Does "Yours Faithfully" Require A Capital "F"?

When ending a letter, whether it be to a familiar or unfamiliar recipient, it is important to use the correct complimentary close. Yours faithfully is used when you don't know the recipient's name, whereas Yours sincerely is used when you do. But does yours in yours faithfully have a capital f? According to several sources, only the first word should be capitalised.

'Yours faithfully' is used in British English when you don't know the recipient's name

When writing a letter or email, it is important to consider how to sign off, especially when you don't know the recipient's name. In British English, the correct way to end a letter when you don't know the recipient's name is to use "Yours faithfully". This is also the case when you are using a general salutation such as "Dear Sir/Madam" or "To whom it may concern".

"Yours faithfully" is a formal and respectful way to end a letter when you don't know the name of the person you are writing to. It is often used in business correspondence and other formal communications. For example:

> Dear Sir/Madam,

> I am writing to enquire about the status of my application. I would appreciate a response at your earliest convenience.

> Yours faithfully,

> [Your name]

It is worth noting that only the first word, "Yours", should be capitalised. Additionally, it is common practice to write the salutation, sign-off, and your name by hand when sending a letter by post, as it adds a personal touch.

In American English, the equivalent of "Yours faithfully" is "Yours truly", although "Yours faithfully" is becoming increasingly popular in the US as well. So, if you are writing to someone in the US and don't know their name, you might use "Yours truly" instead.

In summary, when you don't know the recipient's name, use "Yours faithfully" in British English and "Yours truly" in American English. This will ensure your letter or email is both polite and professional.

'Yours sincerely' is used in British English when you do know the recipient's name

In British English, "Yours sincerely" is used when the sender knows the recipient's name. This is different from American English, where "Sincerely yours" or simply "Sincerely" is used.

"Yours sincerely" is a formal closing, used in British English when the sender knows the recipient to some degree. This means that if you have researched the name of the recipient, you can use "Yours sincerely" as a closing if you have previously corresponded with them. If you have not interacted with the recipient before, "Yours faithfully" or another formal expression is more appropriate.

The phrase "Yours sincerely" should be followed by a comma and a space for the signature. Only the first word should be capitalised.

In American English, "Sincerely yours" or "Sincerely" is used when the sender knows the recipient's name. This is a formal expression, used in business letters. "Sincerely" is now more common than "Sincerely yours" in American business correspondence.

In both British and American English, it is important to distinguish between "Your sincerely" and "Yours sincerely". The correct phrase is "Yours sincerely", as it requires the possessive pronoun "Yours", not the possessive determiner "Your".

In American English, 'Yours truly' is used when you don't know the recipient's name

When writing a letter or email, it's important to consider how to sign off, especially when you don't know the recipient's name. In American English, the standard way to end a letter or email in this case is with "Yours truly". This phrase combines the possessive pronoun "yours" with the adverb "truly" to convey a sense of honesty toward the person you're addressing.

"Yours truly" is typically used when writing to someone for the first time, without having interacted with them previously. It is a formal sign-off and is preferred in American English over "Yours faithfully", which is the standard closing in UK English when you don't know the recipient.

For example, if you are writing to an unknown recipient, you would use "Yours truly" in American English:

> Dear Sir,

> [body of letter]

> Yours truly,

> [Your name]

However, in UK English, the same letter would use "Yours faithfully":

> Dear Sir,

> [body of letter]

> Yours faithfully,

> [Your name]

It's important to note that while "Yours faithfully" is growing in popularity in American English, "Yours truly" is still the preferred choice when you don't know the recipient's name.

Additionally, when using "Yours truly", only capitalize the first word, followed by a comma, and then your name. This is true for both American and British English.

In American English, 'Sincerely yours' is used when you do know the recipient's name

The use of "Sincerely yours" varies between American English and British English. In American English, "Sincerely yours" is used when you know the recipient's name. This is different from British English, where "Yours sincerely" is used when addressing someone by name.

In American English, "Sincerely yours" is a formal expression used in business letters. It is also common in business emails or personal communication. "Sincerely" is a more popular alternative in the US, indicating a slightly less formal tone. This is because "sincerely" is viewed as a formal way of ending a message, emphasising honest intentions toward the recipient.

When using "Sincerely yours" in American English, only the first word should be capitalised. For example:

> Sincerely yours,

> [Your name]

It is also important to note that "Sincerely yours" is typically reserved for people you have interacted with before. If you are writing to someone for the first time, it is more appropriate to use "Yours truly". However, in American English, "Yours truly" is often used interchangeably, whether you know the recipient or not.

Only the first word of the closing phrase should be capitalised

When ending a letter, only the first word of a closing phrase such as "Yours faithfully" should be capitalised. This is true for other common closing phrases such as "Yours sincerely", "Yours truly", and "Sincerely yours".

For example, if you are writing to someone whose name you do not know, you would use "Yours faithfully" as your closing phrase:

> Dear Sir,

> [body of letter]

> Yours faithfully,

> [your name]

If you are writing to someone whose name you do know, you would use "Yours sincerely":

> Dear Mr. Jones,

> [body of letter]

> Yours sincerely,

> [your name]

It is also common to use "Yours truly" in American English when writing to someone whose name you do not know, and "Sincerely yours" when writing to someone whose name you do know.

In all cases, only the first word of the closing phrase is capitalised.

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