Valediction

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A valediction (derivation from Latin vale dicere "to say farewell") is an expression used to say farewell, especially at the end of a letter, or the act of saying parting words- whether brief, or extensive.

The word valediction is commonly used in English to refer to a complimentary closing - a courteous, formulaic phrase preceding the writer's signature that expresses the writer's good will toward the recipient.

For the greetings counterpart to valediction, see salutation.

In letters by language

English

Old formal valedictions

English language valedictions typically contain the word yours, a contraction of your servant; old valedictions were usually voluminous, a complete sentence of the form:

I am, Sir, your most humble and obedient servant,

O.G.

This form is occasionally abbreviated to

Your obt svt,

O.G.

The phrase et cetera may be used in place of the remainder of the valediction, as in

I am, etc.,

O.G.

As well as

YOS,

O.G.

Yours sincerely

In the UK, traditional valedictions have largely been replaced by the use of "Yours sincerely" or "Yours faithfully", a shorter form of the archaic "I am yours sincerely". Yours sincerely is typically employed in British English when the recipient is addressed by name and is known to the sender to some degree, whereas Yours faithfully is used when the recipient is not known by name (i.e. the recipient is addressed by a phrase such as "Dear Sir/Madam"). One way to remember this is the saying "S and S never go together" (for Sir and Sincerely respectively). When the recipient's name is known, but not previously met or spoken with, some prefer the use of the more distant Yours faithfully.

In the US, "Sincerely yours" or "Sincerely" is commonly used in formal correspondence. "Faithfully yours" is rare. Other formulas such as "Best wishes" and "Best regards" (see below) are also common in formal correspondence. In contrast to British English (see above) there is no special convention for combining these with any particular salutation.

Yours truly,

Yours truly can carry either or both of two connotations: as a valediction, and by implication, as an informal reference by a person to themselves - "the speaker".

"Yours truly" is also used in professional correspondence, e.g. by solicitors and accountants, when writing to a client by his name, but signing the letter in the name of the firm where neither "Yours faithfully" or "Yours sincerely" would be appropriate e.g. Dear Mr. Brown ................Yours truly, Smith & Jones

As valediction

Commonly appearing in the US as "Yours truly," or "Very truly yours,". Use in the UK was an indication that the signatory was of a higher status than the recipient. Since this could be regarded as offensive, and since most valedictions are designed to show respect to the recipient, or at the very least courtesy, it was rarely used and has now become entirely obsolete.

As self-reference

Mostly UK slang, this usage varies by area, and is uncommon in many regions. It acts as a social device to circumvent the affectation of a boastful appearance, or of taking blame. Thus:

• "Yours truly made the cake" -- a more polite informal way to say "I made the cake".
• "If yours truly hadn't been sick that day..."

In this manner, one may sarcastically refer to a third person present in the conversation:

• "Everything was going fine before yours truly, here, showed up..."

Yours aye

"Yours aye" is a Scottish expression meaning "yours always"

Yours, etc.

Used historically for abbreviated endings. Can be found in older newspaper letters to the editor, and often in US legal correspondence. "&c." may be seen instead of "etc." (see the article et cetera).

In Jane Austen books, some letters are signed Yours, etc. or Yours Sincerely, etc.

Kind regards, best regards

Increasingly common in business usage, "kind regards" and especially "best regards" are often used as a semi-formal valediction in emails. In informal usage, they are often abbreviated to "BR" or "KR". The use of "kind regards" is most likely derived from the more formal, "kindest regards," which is itself a phrase derived from the even more formal combination of "Kindest regards, I remain," "yours" or "truly yours" or any one of a number of valedictions in common usage.

I have the honour to remain... your most humble and obedient servant

This is used when addressing certain dignified personages, such as heads of state. E.g. "I have the honour to remain, Sir, Your Excellency's most humble and obedient servant".

Miscellaneous

Other less formal expressions exist, often some variant of Best wishes such as All my best or, simply, Best. For family members or intimates, an expression such as Your friend, Your loving son or (in the case of lovers) Your Albert may be used; or the name may simply be preceded with All my love or Love.

Less commonly, other adverbs or adverbial phrases may be used, in keeping with the tone of the letter, such as In solidarity or Fraternally. Christian clergy often use Yours in Christ, Sincerely in Christ, or Yours sincerely in Christ.

French

Standard French language valedictions tend to be much more complex than standard English ones, more akin to older English valedictions. They show a fair degree of variation, for example:

Veuillez agréer, Madame, Monsieur, l'expression de mes sentiments distingués.

"Please receive, Madam, Sir, the expression of my distinguished sentiments."

Or:

Veuillez recevoir, Monsieur, mes sincères salutations.

"Please receive, Sir, my sincere salutations."

Or:

Je vous prie de croire, Madame, à mes sentiments les meilleurs.

"I beg you to believe, Madam, in my best sentiments."

In the latter case of a formula beginning with the first person, the valediction is often enhanced with a participial phrase concluding the sense of the letter (since traditionally it is not considered appropriate to begin a paragraph with the first person singular je in a letter):

Espérant recevoir une réponse favorable, je vous prie d'agréer, Madame...

"Hoping for a favourable answer, I beg you to allow, Madam..."

A number of rules concern the use of these formulae. For example, the title used in the salutation of the letter must be reproduced in the valediction; so a letter addressing Madame la députée would conclude, Veuillez, Madame la députée.

Other rules exist:

• the wording recevoir l'assurance should be used in a letter from a hierarchical superior to an inferior, whereas the wording agréer expression should be used in a letter from a hierarchical inferior to a superior, and not conversely.
• in a letter from a man to a woman or from a woman to a man, the writer must not send sentiments if they are not close family relatives (i.e. mother and son, father and daughter, brother and sister, or possibly close cousins).

