faithfully or sincerely cover letter uk

Sincerely or Faithfully?

If you know the name of the person you’re writing  to (‘Dear Jane…’) use sincerely . If you don’t know the name of the name of the person you’re addressing then you should use faithfully .

Emails tend me be less formal than traditional letters so you could always keep it simple and use regards/kind regards .

Yours sincerely and Yours faithfully are both traditional ways to end a letter. Letter writing over the years has been an art form and signing off has a long history with conventions attached to it. When you sign off a letter at the end, phrases such as Yours sincerely are known as valedictions . Take a look at these examples :

• Yours truly
• Kind regards
• Yours hopefully

For our American readers there is little fuss over the sincerely/faithfully question because there it is common to use sincerely and not muddle things by adding faithfully to the equation.

But for the rest of us the question arises about how to sign off a letter and make sure that we are using the correct valediction.

Here is how we do it (and how to remember which one to use: faithfully or sincerely).

Yours sincerely

This is used if you know the person’s name (perhaps the job advertisement has told you to send letters to a Mr J. Fox). You know their name so you will be addressing the letter to them and signing off Yours sincerely.

Yours faithfully

This is used where you do not know the name of the person to whom you are sending the letter. You may have seen a job advertised but you have not been given a name to address your cover letter to. You may start your letter, Dear Sir or Madam and end it with Yours Faithfully.

Sincerely or faithfully: How Do I Remember Which One To Use?

This is how I remember it: if you are writing a letter to someone and you do not know their name you are writing to them blindly and you must have blind faith that they will reply and be helpful. With this faith in mind you must use faithfully.

If you know the name of the person you are writing to then you are in a stronger position to be sincere in your letter to them: use sincerely

Sincerely or faithfully: another way to remember which one to use.

Many people remember it like this:

Never use Sir with Sincerely

So if you open with Dear Sir or Madam you will never end with sincerely; you will use faithfully.

Remember that a covering email is usually a little less formal and frequently uses less stuffy ways to sign off ; you may use lighter language to sign off such as Regards.

Perhaps you have your own ways of remembering valedictions. Leave your own ideas in the comments section.

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Cover Letter , CV , Jobsearch

3 Responses to Sincerely or Faithfully?

The usage of “sincerely” and “faithfully” as described above is nonsense. If you only know a person’s name you clearly do not know the person so “faithfully” is the only valediction that can be used. The meanings of the nouns “person” and “name” are not synonymous but in the above criteria they have been used as such.

Person : A human being regarded as an individual

Name : A word or set of words by which a person or thing is known, addressed, or referred to i.e. label

One then has to clarify what is considered to be the meaning of to know a person. As the noun “person” in this case is the object the word “know” has the following meaning:

[WITH OBJECT] Have developed a relationship with (someone) through meeting and spending time with them; be familiar or friendly with:

It would therefore seem that “faithfully” is the only valediction unless one has met the addressee! It would seem that the above guide to usage is pretty much useless. I was taught if you know the person “sincerely” and if you don’t know the person “faithfully”. KNOWING A NAME IS NOT KNOWING A PERSON! I’m not a scholar of the English language but I do understand that “person” and “name” mean different things. I would seem that English guidelines have been adulterated to allow the one size fits all American usage.

Oxford University Press does not agree that this is nonsense:

“The wording at the end of a business letter follows a standard format: If you know the name of the person you’re writing to, you should end the letter with Yours sincerely. If your letter begins with Dear Sir or Dear Madam, it should end with Yours faithfully.”

Citation: http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/words/business-letters

Regardless of your sensible, laudable, logical, and probably better suggestion, the convention is as the Job Fox describes, namely (pun intended) “Sir doesn’t go with sincerely”.

To use faithfully where you know the name, but have otherwise no knowledge of the person, will look odd to most people and distract from the purpose of the letter.

Having said that, language changes. Maybe when you were at school, your definition was more generally accepted, but since then the custom has changed. Maybe in a couple of generations, the distinction between sincerely and faithfully will be less known and so widely disregarded that it becomes irrelevant. Maybe we’ll just put a smiley and hit send.

