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Community Corner

It's Closing Time

An approved list of sign-off lines with my kind regards

In my role as a marketing professional, I've dealt with advertising and public relations agencies for years. In fact, if you must know my dirty little secret, I have actually worked for a couple of advertising agencies, but this does not mean I understand them and their self-consciously au courant ways. In particular, the trend that seems to require all PR and advertising people to sign their e-mail correspondence with the closing "Best," which, ironically, is simply the worst.

Not "Best regards." Not "All the Best." Just "Best." Which, in addition to coming across as brusque, impersonal and arrogant, is also not grammatically correct.

When did this become a thing? Is this in the flack handbook? Does it promote efficiency by eliminating all those pesky extra letters that would actually create a closing that makes sense and sounds somewhat professional and friendly? This "Best" business is truly a blight on polite society.

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And because it is my job to serve, I'm offering a list of Dos and Don'ts when it comes to closings, listed in order from most to least offensive according to much (read: no) Internet research and a significant sample size of me:

Dead to me:

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  • Best (I suppose this instills more confidence than "Good" or "Better"... but not by much.)
  • Emoticons of any ilk (No explanation necessary.)
  • Cordially (Brrrr ... Could that sound any icier?)
  • Respectfully (This is along the same lines of someone saying, "Let me be honest with you." If it must be stated, it is not so.)

And perhaps not appropriate in all situations, but still far better than "Best":

  • In our bonds (Most effective if accompanied by a secret sorority handshake.)
  • Werd
  • XOXOXOX
  • Warm regards (Isn't that just a little hug and cup of hot cocoa all rolled into one?)
  • Seacrest OUT

Admittedly, I'm a little sensitive about this topic because I make it a point to use original and extremely professional closing lines in my writing. Below are actual sign-off lines I've used for Brutalism posts, or The A List, if you will:

And because I'm a giver, you may feel free to use these in your business correspondence. They may not help get you the promotion for which you've been angling, but I guarantee the recipients will find them much more interesting.

Better,

At Home with Brutalism

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