I usually use I hope all is well, or if its someone who lives near by see you soon.

Those are the two I tend to vary and use. And no, you aren't the only one who obsesses over these things :) APparently I do too.

I do the same thing. Sometimes 'warm regards' works if just 'regards' seem a bit too cool. Or could go for the old standby 'sincerely'. That is, if it doesn't make you break into song. :)

I always find that "In service to the Realm, Danelle" keeps em guessing.

I usually end an email with "take care" with someone who is close, but not close enough.

Oh goodness you asked the BEST question today.... I overthink and overthink!

Again, great question!!

I usually use "take care" as well.

For years I've used "Cheers" - it seems to convey a friendliness without crossing any inappropriate lines.

One more for the "Take Care" crowd! Or sometimes Blessings. Though I might start using SmellYaLater now ;-)

There was a related discussion going on at the Knoxville message board not too long ago. The posting Blabber said he usually signs his mails, business-related ones anyway, "Best regards".

He was posting because he had gotten an e-mail where the writer had signed "Very best regards", and wanted to know what we thought he should do since, as he pointed out, "Best regards" was a lot less than VERY best regards, and how the heck was he gonna top that? He was totally nonplussed. (It turned out to be a hilarious thread and I forget what he finally decided in the end to do.)

I don't think enough, which is way worse than overthinking. Thus, I've had some really idiotic endings on my e-mails.

Oh yeah, I can over-think this one to the point of deleting the mail and walking away from the computer. I'd have to go with "see you soon," "hope all is well," or the already popular "take care." My current pet peeve is people who say "Have a good one." Not sure why, but it makes me bristle.

I use the Take Care line quite a bit, but I also throw in quite a few Blessings as well...comes from the stint of church work probably!

I use Take Care, but if I'm on the fence about using Love, I usually just close my eyes and hop on over to the Love side.
The world needs more love, and if it leaves them wondering, well, I don't mind.

I mostly use cheers, but when I email someone I don't know for the first time and it's for business I use regards.

Depending on who will be receiving the email, I normally use Best or Kind Regards.

Hope to talk/see you soon
Hope to hear from you soon
Take Care

I've even used "Peace and Groovy Love" with people who have a good sense of humor! =]

I struggle with this as well. So I have no helpful advise. But your readers comments have given me some ideas. Maybe I'll be able to close an email in under 5 minutes next time.

I mostly still use what they taught me in typing class in 1980:

Sincerely,

It's not TOO formal, but not too casual, won't offend, and makes you sound like a serious person.

Unless I'm passing along an email forward, then it's

Nanoo-nanoo

Oh yeah. Count me in on any topic that relates to overthinking stuff, and double it if there's some element of etiquette or social skills involved.

I generally go with "Best" since it seems a little less formal than "Best regards"

Then again, on occasion, I've been known to hat-tip Stan Lee and close with "Excelsior!"

I'm an over thinking of the largest order. I've taken to using Warmly or Fondly when love is just too much.

I've pondered this many a time and usually wind up with "Best wishes" which never exactly satisfies me, but I haven't thought of anything that works better either.

The business people from Europe that I have corresponded with for years often use, "warm regards", or "warmest regards"

And I think it does matter how to end an email message.

You're so not the only one! And "Best" has made me scratch my head as it's popped up in recent years. I always think "best what?"

Oh I overthink this kind of stuff consistently and I'm sure consistently get it wrong.

I like Best, but it is formal. Take care can work sometimes.

I like Cheers! Or Ciao! Those are peppy.

I always use God bless!

I over think EVERYTHING. And I know we're in a minority, but there are still some of us out there who'd like to make a good impression and act, ahem, appropriately - I know there are a lot of inappropriate people out there!
"Hope all is well," works in a lot of those situations.
"Thank so much for your time" works if it's more of a business situation - or "warm regards"...
Or "warmly" or "fondly" - I like those too.
LOL... I just realized I'm totally over-thinking this comment!

Please tell me this e-mail you agonized over was not to me.