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• Cover letters

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How to write a cover letter.

A cover letter introduces you to an employer and asks them to think about your application. 

It’s a short letter, usually 3 to 5 paragraphs long.

When to include a cover letter

You should always include a cover letter when you apply for a job using a CV. 

You can write it as an email if you’re applying online or print a copy to go with a paper application.

When writing a cover letter, let the employer know you’re keen by showing that you’ve researched the company. Learn more about what they do through:

• their website
• recent news articles
• talking to people you know who work there

Send it to the right person

It's important to try to address your cover letter to someone by name. Check you have the details of the person you need to send it to. 

You'll need their name and preferred title. For example, ‘Dr’, ‘Mr’, ‘Mrs’, ‘Ms’, and their job title. You should also make sure you have the right company name and address, including postcode.

If you do not know their name

If the job advert does not include a name you can check the company website. Try to find details of the head of the department, head of human resources or a recruitment manager.

If you still cannot find a name, you can start your letter with ‘Dear Sir or Madam’.

Introduction

Introduce yourself and explain how you found the advertised job. You can mention the job title, and reference number if there is one. 

If you’re asking about any job openings and not applying to a vacancy, tell them what sort of job you’re looking for. Let the employer see how keen you are to work for them.

Show you're right for the job

Highlight the skills and experience you have that match what the employer is looking for. 

Convince them that you're enthusiastic about working for them. Let them know you share their work values, culture and style.

Give extra information

If you have gaps in your employment history, you could talk about the skills you gained while you were out of work.

If you’ve mentioned on your CV that you have a disability, you might want to talk more about this in your cover letter. Organisations like Disability UK can give you advice on how to do this. You do not have to mention your disability at this stage if you prefer not to.

You can get more help with specialist advice on finding work if you have a disability.

Ending your cover letter

Thank the employer for considering your application. Let them know that they can get more details from your CV, and tell them you're looking forward to hearing from them.

Let them know how they can best contact you. Make sure your contact details are correct on both your cover letter and CV.

Yours sincerely or yours faithfully

If you know the name of the person you’re writing to, you should end the letter with ‘Yours sincerely’.

If you’ve addressed the letter ‘Dear Sir or Madam’, you should end the letter with ‘Yours faithfully’.

Tips for writing a cover letter

When writing your cover letter, remember to:

• write a new one for every job you apply for and make sure it’s tailored to the company and the specific role
• use the same font and size as you do for your CV, so it looks consistent
• make sure the company name and recruiter’s details are correct
• use the right language and tone: keep it professional and match the keywords used by the employer in their job advert
• show you’ve done your research into the job and the company
• highlight your most relevant skills and experience to stand out from other applicants
• back up any statements you make with facts and use the STAR method
• double check spelling and grammar before you send it
• keep a copy of your cover letter as they may ask you about it in an interview

Related content

How to write a CV

Completing application forms

Interview tips

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Resources > Unitemps Career Advice > Cover letter mistakes and how to avoid them

Cover letter mistakes and how to avoid them

Cover letters seem straightforward enough but there is an art to making them stand out – find out what to avoid if your cover letter is to have the impact you want it to.

1. Don’t write a personal statement

A cover letter should give a brief indication of why you think you are right for this role. You will also want to showcase your passion for the work involved but be wary of writing a statement that is all about you – a personal statement would be a more appropriate document to tell your story and only some employers will want this as part of the application process. A cover letter, on the other hand, ‘covers’ the skills detailed on your CV by going into more detail and demonstrating your ability and how these skills have been put into practice.

2. Keep it succinct

It’s tempting to overload your cover letter with multiple examples of your skills and how you have utilised these in your work so far but the employer needs a short and snappy summary to get through a lot of applications. Instead, save some of your examples and scenarios for the interview stage, where you will be able to talk about your work in much more depth. Your cover letter should be no longer than one page.

