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I hate it when people use thanks for everything . What, you're thanking me for reading the email announcing the re-org? It reads as mindless and weird. I'm a "best" guy. It's never inappropriate. Whether I'm promoting you, firing you, reporting up on progress or problems, "best" always works. (I'm not saying it's the best closer in all situations, but if you hate thinking about closers, it's the best generic choice.…
I hate it when people use thanks for everything . What, you're thanking me for reading the email announcing the re-org? It reads as mindless and weird. I'm a "best" guy. It's never inappropriate. Whether I'm promoting you, firing you, reporting up on progress or problems, "best" always works. (I'm not saying it's the best closer in all situations, but if you hate thinking about closers, it's the best generic choice.…
Superficially, they seem about the same.
Yours, &c., nuclearnice
I use thanks a lot, especially if I'm trying to get something done. A little appreciation never hurt...
That muscle memory would randomly kick in at inconvenient times when I started using it for professional correspondence. Nobody said anything, but I can imagine the cocked eyebrows of someone receiving an email from me with such an effusive sign off!
“Thanks” has become such a disingenuous generic ending on e-mails that I’ve stopped using it altogether. And it hasn’t seemed to reduce my replies or cause people to think I’m “not nice.” I end every single e-mail with “-NW” and if I want to say “thanks” I do it in a real way in the body of the message.
This is an excellent example of why inferring causation from an observed correlation requires great care. Note that the study did not randomly assign valedictions to emails and observe the causal impact on response rate. Rather, they observed a correlation between the sign-off chosen and the response rate. "Thanks" garners many responses because people use it in emails that make reasonable requests with a good chance…
As far as I can tell the "&c." version was popularized by the 1944 novel "Anna and the King of Siam".
So it literally means "I am, etc.", which I assume only expands to "I am your humble and obedient servant" in a humorous way. Might be taken the wrong way.
Me, when I started my career: Dear Bobby, Thank you for your email and response. I appreciate your prompt reply as always. Following the meeting with Jane at 2:00 P.M. PST, it is of my professional opinion that we… … Let me know when you get a chance for your thoughts and again appreciate your time. Thanks, Me — Me, today: Bob - Yes! Let’s rock and roll. Talk soon.
I hate it when people use thanks for everything . What, you're thanking me for reading the email announcing the re-org? It reads as mindless and weird. I'm a "best" guy. It's never inappropriate. Whether I'm promoting you, firing you, reporting up on progress or problems, "best" always works. (I'm not saying it's the best closer in all situations, but if you hate thinking about closers, it's the best generic choice.…
Why does thanks read as “mindless and insincere” but best “always works?” Superficially, they seem about the same. Yours, &c., nuclearnice
In contrast, expressing best wishes always makes sense unless you hate the recipient's guts and want them to know it.
Thanks, civilized
(See? It makes no sense.)
This is an excellent example of why inferring causation from an observed correlation requires great care. Note that the study did not randomly assign valedictions to emails and observe the causal impact on response rate. Rather, they observed a correlation between the sign-off chosen and the response rate. "Thanks" garners many responses because people use it in emails that make reasonable requests with a good chance…
I sometimes use as a formal valediction:
Loren Ipsum Dolor etc. I remain (paragraph break here, no punctuation)
Very truly yours,
[My Name]