best regards

Place it at the very end of your message. Put a comma after it. Then, drop down to the next line for your name. It looks like a little staircase for your signature. It is the most common way to say goodbye in business today.

Use it when emailing a colleague you know well. Use it for a client you have met once or twice. It works perfectly for job applications too. If you are unsure how to end an email, this is your safest bet. It is like a clean white shirt; it fits almost everywhere.

Do not use it for your best friend. It will sound like you are firing them. Avoid it in super formal letters to royalty or high government officials. In those cases, use Yours sincerely. Also, do not use it in a quick text message. It feels a bit too stiff for a 'see you at 5' text.

In the past, people used very long, flowery endings. They would write things like 'I remain your humble servant.' Thankfully, we got lazier and more direct. Best regards became the standard as the world moved from paper to digital. It reflects a modern culture that values efficiency and friendliness.

You can shorten it to Regards if you want to be brief. Use Kind regards if you want to be a bit softer. Some people just write Best when they are in a huge rush. Be careful with Best though. Some people think it feels a bit lazy or unfinished.