3. Don’t repeat your CV

A cover letter shouldn’t simply list your achievements and work to date as this is the task your CV takes care of. Instead, you should reflect your skills and experience using specific examples to back up the information on your CV. Your cover letter is all about proving you’re the right person for the job through clear scenarios, so think about what qualities the employer is looking for and then instances of when you have shown these qualities at work.

4. Format it correctly

Be sure to present the information on your cover letter in the correct style and layout. It’s professional to include your address in the top right column and the address of your employer in the top left column of your letter, regardless of it being sent electronically. You should start the letter with ‘Dear Sir or Madam’ or even by name if you have this information to hand. If you have addressed the receiver as sir or madam, you should sign off with ‘Yours faithfully’. If you have addressed the receiver by name, then ‘yours sincerely’ is best. Check our the Unitemps cover letter template for an example of what to do.

5. Write a new cover letter for every job role

Writing cover letters shouldn’t be rushed – and this means it can be time-consuming and the temptation to copy and paste from previous covering letters is strong. The problem with doing this is that it is often obvious to the employers that you haven’t tailored your skills to the job description. It appears lazy and you can come across as unmotivated straight away – so, if you want your covering letter to have an impact, put the time in and explicitly link your skills and experience to the person specification.

Register with Unitemps to upload your CV and begin applying for jobs straight away.

Last updated on 12 December 2022

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How to Start and End a Cover Letter

Now that you’ve written your resume in English , and you’ve found a job advertisement, here are a few tips on how to write a respectable cover letter.  I consider these tips to be the ‘good manners’ you’d want to extend to your potential new company.

When we’re editing cover letters at English Trackers , I’ve come to realise that many people don’t know how to start or finish a letter in English.

Compared to some of the flowery endings you find in other languages, English is incredibly simple and the salutation and sign off should be learned in pairs.

Let me explain.

The Salutation  – How to start a cover letter

There are three possible choices:

You know the person’s name – then use it:

• Dear Mr Parker

You don’t know the person’s name – but have been told to write to the HR department:

• Dear HR Manager

You don’t know the person’s name and don’t want to offend either gender:

• Dear Sir or Madam

NOTE : Do not use ‘To Whom It May Concern’

This should only be used on letters of reference, certificates etc. These kinds of documents are submitted over and over again, and are therefore addressed to many different people – whom ever it may concern.

The Sign Off – How to end a cover letter

There are only two choices: Yours sincerely or Yours faithfully

Here’s a very simple way of remembering whether you end with Yours sincerely or Yours faithfully.

“You can never have more than one ‘ S ’ in a salutation and signoff.” Therefore – Dear S ir & Yours s incerely – should never appear together.

If you know the person’s name, you ALWAYS sign off with Yours sincerely. For every other salutation, you sign off Yours faithfully.

• Dear Mr Parker – Yours sincerely
• Dear Ms Little – Yours sincerely  
• Dear Sir – Yours faithfully
• Dear Madam – Yours faithfully
• Dear HR Manager – Yours faithfully

I said it was simple! If you want more info on coping with letter etiquette, download the English Trackers Email Etiquette Tips – we’ve covered just about every eventuality in there.

Setting the tone

Tone is not an easy thing to master in another language. You need to write in such a way that you don’t presume anything – that the person will call you for an interview, that the company will hire you etc. – but you do want to show you’re a good fit for the position.

Endings are very hard – as hard and important as the beginning of a cover letter, and they merit a fair amount of time. You want to end on a positive note that points to the future – the possibility of an interview, the submission of further information.

In the edited version below, these two points are merged together into one fluid and positive last sentence.

I thank you for taking the time to consider my application, and would welcome the opportunity to discuss my qualifications with you in more detail.

In the following unedited example, the first sentence is not too bad in terms of tone, but the second sentence is basically an order; there is not even a please or a thank you!

In case this application together with my attached CV has paid your attention I will be happy to elaborate on the value I can bring xxx company.

