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Closing email with “thanks” gets the most replies

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Re: Closing email with “thanks” gets the most replies

#61

Post by hn_version_0023 »

tfigment wrote: post #54
ghoomketu wrote: post #49

Maybe it's an Indian thing but I generally end most of my emails with "Awaiting your reply..." and sure enough I always get a reply. I guess when you end with that, it makes it clear that I'm waiting for the other person to reply to me. We also write "please do the needful" and "please advise" a lot in our emails too :/

I don't know why but 'please do the needful' really gets under my skin. It feels very demanding for some reason.

I wondered about this early in my career, and brought it up at a meeting of teammates. Now certainly our little discussion isn’t enough data to be proper proof, but we decided upon the following:

The phrase “do the needful” is never utter without an undertone of “you fucked up, please fix your fuckup immediately”. The funny part was that none of the Indian folks who used this phrase frequently would cop to it. Strong denials all around. But every example we could find in our email, that tone was certainly there.

Take from that what you will.

Re: Closing email with “thanks” gets the most replies

#62

Post by throwaway984393 »

jimbojet wrote: post #36
WORMS_EAT_WORMS wrote: post #6

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.

Me replying to my boss in chat when I first started working: “Yes I agree, thank you for the feedback”. Me replying to my boss literally today: “lmao true”

Same. New boss gets "I see, thank you for the feedback". Boss I admire and trust gets "oh sweet buttfucking jesus".

Re: Closing email with “thanks” gets the most replies

#63

Post by musicale »

Accujack wrote: post #32
LeoPanthera wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"&c" is the archaic form of "etc", the ampersand being a ligature of "et" - Latin for "and". 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.

>"&c" is the archaic form of "etc", the ampersand being a ligature of "et" - Latin for "and". "etc" is an abbreviation for and contraction of "et cetera", Latin for "and so on". "&c" is, I think, an artifact of a particular time in history when writing skills were spreading rapidly but the process of writing itself was cumbersome and time consuming, necessitating macro-type abbreviations like that. It's not particula…

> the ampersand being a ligature of "et"

I have been noticing recently that certain ampersands contain (to me) very clearly readable "et" abbreviations, while others are more stylized.

Re: Closing email with “thanks” gets the most replies

#64

Post by musicale »

suchow wrote: post #5

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 am your humble and obedient servant"

perhaps overly appropriate/accurate for messages to one's boss/employer

Re: Closing email with “thanks” gets the most replies

#66

Post by bootloop »

normaler wrote: post #52

I often get slightly angry when the Mail is in the format of: Hi normal, Do this. Thanks. Greetings, projectmanager This implies to me that the other Party has decided my course of action and my time alocation without any discussion about my availability and if the approach makes sense.

Well it makes sense if that person is a manager of the project or not?

You on the other side are the manager of your time. So if you answer "can't do, I am overbooked" it's as much of an directive for the other side.

Edit: Given you work for more then one project.

Re: Closing email with “thanks” gets the most replies

#67

Post by tpxl »

Jach wrote: post #58
noduerme wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm still pretty formal with new clients. It takes me years to leave out a valediction with some. But on the other hand, my favorite valediction is usually "Cheers," since it seems the most casual and least demanding. Still, I always worry this gives away the fact that I'm an alcoholic. My runner up is "Yours," which I see didn't make the list.

"Cheers" is my favorite too, even though I don't drink alcohol. Some people probably take it the wrong way, but whatever.

"Cheers" is sometimes used instead of thank you in Great Britain I think.

Re: Closing email with “thanks” gets the most replies

#70

Post by [deleted] »

civilized wrote: post #19
nuclearnice1 wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why does thanks read as “mindless and insincere” but best “always works?” Superficially, they seem about the same. Yours, &c., nuclearnice

Because thanking someone means you're grateful for something they did or that you'll hope they'll do. It doesn't really apply to every email. 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.)

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