Bests or Best? How to Correctly Sign Off an Email
When concluding an email to someone, the sign-off can be just as important as the content of the email. This is the last impression you leave on them after they finish reading your email and you want to end with something appropriate for your relationship with them. So, would “bests” or “best” be the correct way to sign off your email? Let’s take a look.
Bests or best?
Should you use best or bests in email? The short answer is that you should use “best”.
Bests isn’t the correct word in this context. It doesn’t make grammatical sense to use bests in email or bests in your email signature. However, you can use bests as the third-person present form of the verb “best,” which means to outdo or outwit someone.
You can use “Best” when signing off your email, which is a shortened form of “Best regards” or “Best wishes”.
Best
Best is a commonly used sign-off in emails and there are different variations of it. You can use:
- Best (informal)
- Best regards (formal)
- Best wishes (formal)
- All the best (more friendly)
Best is often used because people like to shorten “Best regards” and “Best wishes”. “Best” could mean either of these, but it may come off as too impersonal for formal emails. You should therefore consider your relationship with the recipient and the nature of the email before using it.
To make it more formal, “Best Regards” is a good option. You could also use “Best Wishes”, or “All the Best” for a friendlier tone.
Example email using “Best” to sign off
Dear Ben,
You did a great job with the report this week. Have a great weekend.
Best,
James
Bests
The word “bests,” is not the correct word for signing off an email. It is the third-person present form of the verb “best,” which means to outdo or outwit someone. For example, “She always bests her opponents in the tennis tournament.” In this sentence, “bests” is used to describe how the woman outperforms her opponents in the tennis tournament. It is always used in this context.
For example:
- She always bests him in math exams.
- The champion boxer always bests his opponents.
- Bests therefore shouldn’t be used to end emails!
Other ways to end an email
If you want to avoid using “best” altogether, there are other options such as “Regards,” “Kind regards,” “Warm regards,” or “Yours sincerely” for formal emails. For less formal emails, “Thank you,” or even “Cheers,” can be used.
Regards (formal)
“Regards” is among the most widely used words when concluding an email. There are a few options such as “regards,” “kind regards,” “best regards,” or “warm regards.” However, for more formal communication, “best regards” and “kind regards” are preferable.
“Warm regards” could be an option when emailing friends or family, but it is not typically used to end a business email unless the relationship is social as well.
It’s important to be aware of the difference and understand how to end emails professionally, because this can leave a lasting impression on the recipient.
Sincerely (formal)
“Sincerely” or “Yours sincerely” is a formal email sign-off that is appropriate to use in professional settings, such as when corresponding with a client, potential employer, or business associate. It is generally used when you know the recipient’s name and have had some previous communication or interaction with them.
“Yours sincerely” is considered more formal than “Best regards” or “Kind regards,” so it may be more appropriate in situations where a higher level of formality is expected.
It is often paired with a formal salutation, such as “Dear Mr./Ms. [Last Name].”
If you are writing to someone for the first time or are not sure of the recipient’s gender, you can use a more gender-neutral greeting, such as “Dear [First Name] [Last Name].”
Yours faithfully (formal)
Yours faithfully is a very formal email sign-off that can be used in emails when you don’t know the identity of the recipient. This is very common when making job applications and is normally paired with “Dear Sir/Madam” at the start of the email.
Thank you (informal)
By using “Thank you” at the end of an email you are usually expressing thanks for something that has been done, or you can use it to request someone to do something. However, it is always a good idea to consider the context and relationship with the recipient before choosing this sign-off, as you may not want to sound overly demanding.
Thank you in advance
“Thank you in advance” can be used when you ask someone to do something for you. Again, you need to be careful when using it as the recipient could feel like you expect them to do something for you.
Cheers (informal)
“Cheers” is usually reserved for people you know well and have a friendly relationship with. It is a highly informal way to sign off an email and is commonly used in Britain and Australia. It is also something that is said when making a toast or sharing a drink and is a way of wishing people good times.
Conclusion: Bests in email?
You shouldn’t use “Bests” when signing off an email. It is the third-person present form of the verb “best,” which means to outdo or outwit someone. However, there is nothing wrong with singing off an email using the word “Best”. You can use “Best” as a shortened form of “Best regards” or “Best wishes” which are more formal email sign-offs. You can also opt for less formal email sign-offs, like “Thank you” or “Cheers”!
Just remember, the sign-off you use should match the tone and purpose of the email. Choose a sign-off that fits with the context of the email and your relationship with the recipient and you won’t go far wrong. And, if you’re ever unsure, it’s a good idea to go with a more formal option and see what sign-off the recipient uses when they reply. You can always alter the way you sign off as you start to get to know them and their style.