As I am permanently employed it is very important that you treat this application with full discretion and confidentiality.

Below, is a polite, edited version of those two sentences:

Should you wish, I would be very happy to discuss the contents of this letter and the enclosed CV in person. I would also request that in light of my on-going permanent employment this application be treated with full discretion and confidentiality.

And don’t forget, when you’ve finished writing  – edit, edit, edit .

Re-read it and then if possible, leave it for a night. Come back to it fresh and go through it again. Ask someone else to read it – preferably a native English speaker – and only when you are sure it’s error free and ready to represent you politely – then push SEND!

Good luck with your job applications.

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Cover letters

It's important to get your cover letter right. It's your one opportunity to sell your skills and experience to potential employers. Find out how to write and format a cover letter and take ideas and inspiration from our cover letter templates

What is a cover letter?

A cover letter is a document sent alongside your CV when applying for jobs. It acts as a personal introduction and helps to sell your application.

Cover letters are necessary as they give you the chance to explain to an employer why you're the best candidate for the job. You do this by highlighting relevant skills and experience; therefore, you should always write your cover letter with the position you're applying for in mind.

Not to be confused with  personal statements for your CV , cover letters should complement your CV but not duplicate it. The consensus among recruiters when it comes to the length of these documents is the shorter the better. Typically, three to five short paragraphs, cover letters should not exceed one A4 page.

If sending electronically, put the text in the body of the email rather than as an attachment, to avoid it being detected by spam filters.

Applications should always include a cover letter unless the job advert instructs you differently.

How do I write a good cover letter?

Before writing your cover letter it's important that you do your research. While reading the job description thoroughly is essential, it's not enough on its own. To help you craft a successful cover letter you’ll need to find out more about:

• who will be reading your cover letter
• the organisation and its culture
• the industry it operates in and any relevant news
• company competitors and market position.
• the organisations goals over the next five years.

When writing your cover letter keep it brief, while making sure it emphasises your suitability for the job. Cover letters can be broken down into the following sections:

• First paragraph  - The opening statement should set out why you're writing the letter. Begin by stating the position you're applying for, where you saw it advertised and when you are available to start.
• Second paragraph  - Highlight relevant experience and demonstrate how your skills match the specific requirements of the job description. Summarise any additional strengths and explain how these could benefit the company.
• Third paragraph  - Cover why you're suitable for the job, what attracted you to this type of work, why you're interested in working for the company and what you can offer the organisation. This is a good opportunity to show off your knowledge of the company.
• Last paragraph  - Use the closing paragraph to round up your letter. Reiterate your interest in the role and indicate your desire for an  interview. Now is the time to mention any unavailable dates.

Once finished read through the document and cut out any unnecessary words and sentences. Don't fill up space by repeating what's already covered in your CV. As a rule, only mention your current salary or salary expectations if the employer has specifically asked you to. If you're asked to include this information, put it between the third and last paragraphs.

Unless the job advert states differently (for example, it may ask you to provide your CV and cover letter as a Word document) save with a .PDF file extension to make sure it can be opened and read on any machine. Windows PCs and Macs don't always work in harmony - Windows use a .docx file extension and Macs .pages but if the recruiter uses the opposite system, they may not be able to open your file. Using a .PDF file extension should solve this.

If you need help with your CV take a look at  how to write a CV .

How should I address a cover letter?

Always try and address your cover letter directly to the person who will be reading it. Bear in mind that you're more likely to receive a reply if you send it to the right person.

If you're struggling to find a named contact, you can use a general greeting such as:

• Dear Sir/Madam
• Dear Hiring manager
• Dear Human resources director.

However, general greetings should only be used once you have exhausted methods of finding a named contact.

How do I sign off?

How you sign off your cover letter depends on how you addressed it. If you include a named contact, sign off 'Yours sincerely'. If you use a general greeting, finish with 'Yours faithfully'.

