Keep in touch

You usually say this at the very end of a talk. Use it when you are walking away or hanging up. You can use it as a statement like "Let's keep in touch." You can also use it as a request. For example, "Please keep in touch while you are away." It is very flexible and works in almost any medium. You can say it, text it, or email it.

Use it when a friend moves to a new city. Use it after a great lunch with a former coworker. It is perfect for graduation parties or weddings. If you meet someone cool at a conference, say it. It shows you are friendly and open. It is the ultimate "nice person" exit strategy. Even if you are busy, it sounds polite and sincere.

Do not use it with people you see every single day. If you say it to your spouse, they might be confused. Avoid using it if you actually never want to talk again. Some people use it as a polite lie, but try to be honest. Do not use it in very strict legal settings. It is a bit too casual for a courtroom or a formal contract. Also, don't say it to the pizza delivery guy—that is just awkward.

This phrase comes from the idea of physical connection. Before phones, people wrote letters to "touch" each other's lives. In Western culture, staying connected is a sign of networking and friendship. Americans often say it very casually, sometimes even to strangers. In some cultures, it is a serious promise. In the US and UK, it is often just a polite way to say goodbye. It became very popular as people started traveling more for work.

You might hear stay in touch which means the exact same thing. Younger people might say hit me up or don't be a stranger. In business, people say let's circle back. If you want to be more specific, say drop me a line. All of these keep the conversation going. They all mean the relationship is not over yet.