Yours faithfully (to unknown person on business)Yours truly (to slight acquaintance)Yours very truly (ceremonious but cordial)Yours sincerely (in invitations & friendly but not intimate letters)

With slight variations between British và American usage, these forms are still in use.

Bạn đang xem: What's better: yours sincerely or yours faithfully?

If you don’t know the name of the recipient…

Yours faithfully is British usage. It is used when the recipient is not addressed by name, as in a letter with a “Dear Sir” salutation. I have never seen it in correspondence between Americans. That’s not to lớn say it won’t catch on. I’ve come across letter-writing guides on the website that imply that it is standard American usage.

Yours truly is the American equivalent of “yours faithfully” that I was taught by my American business teachers. When I begin a letter “Dear Sir,” I close it with “Yours truly.”

When you vì chưng know the name of the recipient…

Yours sincerely is also British. Americans tend to reverse the order and write Sincerely yours.

When I worked in England, I was told that khổng lồ write Sincerely without the Yours was very bad form. Now, of course, Sincerely is a common and acceptable close for American business letters.

Which words khổng lồ capitalize…

Only the first word is capitalized:

Yours faithfully,Yours sincerely,Sincerely yours,

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84 Responses to “Yours faithfully or Yours sincerely?”

Zachon March 06, 2009 6:54 am

I use Best–is there anything wrong with that style?

Barbara Ling, Virtual Coachon March 06, 2009 9:33 am

Speaking about closing letters, I *hate* the closure:

“Warmly, dot dot dot”

It always makes me think, well Jeepers, how else will they say it?

“Frigidly, dot dot dot”“I’m really stressed by you but I’ll lie about it và say Warmly, dot dot dot”etc.etc.etc.

Xem thêm: Dựa Vào Văn Bản Chiếu Dời Đô Và Hịch Tướng Sĩ Hãy Nêu Suy Nghĩ Của Em Về Vai Trò Của Người Lãnh Đạo

That being said, I vì chưng use “Sincerely” when being formal, and “Best wishes” every other time.

Al Galbraithon March 06, 2009 1:25 pm

I use “Sincerely” to lớn conclude almost all correspondence. Once in awhile I might say “Most sincerely,” but never “Yours ” for the simple reason that I am not “yours.” You could attribute that to lớn the streak of American egalitarianism in me, or possibly my being a lawyer who sometimes writes lớn adversaries, but I am my wife’s, or my children’s, but never “yours.”

Dee M.on March 06, 2009 2:37 pm

I’m a 40 year old American, & I was taught:

For business or formal letters-“Sincerely,” or “Yours truly,”

For personal letters-“Love,” or “Warm regards,” or “Sincerely yours”

Deborahon March 06, 2009 3:45 pm

Barbara, you made me laugh!I use “Best wishes,” but oh, how I long khổng lồ write, “I remain, your most faithful và humble servant.” (sigh)

Cesaron March 06, 2009 8:36 pm

Hi. I’m new lớn your site, but I love it already!

I’ve always thought that “Yours truly”, “Sincerely yours” etc. Sound extremely frivolous, forced, and, frankly, ridiculous!

Why? Well, because “I’m yours” is something that we say only lớn people we’re MADLY IN LOVE WITH in real life!

But alas, the usage in English is overwhelmingly accepted. Who am I to lớn say it sounds too mushy & cutesy for my taste?

Sincerely yours (please refer lớn my first sentence