Example cover letters

• Sample cover letter  - Used to highlight your skills and experience and to express your suitability and passion for the job, cover letters are used to encourage recruiters to look at your CV. Attention to detail is crucial and spelling, grammar and formatting needs to be spot on. Take a look at our sample cover letter for inspiration.
• Speculative cover letter  - These can sometimes be an effective method of creating an opportunity. To ensure that speculative cover letters are successful you'll need to do your research on the company you're applying to. Using our cover letter template, discover what to include in speculative applications.
• Cover letter by a Masters graduate  - You probably embarked on a Masters to expand your subject knowledge, gain industry contacts and improve your job prospects but to really make it work you need to know how to sell your postgraduate qualification to employers.
• Cover letter for a jobseeker with no experience  - It can be tough applying for a job with no experience, but our example cover letter shows you how to promote yourself to an employer if you haven't got any directly related work experience.
• Explaining a gap in your CV  - Knowing how to navigate around gaps in your CV can be tricky but it's a mistake to try and gloss over them. Your cover letter is the perfect place to explain these gaps in your employment history to potential employers. Take a look at our sample cover letter to find out how to go about it.
• Cover letter for changing career  - Find out how to explain a change of direction in our example cover letter for career changers. You'll need to briefly cover why you want to change career and relate your past experience and wealth of skills to the industry/job you’re applying to.
• Cover letter by an international graduate  - If you'd like to expand your horizons by working abroad, take a look at our cover letter of an international student applying for a job in the UK. You’ll need to do your research if you apply for a job in another country, as application rules may differ.
• Disclosing a disability  - Just like your gender, marital status and dependants your disability doesn't affect your ability to do a job and you're not legally required to disclose it on your CV or in your cover letter. However, if you would like to disclose a disability to outline any adjustments you may need, this sample cover letter will show you how.
• Internship cover letter - To set yourself above the competition you need to successfully sell your relevant skills and experience while conveying your passion for the role. As well as explaining to employers what the opportunity could do for you, you'll need to communicate what you could do for the company. Discover how to craft the perfect application for a formal internship with our internship cover letter template.
• Apprenticeship cover letter - Apprenticeships are an increasingly popular route into work, as well as a great alternative to university. Find out how to apply for these roles with our apprenticeship cover letter example.

For inspiration and guidance on crafting a CV see example CVs .

When should I follow up my application?

It's always a good idea to follow up on a job application if you don't hear back. If two weeks have passed and you've had no response, send an email to the hiring manager to check that your application has been received. Use this opportunity to reiterate your interest in the role and why you think you'd be an asset to the company.

Keep this email brief. It shouldn't act as a second cover letter or attempt to replace or repeat the original.

What are some top tips for writing a cover letter?

With employers often receiving lots of applications for each vacancy, you need to ensure that your cover letter makes a lasting impression for the right reasons. These tips will increase your chances of success:

• Tailor to the organisation  - You should rewrite your cover letter every time you apply for a position in order to target the company. Sending out a generic letter for all applications rarely yields positive results and recruiters can spot your lack of time and effort from a mile away.
• Format  - Presentation is important so you'll need to format your cover letter properly. Make sure the document is as uncluttered as possible, use the same font and size as you use in your CV and if you're sending it through the post or handing it in use good quality plain white paper to print it on.
• Use keywords that appear in the job advert - This lets the employer know that you’ve read and understood the job description. It also demonstrates that you’ve taken the time to tailor your application to the job.
• Identify your USPs  - They're your unique selling points. Be positive about what you have to offer and clearly outline how your skills and experience meet those requested in the job description. Demonstrate why you're the perfect candidate.
• Include examples  - Back up the claims in your cover letter with real evidence or examples that show how and when you've used your skills and experience.
• Save a copy - If you’re invited to interview you might need to refer back to it.

If you're a student or recent graduate, you can make an appointment with your university's careers and employability service to access further help when writing your cover letter. You'll be able to talk with specially-trained advisers, get advice on what to include and have a professional eye look over your application before sending.