Such formulae may be used even in more friendly letters, often with the adjective cher or chère for the recipient. Letters to dignitaries may use even more grandiose styles, such as:

Daignez, Monsieur le Premier ministre, agréer l'expression de ma très distinguée considération.

"Deign, Mr. Prime Minister, to allow the expression of my most distinguished consideration."

According to the French typographic rules, the proper capitalization for the official title is "Premier ministre" although people who mimic English titles or fear that they might appear disrespectful often use more capitals than the rules commend.

Veuillez agréer, Madame l'Ambassadeur, l'expression de mes salutations les plus respectueuses.

"Please allow, Madam Ambassador, the expression of my most respectful salutations."

Another French typographic rule also states that when addressing someone, styles like Monsieur, Madame, Mademoiselle, should never be abbreviated, even if followed by a title (hence, writing M. le Premier Ministre or Mme l'Ambassadeur would be considered rude).

Much shorter styles may be used in brief notes (Sincères salutations), and informal letters (such as between intimates) may use expressions such as (with approximate English equivalents—not literal translations):

• Amicalement ("In friendship")
• Amitiés ("Your friend")
• À bientôt ("See you soon")
• Au plaisir de vous revoir ("Hope to see you soon")
• Bien amicalement ("In Good Friendship")
• Bien à vous ("Best Wishes")
• Cordialement ("Cordially")
• Meilleures salutations ("Best Salutations")
• Salutations distinguées ("With Distinguished Saluations")

Unlike in English, when the letter writer has a title that is unique in his or her organization, it is placed before, not after, the name:

Veuillez recevoir, Monsieur, mes sincères salutations.

La vice-présidente des ressources humaines,

A.B.

Hebrew

Formal letters in Hebrew often end with "b'chavod" (Hebrew: בכבוד, lit: with honor) or informally, "kol tuv" (Hebrew: כל טוב, lit: all the best). Jews in the United States commonly use "B'shalom" or "shalom" (Hebrew: בשלום, lit: in peace) within Jewish circles; this form is rarely heard from native speakers of Hebrew.

German

Valedictions in German tend to be subject to similar flexibility as in French, are however a great deal less complex. The highly formal form Hochachtungsvoll has been practically obsolete for many years and is very rarely used in modern German, except for highly formal correspondence from authorities or in letters with a highly negative connotation where "friendliness" would not be appropriate.

The standard business valediction is Mit freundlichen Grüßen (lit. "with friendly regards") and is equivalent to Yours sincerely or Yours faithfully in English. A more seldom used variant of this is Mit freundlichem Gruß, which is as above but in the singular form. Other semi-formal alternatives include (roughly in order of formality, most to least) Mit besten Grüßen (lit. "with best regards"), Beste Grüße, Mit herzlichen Grüßen (lit. "with cordial regards"), Viele Grüße (lit. "many regards"), Schöne Grüße (lit. "nice regards").

German valedictions also offer the possibility of adding your location, e.g. Mit freundlichen Grüßen aus Berlin to added effect. While this is no less formal, it does have a more "relaxed" feel to it.

These valedictions are also often adapted to specific professions, states or political views. For example, it is common to use Mit solidarischen Grüßen ("with regards in solidarity") among socialist and communist groups, Mit gewerkschaftlichen Grüßen (lit. "with union regards") or Mit kollegialen Grüßen (lit. "with cooperative regards") among labour union members, Mit sportlichen Grüßen ("with sporting regards") among sportspersons, and Mit gebärdenfreundlichen Grüßen ("with friendly regards in sign language") among persons hard of hearing. Lawyers writing letters to other lawyers will always use "mit freundlichen kollegialen Grüßen" which is hard to translate. Not using this expression is extremely rude.

More familiar valedictions in German follow the same formula. Alles Liebe or (Viele) liebe Grüße are common in German for friends or family. Male friends or close colleagues among each other may use simply Gruß.

It is possible in informal and rapid e-mail communication to sometimes use abbreviations of the forms, unlike in English. In this way, Mit freundlichen Grüßen may be shortened to mfg and Liebe Grüße may be shortened to lg. A popular form in Germany in recent years, hdgdl (hab dich ganz doll lieb, lit. "am fond of you", often used for somewhere between "I like you" and "I love you") has found increased usage in SMS text messaging and e-mails in more intimate relationships.

Section 86a of the German Criminal Code forbids the use of Mit deutschem Gruß (lit. "with German regards"), as it has National Socialist overtones.

Valedictions in e-mail

Valedictions in formal e-mail are similar to valedictions in letters: on the whole, they are variations of "regards" and "yours". However, a wide range of popular valedictions are used in casual e-mail but very rarely in letters. These include:

• Cheers
• Keep in touch
• Take care
• Warmly
• N/R
• Best
• V/R

E-mail messages, especially those used for very brief communication, are commonly signed off without valedictions, these being replaced by automatically appended signature texts. Some are not signed at all, since a sender's name is usually provided in the message headers.

In French

Cordialement and variations thereof (Bien/Très Cordialement) have become increasingly popular in electronic (professional) correspondence, sometimes abbreviated as cdlt or cdt. More formal e-mails, however, will rather use a formula such as Sincères salutations, more reminiscent of the long wording of paper-letter valedictions.

See also

• Business letter
• Salutation

References

• University of British Columbia Latin Dictionary
• Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary Tenth Edition (1996)

ISBN 0-87779-709-9

External links

• Google Answers list of valedictions
• Usage discussion by English teachers
• AskOxford: French valedictions for English speakers
• Discussion on letter endings and salutations