Yours sincerely

USAGE SUMMARY

"Yours sincerely" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is typically used at the end of a formal letter to close the correspondence. For example, "Thank you for your time and consideration. Yours sincerely, [Name]".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Others, such as Elliot Morley, stick with a straightforward "regards", "yours sincerely" or "yours ever".

The Guardian

Yours sincerely, Hattie I can well imagine your anxiety.

Independent

Yours sincerely, Geraldine What would you advise Geraldine to do? Email your dilemmas and comments to [email protected].

Independent

Yours sincerely, Dodie The word that leaps out at me from your email is "suitable".

Independent

Yours sincerely, Roald Dahl".

Independent

Yours sincerely, Shelagh Delaney".

The Guardian

Yours Sincerely, jboo1698.

The Guardian

Yours Sincerely, Kierran Horsfield".

Independent

Yours sincerely, Stephen.

The New York Times

Yours sincerely, G Ballance".

The Guardian - Sport

Yours sincerely, KT".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "Yours sincerely" when you know the name of the person you are writing to. If you don't know their name, use "Yours faithfully".

Common error

Avoid capitalizing all the words in the phrase (e.g., "Yours Sincerely"). The standard convention is to capitalize only the first word ("Yours") and "sincerely".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "Yours sincerely" functions as a complimentary close in formal letters and emails. It serves as a polite way to end the correspondence, indicating that the sender is concluding their message in a respectful manner. Ludwig AI validates its common usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Formal & Business

25%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Science

14%

Wiki

9%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "Yours sincerely" is a highly common and grammatically correct closing for formal letters and emails when you know the recipient's name. Ludwig confirms its prevalent use across diverse fields, including News & Media, Formal & Business, and Academia. To ensure correct usage, remember to capitalize only the first word and use "Yours faithfully" if the recipient's name is unknown. By following these guidelines, you can confidently use "Yours sincerely" in your professional communication, maintaining a respectful and courteous tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Sincerely

A shorter, more direct closing.

Respectfully

Indicates deference and high regard.

Kind regards

Similar to "Best regards" but conveys a gentler tone.

Best regards

Slightly warmer than "Regards".

Regards

A less formal closing, suitable for professional acquaintances.

Best wishes

A friendly and positive closing.

Faithfully yours

More formal and traditional; used when the recipient's name is unknown.

With sincere appreciation

Expresses gratitude in addition to closing.

Thank you for your consideration

Expresses gratitude.

Looking forward to hearing from you

Indicates anticipation of a response; less focused on closure.

FAQs

When should I use "Yours sincerely" in a letter?

Use "Yours sincerely" as a formal closing when you know the name of the person you're writing to. It's a polite and professional way to end your correspondence.

What's the difference between "Yours sincerely" and "Yours faithfully"?

"Yours sincerely" is used when you know the recipient's name, while "Yours faithfully" is used when you don't.

Are there less formal alternatives to "Yours sincerely"?

Yes, if you're writing to someone you know well or in a less formal context, you could use "Regards", "Best regards", or "Best wishes".

Is it ever wrong to use "Yours sincerely"?

It would be unusual to use "Yours sincerely" in very informal communication, such as a text message or a casual email to a friend. It is also incorrect to use if you don't know the name of the recipient; "Yours faithfully" is more appropriate in those cases.