To make sure you don’t trip up read about the  5 things to avoid when writing a cover letter .

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While your CV lists your achievements, skills and interests, your covering letter provides the opportunity to bring them to life and show how they fit the role you're applying to. If you're feeling daunted by the blank page, read our tips on what to cover.

1. get off to the right start.

If you have a full named contact, use it. If not, why not telephone the organisation and ask them for the main contact? If you can't find anyone specific, stick to 'Dear Hiring Manager'.

2. Make your opening pitch

Include the job title or position you’re seeking (if you’re writing a speculative application) and where you found the opportunity. Briefly outline your credentials, and motivations for applying for the role. Make it powerful, punchy and concise. You can expand in more detail in following paragraphs. 

3. Demonstrate that you understand the role

Explain how you meet (or exceed) the job criteria, and show that you possess relevant experience and skills based on past experience. Give concrete examples, which echo key words in the job description – the employer will be scanning for these. 

4. Bring your CV to life

Refer to your CV or other application documents to provide backup evidence. You don’t need to say it all, or duplicate your CV, in your covering letter. Your covering letter should animate key points of your experience that are relevant to the job description.

5. State why you're interested in this employer

If the organisation’s culture and development opportunities attract you, then say so. This is also your opportunity to demonstrate that you have researched their activities and possess true motivation for the role. Be specific, and link their mission to your own interests.

6. Close on a positive

Make your closing line constructive, not rambling. If you used a named contact, end with ‘Yours sincerely’, otherwise use ‘Yours faithfully’.

Harriet from the Careers team gave me a lot of advice on how to structure the content, add details about my experience, and even help me modify my tone to fit British job-hunting habits. Yueqi Wang, graduate Read Yuegi's  blog post.

Go to our website for more information about covering letters

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The English application: Cover letter

Cover letter: final statement and ending salutation, final statement.

The last paragraph of your cover letter should mention when and how you are reachable as well as that you would welcome an invitation for a personal interview. Emphasize that you will reach out to the company yourself in the next few days to ensure that your application has arrived. Having sent the application, you now have a reason to call there. During the phone call, ask whether references and/or additional certificates are required and build an immediate personal contact, preferably with the person responsible.

Short and sweet

• When and how are you reachable?
• You are looking forward to an interview.
• You will call in the next few days to ensure that the application has reached.

Ending salutation

The ending salutation depends on whether the name of the contact person is known. ‘Sincerely’ (US) and ‘Yours sincerely’ (UK) are the most common greetings if you know the person’s name. If you do not, however, and have used the salutation, ‘Dear Sir or Madam’, then ‘Yours faithfully’ is the preferred ending salutation. Phrases like ‘With best regards’ must never be used here, as they represent a more colloquial style and are used in email.

Whether you should place a comma after the ending salutation will depend on whether you have placed a comma after the greeting.

Dear Mr. XY, ... Yours sincerely, Dear Mr XY ... Yours sincerely

After the ending salutation, about four blank lines serve as placeholders for your signature, followed by your first and last names. In contrast to the CV, British and American cover letters are both signed.

Kurz und bündig

• ‘Sincerely’ if the contact person is known
• ‘Yours faithfully’ if the contact person is unknown
• Comma after ending salutation if there is also a comma after the greeting

“Yours Faithfully” or “Yours Sincerely”? Best Choice In Formal Letters

When signing a letter, you can use a few options to end it. “Yours faithfully” and “yours sincerely” are two such options, and this article will look at which is best in formal letters. There are certain rules to follow when using both, so we’ll cover those as well.

Is “Yours Faithfully” Or “Yours Sincerely” The Best Choice For Ending Formal Letters?

Both choices are good for ending formal letters. You should use “yours faithfully” when starting the letter with “dear sir/ madam ” or when you don’t know the recipient’s name. You should use “yours sincerely” when using a personal name or if you know the recipient.

We refer to both of these statements as “complementary closes.”

They are present at the end of almost every formal email or letter, and we use them to close off before writing our name. Both are correct, and it only depends on how well you know the person you’re writing a letter to that determines which of them you should use.

