Aarti Deegwal
Knowing how to end a letter or email is important as it determines your relationship with the recipient. Yours faithfully is used when writing to an unknown recipient, while Yours sincerely is used when you know the recipient by name or have met them before. Yours faithfully is standard in UK English and is used in formal letters, while Yours sincerely is relatively formal and should be used when writing to someone you already know.
What You'll Learn
When to use 'Yours faithfully' in the UK
When to Use "Yours Faithfully" in the UK
The use of "Yours faithfully" in the UK is typically reserved for formal letters when you don't know the recipient's name. This could include business correspondence or letters starting with a standard salutation such as "Dear Sir/Madam" or "To whom it may concern."
For example, if you are writing a letter and don't know the recipient's name, you would use "Yours faithfully" as the complimentary close, followed by your name:
"Dear Sir/Madam,
[Body of the letter]
Yours faithfully,
[Your name]"
"Yours faithfully" is considered more formal than "Yours sincerely" and is appropriate when addressing someone you don't know personally. It is a way to express respect and regard for the recipient, even if you are not familiar with them.
In British English, "Yours faithfully" is commonly used in formal or business letters when addressing unknown recipients. It is important to note that the conventions for letter endings differ slightly between British and American English, so "Yours faithfully" may be used differently in other parts of the world.
Additionally, when using "Yours faithfully" in the UK, only the first word ("Yours") should be capitalised. Writing the salutation, complimentary close, and your name by hand can add a personal touch to a formal letter.
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When to use 'Yours faithfully' in the US
When to Use "Yours Faithfully" in the US
"Yours faithfully" is a complimentary closing often used in letters and emails. It is typically used when you don't know the recipient's name, such as when your letter starts with "Dear Sir/Madam" or "To whom it may concern." In the US, it is considered more formal and outdated, with "Yours truly" being the more common choice for unknown recipients. However, "Yours faithfully" is growing in popularity in American business correspondence.
If you are writing a formal letter or email to someone whose name you don't know, "Yours faithfully" is an appropriate choice. It conveys respect and formality. For example:
> Dear Sir/Madam,
>
> [Letter body]
>
> Yours faithfully,
> [Your name]
"Yours faithfully" is also suitable when addressing a group or organisation where you don't know who will read the letter. In this case, you can use "To whom it may concern" or a similar phrase.
> To whom it may concern,
>
> [Letter body]
>
> Yours faithfully,
> [Your name]
In the US, "Yours faithfully" is generally used in formal and business correspondence. It is less common in informal messages or personal letters.
If you know the recipient's name, it is more common in American English to use "Sincerely yours" or "Yours sincerely." However, the order can be reversed, and you will also see "Sincerely" or "Regards" used.
> Dear Mr. Smith,
>
> [Letter body]
>
> Sincerely,
> [Your name]
Remember that only the first word ("Yours") is capitalized in "Yours faithfully." It is also standard to follow it with a comma before writing your name.
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When to use 'Yours sincerely' in the UK
In the UK, "Yours sincerely" is used when writing to someone you know or have interacted with before. It is also used when addressing the recipient by name, for example, "Dear Mr. Jones".
On the other hand, "Yours faithfully" is used when writing to someone you have had no previous correspondence with and do not know personally. This closing is typically used in conjunction with a "Dear Sir/Madam" salutation.
The use of "Yours sincerely" and "Yours faithfully" is quite straightforward in British English. "Yours sincerely" is used in a more personal context, where there is a level of familiarity or prior interaction with the recipient. On the other hand, "Yours faithfully" is more formal and distant, used when addressing a stranger or an unknown recipient.
It is important to note that the choice of closing depends on the relationship with the recipient and the degree of formality intended. "Yours sincerely" is relatively formal and should be used cautiously when writing to someone you know, as it may come across as insincere or too distant if overused.
Additionally, only the first word of the closing is capitalized, regardless of whether it is "Yours sincerely" or "Yours faithfully". This is in line with standard British English usage, where only the first word in such phrases is typically capitalized.
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When to use 'Yours sincerely' in the US
In the US, "Yours sincerely" or "Sincerely yours" is used when you know the recipient's name or have interacted with them previously. This sign-off is used in formal letters, typically addressed to colleagues or close business associates. For instance, if you are writing to "Mr. Jones," you would end the letter with "Sincerely yours" or "Yours sincerely."
On the other hand, if you are writing to someone whose name you do not know, such as in a letter starting with "To whom it may concern" or "Dear Sir/Madam," it is more appropriate to use "Yours truly" or "Yours faithfully." These valedictions indicate a level of formality and respect while maintaining a professional distance.
It is worth noting that the use of "Yours faithfully" is growing in popularity in the US, but "Yours truly" is still the preferred option. Additionally, the order of the words "sincerely" and "yours" differs between US and UK English. In US English, the normal word order is "Sincerely yours", while in UK English, it is "Yours sincerely."
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When to use 'Yours truly'
"Yours truly" is used when you don't know the recipient of a letter or don't use their name. This includes when a letter starts with "to whom it may concern" or "Dear Sir/Madam". In British English, it is reserved for informal correspondence, while "yours sincerely" or "yours faithfully" are preferred in more formal writing.
"Yours truly" is also used as an informal term for "I, me or myself". For example, "this was created by yours truly".
When writing to an unknown recipient:
> To whom it may concern, [blah, blah] Yours truly, Charles Windsor-Smyth
When you don't use the recipient's name:
> Dear Sir, [blah, blah] Yours truly, Matt Brown
In informal correspondence:
> Please write back soon! Yours truly, Alice.
As a humorous or playful way to refer to yourself:
> This was created by yours truly.
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Frequently asked questions
Use "Yours faithfully" when you don't know the recipient's name. For example, if your letter starts with "Dear Sir/Madam" or "To whom it may concern", you should end it with "Yours faithfully".
"Yours faithfully" is typically used in British English, while "Yours truly" is more common in American English. If you are writing a formal letter and don't know the recipient, it's appropriate to use either of these valedictions.
Other ways to end a formal letter include "Regards", "Best regards", "Kind regards", "Warm regards", "Sincerely yours", "Yours truly", "Thank you", "Many thanks", "With appreciation", and "Cordially yours".
