What’s the Opposite of a Salutation in a Letter or Email? (And Why Nobody Seems to Know)

Ever stared at the end of your email wondering if “Best regards” sounds too stiff, or if “Cheers” is too casual for your boss? You’re not alone. While everyone knows what a salutation is—that friendly “Dear” or “Hello” at the start—most people have no clue what to call the closing bit. Spoiler alert: there’s actually a proper word for it, but it’s so underused that even spell-check gets confused.

Here’s the thing: knowing the right term isn’t just grammar nerdiness. Understanding what you’re writing (and why) can help you nail the tone, avoid awkward sign-offs, and actually leave the impression you want. Let’s dive in.

The Official Answer: It’s Called a Valediction

Alright, let’s get the fancy stuff out of the way first. The technical term for the opposite of a salutation is valediction—yes, that’s a real word, and no, you probably won’t hear it at your next Zoom meeting.

The word comes from Latin “vale dicere,” which literally means “to say farewell.” Think of it as the scholarly cousin of “goodbye.” It’s also why we call the person who gives the graduation speech a “valedictorian”—they’re literally saying farewell on behalf of the entire class.

But here’s the catch: nobody actually uses this word in everyday conversation. Even language experts admit that “valediction” is vastly more obscure than “salutation” in practice. It’s one of those words that exists in dictionaries but rarely makes it into real life.

Why “Valediction” Sounds So Weird

One blogger perfectly captured the frustration: “I realized that if I used valediction almost no one would know what I meant, or at the very least, would feel uncomfortable with the word.” And that’s the problem, right? You can technically be correct and still sound like you’re trying way too hard.

IMO, that’s why most people default to simpler terms—because who wants to be that person in the office who says “valediction” when everyone else just says “sign-off”?

The Terms Normal People Actually Use

Let’s be real: if you walked into a meeting and asked about “valedictions,” you’d get blank stares. Here’s what people actually say:

“Closing” or “Complimentary Closing”

This is the most common term in everyday use, with “closing” being far more popular than the fancier “complimentary closing.” It’s straightforward, everyone understands it, and it doesn’t require a dictionary.

The word works perfectly because a “closing” simply refers to “a concluding part”—which is exactly what the end of your email is. Simple, clean, done.

When to use this term: Pretty much always. Whether you’re chatting with coworkers or explaining email etiquette to your intern, “closing” just works.

“Sign-Off”

A “sign-off” is a colloquialism that refers to the ending line of an email where you “sign off,” linking to the idea of announcing the end of a message or broadcast. This one’s especially popular in workplace settings.

Think about it: you’ve probably heard phrases like “What’s your usual sign-off?” or “Don’t forget to add a sign-off before hitting send.” It feels natural, conversational, and gets the point across without sounding stuffy.

The quirk: Technically, “sign-off” works better for electronic messages than traditional letters, since it references broadcasting—but honestly, most people use it for both anyway.

Other Terms You Might Hear

People also use phrases like “farewell,” “parting message,” “goodbye message,” “send-off,” and “end message” to describe what goes at the bottom of a letter or email. These aren’t as common as “closing” or “sign-off,” but they pop up occasionally in more casual conversations.

Why Does This Even Matter?

Fair question! After all, whether you call it a valediction, closing, or sign-off, you’re still writing “Best regards” and moving on with your life. But here’s why understanding the terminology actually helps:

It Improves Your Email Game

Knowing what you’re writing makes you more intentional about it. Once you realize that your closing is its own distinct element—not just an afterthought—you start paying attention to whether it actually fits the tone of your message.

Professional email etiquette calls for an appropriate ending to your message, including three key elements: a closing line expressing sentiment, the sign-off itself, and your signature. When you understand each part, you craft better emails.

It Helps You Match Formality Levels

Ever sent a super formal email that ended with “Cheers”? Or opened with “Dear Sir or Madam” and closed with “Later!”? Yeah, awkward. There’s a symmetry to salutations and valedictions—when using one term in a word pair, it’s proper form to also use the other.

The takeaway: If you open formally, close formally. If you open casually, close casually. Understanding the terminology helps you maintain that balance.

It Makes You Sound More Professional (When You Want To)

Look, there are times when you want to flex a little vocabulary muscle. Maybe you’re writing a style guide for your company. Maybe you’re teaching business writing. In those moments, knowing that “valediction” is the technical term gives you credibility—even if you immediately follow it up with “but we’ll just call it a closing.”

The Most Common Closings (And When to Use Them)

Now that we’ve covered what to call it, let’s talk about how to actually write one. Because knowing the terminology is great, but you still need to end your emails, right?

For Professional/Formal Emails

In professional emails, the safest choices are “Best regards” or “Kind regards,” with “Kind regards” being slightly more formal. These are the email equivalent of a firm handshake—professional without being stuffy.

Other solid options:

• Sincerely
• Respectfully
• Best wishes
• Warm regards
• With gratitude

For very formal emails, traditional options like “Sincerely,” “Sincerely yours,” or “Yours sincerely” work better than variations of “regards.”

For Casual Work Emails

Breezy or affectionate sign-offs like “Cheers,” “Have a good weekend!,” or even just “Thanks!” are friendly and cheerful, and certainly fine for close colleagues or friends. Just be mindful of who’s reading—your work bestie might love “Catch you later!” but that same sign-off could raise eyebrows in a thread your manager’s reviewing.

Safe casual options:

• Thanks
• Best
• Cheers (more common in British English)
• Talk soon
• Have a great day

For Emails to Friends

Go wild. Seriously. Fun valedictions like “Live long and prosper,” “May the Force be with you,” or “So long, and thanks for all the fish” are excellent for emails to friends with whom you share an interest—they help recipients remember you and add personality.