When To Use “Yours Faithfully”

We’ll start by going through how “yours faithfully” works.

You should use “yours faithfully” when you don’t know the name of the recipient of your letter. Instead, you’ll write “dear sir” or “dear madam” to address them, meaning you “faithfully” sign off at the end.

We use “yours” here to show that we’re pleased that they’ve allowed us the time to read our letter. It means “this is now yours” and works well to show formality in most cases.

You might see “yours faithfully” in the following ways:

• I hope this letter finds you well, as I have much to share with you.
• Yours faithfully,
• Mr. Tidings
• Dear ma’am,
• I am writing this letter to share my displeasure with you, and I hope you will read the contents thoroughly.
• Mrs. Simmons
• To whom this may concern,
• I hope my letter reaches you well. It has been brought to my attention that my concerns raised in the previous meeting have yet to be addressed.
• Harry Hubert

“Sir,” “madam,” and similar titles are correct to use in this case. We do this when we’re not sure who might receive the letter or want to keep our formalities appropriate.

We can also use phrases like “to whom it may concern” when we have no idea who is going to receive our letter. “Yours faithfully” still applies in these cases, too.

When To Use “Yours Sincerely” And “Sincerely Yours”

“Yours sincerely” works when we do know the name. Some people also sign it backward and use “sincerely yours,” though this isn’t a common trope.

You should use “yours sincerely” when addressing someone by their name or with a personal title. Addressing some like “Mr. Smith” or “Daniel Webster” are appropriate times to use “yours sincerely” at the end of your letter.

Whether we only know the surname or the full name doesn’t matter. As long as we know an element of their personal name, we are able to use “yours sincerely” to sign off the letter.

The content of the letter will be much the same as what you can expect from “yours faithfully.” Nothing changes in the contents. It’s simply related to who you address and whether you’re familiar with them.

Some examples might help to make sense of this:

• Dear Mr. Jackson,
• I hope this letter finds you well. I’m more than happy to take you on board as a new client.
• Yours sincerely,
• Freddy Jones
• Dear Jackie Paulson,
• I am writing this letter to tell you all about the discoveries I made when I was abroad.
• Sincerely yours,
• Mr. Tomkins
• Dear Mrs. Harrison,
• I am writing a letter to you now to ask that you reconsider your decision before the council meeting!
• Milo Mikkelson

“Sincerely yours” and “yours sincerely” are interchangeable. As long as we address the recipient by name, we can use either closing statement to end our letter.

It’s much more likely that you’ll see “yours sincerely” at the end of a letter than “sincerely yours.” Most native speakers put “yours” first because it stays more in line with other phrases like “yours faithfully” and “yours truly.”

Is It Right To Say “Sincerely Yours”?

There is nothing wrong with using “sincerely yours” in your letters, even though it’s not the most common choice for native speakers.

It might help to look through common usage across American and British English. Sometimes, this helps us to understand whether the phrase is worth learning at all.

According to Google Ngram Viewer , “sincerely yours” and “yours sincerely” are used almost identically in American English. However, neither phrase is particularly popular, as you can see from the rapid decline over the last 200 years.

According to Google Ngram Viewer , “yours sincerely” is much more popular in British English, and it’s rare that British speakers will ever use “sincerely yours” in their letters or emails.

While American English doesn’t have a preference between the two, British English clearly favors “yours sincerely.”

The exact reason why this is the case is unclear, though it’s taught that “yours sincerely” is the only correct option in British schools. American English like to sway away from standardized rules, so they might have introduced “sincerely yours” as their own unique language construct.

When To Use “Yours Truly”

There is another option that we haven’t covered yet. “Yours truly” is a fairly popular phrase, and seeing how we use it in different languages will show you why.

According to Google Ngram Viewer , “yours truly” is vastly more popular than both “sincerely” and “faithfully” in American English. That’s because “yours truly” is the equivalent of “yours faithfully” to most American English speakers.

