kind thoughts,” • “Sending kind thoughts,” • “Kind thoughts always,”
Tone: Caring and warm. Shows empathy.
With best intentions
Messages emphasizing goodwill use this thoughtful closing. It shows you care about the outcome.
Examples: “With best intentions,” • “Best intentions always,” • “Sending best intentions,”
Tone: Thoughtful and sincere. Shows care.
Conclusion
Picking the right closing makes your emails and letters more effective. These alternatives sincerely help you match your tone to each situation, whether formal, friendly, or grateful. Try different options to see which ones feel natural and get the best responses.
The right closing strengthens relationships and makes your writing more memorable. Start using these phrases today to improve how people receive and remember your messages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “sincerely” too formal for everyday emails?
Sincerely works fine for formal messages, but most people now prefer friendlier options like “best regards” for regular work emails with colleagues.
When do I use “yours faithfully” instead of “yours sincerely”?
Use “yours faithfully” when you don’t know the person’s name (Dear Sir/Madam). Use “yours sincerely” when you’ve named them in your greeting.
Can I use “cheers” in work emails?
Yes, but only with coworkers you know well in casual settings. Don’t use “cheers” with clients, bosses, or in formal business letters.
Which closing shows gratitude best?
Closings like “with gratitude,” “gratefully,” and “with appreciation” clearly express thanks. Pick one based on how formal your message needs to be.
Do these closings work for international emails?
Most work globally, though “yours faithfully” is mainly British. When unsure, stick with universally known options like “best regards” or “sincerely”.
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Hi, I’m Emily Grace, a blogger with over 4 years of experience in sharing thoughts about blessings, prayers, and mindful living. I love writing words that inspire peace, faith, and positivity in everyday life.