I'll vote for Take Care too. I usually go with that if Love is too strong and sincerely is too formal. Someone said Cheers - I kind of like that too.

Dear BMo,
Hope all is well.
xxoo,
hg

I too find this one hard. When it's someone I know and like, but not too close I usually end with take care or hope to see you soon.

I guess you could say I struggle with it, but that is mostly because I am just not satisfied with any one in particular, and of course it depends on the situation.

Hope All is Well
Hope this finds you well
Talk to you soon
Look forward to hearing from you
Until next time
ciao for now

Sillier, lighter, more fun

Love and other games for two or more players
'Til the Kitchen Sinks
yours till the chocolate chips
love, peace, and chicken grease
Hasta La Pasta

For your example, when you don't want to be too formal or pompous (sincerely, best regards) but also not too intimate (love, etc.)
I find "warmly" is always best.
It's friendly, it's genial but not too much so, it still maintains a professional demeanor but it doesn't sound like a business letter.

Go with "warmly," it will serve you well.

As a Christian I usually sign off:

In Him,
Groovy

or

In His Love,
Groovy

Of course, my pagan friends are usually at a loss as to who HE is...

When you were in junior high, you would have drawn a puffy heart, right? So I just type "Hearts". Sometimes "Peace out!", instead. Depends on my mood. "Later Gator!" is a good Louisiana possibility, and it's nicer than some of the Louisiana expressions I typically fall back on...

"Love and other indoor sports."

- or -

"May the Force be with you."

Depends on if they lean toward the dark side.

LMBO...I know exactly what you mean. I usually say
"Have a good one." I'm not sure how distant it seems but it works.

Gads - you think *you* overthink it -

Work e-mails - "thanks" or "Thanks for your help", as I'm ususlly asking them to get off their lazy butts and do something they should have done without my having to ask them.

People from church with whom I'm involved in ministry - "In His service"

People from church - personal e-mail - "In His love"

Random other people - "Sincerely", "Regards" or "have a great day"

It does get confusing, particularly when responding to "all" who may or may not include members of more than one group...

I'm nuts, I realize.

I must say I have never "thought" about ending emails. I'm horrible. I just use my automatic signature, which always ends my emails for me. "Thanks,

Lauri XXXXX"

Maybe I should re-think this. Your blog is hilarious. Check mine out. 1st time blogger.

This is a good one. I must say, I have never thought about my closings on email. I use my auto signature on all of them. They all end in Thanks, and my name. Maybe I should care and start to think after all. Thank you for making me think today.

LOVE YOUR BLOG! Check mine out. 1st time blogger.

Lauri

Oh Yeah and what a silly thing to rethink and rethink but I do it.
see ya
later
ciao (chow) spanish I think
bye
later alligator
luv ya

all depends on my mood at the time

some I just sign with no closer

Oh Yeah and what a silly thing to rethink and rethink but I do it.
see ya
later
ciao (chow) spanish I think
bye
later alligator
luv ya

all depends on my mood at the time

some I just sign with no closer

Oh Yeah and what a silly thing to rethink and rethink but I do it.
see ya
later
ciao (chow) spanish I think
bye
later alligator
luv ya

all depends on my mood at the time

some I just sign with no closer

I used to use "Take care," but lately that doesn't seem quite right. Am I worried about them? Are they in danger? Should they be extra cautious for some reason? I've switched to Regards, but that seems sort of stuffy. And no, you are not the only person who over thinks these things!

I may have to keep "yours 'til Niagara Falls" in the back of my brain to use later. But, that's a great question. How do you sign off without the other person wondering if you're madly in love with them? My normal sign off is "talk atcha later" or "later tater" =D

And my all time favorite, while traveling and keeping in touch ...

Weather is here, wish you were beautiful!

thank you for helping me out on how to end an e-mail...coz i found a lot of words to end them...

Sometimes I like "As ever"...and if it's a little more formal I'll use "warmest regards".

If I'm pissed...and it's to my mother...she gets "regards". Drives her nuts! LOL