Just maybe skip the Star Wars references when emailing your grandmother. Or don’t—your call 🙂

Common Sign-Off Mistakes (That Make You Look Unprofessional)

Let’s talk about what not to do, because honestly, some of these are painful to watch.

Using “Regards” Variations That Don’t Match Your Tone

One writer described receiving “Warmest regards,” “Warm regards,” and “Best regards” in succession and questioning whether these scalding hot regards were actually superior to ordinary “Regards.” The point? Don’t overthink it. Pick one and stick with it.

Forgetting to Include a Closing at All

Not signing off at all is just rude, unless you know your correspondent really well—you’re reverting to a texting style, whereas an email should be treated as a quasi-letter. Even a simple “Thanks” is better than nothing.

Mismatching Your Opening and Closing

If you open with “Dear Professor Smith,” don’t close with “Later!” When choosing a close for a formal letter, picking a casual closing might come across as disrespectful. Keep your formality consistent throughout.

Overusing “Thanks” When You’re Not Thanking Anyone

Ending every email with “Thanks” when the recipient hasn’t actually done anything for you can come across as presumptuous or confusing. Save it for when you’re actually expressing gratitude.

A Quick Look at Historical Valedictions (Because They’re Wild)

Okay, brief detour into email history, because some of this stuff is genuinely fascinating (or hilariously over-the-top, depending on your perspective).

According to Cassell’s Household Guide from 1869, if you ever had to write to the Queen of the United Kingdom, your letter should end: “I remain, with the profoundest veneration, your Majesty’s most faithful subject and dutiful servant.”

Imagine trying to fit that on a modern email signature. Your IT department would have questions.

Thomas Jefferson used to close letters with “Your most obedient and most humble servant,” which—let’s be honest—is unlikely to be adopted by today’s government officials. Can you imagine a modern CEO ending an email that way? The board would stage an intervention.

Here’s another fun fact: Some argue that “Yours truly” and “Sincerely yours” actually began as abbreviations for “Your servant truly” and “Sincerely your servant,” with the lowercase “s” appearing as a superscript. So basically, we’ve been shortening our valedictions for centuries because even our ancestors thought they were too long.

Modern Trends: How Valedictions Are Evolving

Language isn’t static, and neither are email closings. Here are some interesting shifts happening right now:

The Rise of Context-Specific Closings

During the coronavirus pandemic in spring 2020, many emails were capped by “Stay safe” or “Hoping you are and remain safe”—endings that would have been odd and meaningless in 2019. When everyone’s dealing with the same challenges, valedictions can become a form of collective solidarity.

You’ll see similar trends with phrases like “Stay healthy,” “Take care of yourself,” or even “Happy Friday!” when the world feels especially heavy.

The No-Sign-Off Movement

Some writers have made a strong case for eliminating sign-offs entirely in email, arguing that any awkwardness at first will be offset by the time saved. And honestly? For quick back-and-forth emails with people you know well, skipping the valediction entirely is becoming more common.

But here’s my take: sure, you can skip it for rapid-fire email threads with your work buddy. But for first contacts, formal requests, or anyone senior to you? Include the closing. It takes two seconds and shows respect.

Emoji and GIF Sign-Offs

Some people use an emoji, a series of emojis, a picture, or a GIF as a closing—especially in creative industries or with recipients who already know them well. This can help bolster and build relationships, though it’s obviously not appropriate for formal business communication.

The Bottom Line: What Should You Actually Call It?

So after all that, what’s the verdict? What should you call the opposite of a salutation?

Here’s my honest answer: Call it whatever makes sense for your audience.

• Writing a formal style guide or teaching a business writing course? Go ahead and use “valediction”—it’s technically correct and shows you know your stuff.
• Chatting with coworkers or explaining email etiquette to someone? Use “closing” or “sign-off”—everyone will understand immediately.
• Just trying to write a good email? Call it whatever you want and focus on making it appropriate for your recipient.

The formal term exists (valediction), the practical terms are widely understood (closing, sign-off), and at the end of the day, what matters most is that you’re using the right words to end your message—not obsessing over what to call them.

Quick Reference: Choosing the Right Closing

Still confused about which sign-off to use? Here’s a simple cheat sheet:

Ultra Formal (Legal, Academic, Government):

• Respectfully yours
• Yours faithfully
• Most sincerely

Professional (Business, Job Applications):

• Best regards
• Kind regards
• Sincerely
• Warm regards

Semi-Formal (Familiar Colleagues, Regular Clients):

• Best
• Thanks
• Best wishes
• Looking forward to hearing from you

Casual (Friends, Close Coworkers):

• Cheers
• Talk soon
• Take care
• Have a great weekend

Skip It (Quick Back-and-Forth with People You Know Well):

• Just your name or initials

Wrapping Up (See What I Did There?)

The opposite of a salutation is technically called a valediction, but most people just call it a closing or sign-off—and that’s perfectly fine. What matters isn’t the terminology; it’s understanding that your final words matter just as much as your opening ones.

Every email you send, every letter you write, that closing is your last chance to set the tone, show respect, and leave an impression. Whether you’re wrapping up a job application, responding to a client, or just checking in with a friend, taking an extra second to choose the right sign-off makes a difference.

So next time someone asks you what the opposite of a salutation is, you can drop the fancy term “valediction” and watch their eyes glaze over—or you can just say “closing” and keep the conversation moving. Either way, you’ll know you’re ending your messages the right way.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go overthink my email signature for the next 20 minutes…

Best regards (see, I’m practicing what I preach!)