According to Google Ngram Viewer , “yours truly” is still more popular than the other two choices but much less popular overall in British English. It seems that all three phrases are used almost to the same degree, and British English has no particular preference.

You should use “yours truly” when you do not know the name of the recipient of your letter, just like “yours faithfully.” However, it’s much more likely that you’ll come across this in American English rather than British English.

Some examples might help you to understand it better:

• I hope this letter reaches you in time, as what I have to say is of high value.
• Yours truly,
• Madam Lopez
• To whoever receives this letter,
• I hope that I’m not out of line here, but I have many issues that I’d like to raise before the next government meeting.
• Dear sir/madam,
• I am writing this formal letter to criticize the abysmal performance of the staff I’ve noticed in your establishment in recent times.
• Karen Sinister

Why Is It “Yours Faithfully” And Not “Your Faithfully”?

So, why do we use “yours” in the phrase? We could just as easily use “your” since we’re only talking to one person, right?

You should use “yours” because it’s addressing “your” in the possessive form, meaning that the recipient now owns the contents of the letter. “Your” isn’t the possessive form, meaning it doesn’t make any sense to sign off in this way.

Does This Rule Also Count For “Yours Truly” And “Your Truly”?

The same rules apply no matter what way you choose to sign off your letters.

“Yours truly” is the only correct way to sign off because we need to use “yours” as the possessive form. There are no cases where “your truly” is correct to use.

Synonyms For “Yours Faithfully” And “Yours Sincerely”

While “yours faithfully” and “yours sincerely” are great ways to end a letter, there are still plenty of synonyms out there. We’ll include a good number of them, and we’ll finish off this section by telling you whether any of them are better to use than the original two.

• Best wishes
• Kind regards
• Kindest regards
• Respectfully
• Best regards
• Yours truly

The best options are “yours faithfully” or “yours truly” when you don’t know the name of the recipient and “yours sincerely” when you do know it. In formal writing, these are the only options you should consider.

With that said, we’d like to point out that “kind regards” is a great formal choice, but we mostly use it in emails. You’ll rarely (if ever) see it used in a letter, so you should avoid doing so.

Also, if you’re looking for informal options, we believe “best wishes” is your best choice. It’s a great way to sign a letter or email for someone that you know and trust, and you don’t mind too much about the professional tone of the letter.

Of course, you’re free to use whichever of the synonyms you prefer, but there really is no comparison worth being made over “yours faithfully,” “yours truly,” or “yours sincerely.”

You may also like: 12 Better Ways To Say “Sincerely” In Formal Emails

Final Thoughts

“Yours sincerely” and “yours faithfully” are great ways to end a formal letter and work based on whether you know the name of the recipient or not. “Yours truly” is another valid option, but you should stick to one of those three in all cases regarding formal letter writing.

Martin holds a Master’s degree in Finance and International Business. He has six years of experience in professional communication with clients, executives, and colleagues. Furthermore, he has teaching experience from Aarhus University. Martin has been featured as an expert in communication and teaching on Forbes and Shopify. Read more about Martin here .

• 11 Best Ways to End a “To Whom It May Concern” Letter
• Mam Or Ma’am Or Madam? Difference Explained (+21 Examples)
• 12 Better Ways To Say “Best Regards” (Professional Email)
• 10 Best Alternatives To “To Whom It May Concern”

• February 29, 2020

How To Use ‘Yours Sincerely’ and ‘Yours Faithfully’

It’s a common question: when should I use ‘your sincerely’ and when should I use ‘yours faithfully’ to finish my formal emails and/or letters.

Here we provide all the information you need to make the right choice.

The first thing to say is that these are both formal ways to finish an email or a letter (also known as salutations, which are the ways that we greet and then bid farewell to people, particularly in writing).

Getting salutations right is a necessary skill to learn quickly, particularly when you are working in English, and of course, deciding when to use ‘yours sincerely’ and ‘yours faithfully’ is a big part of this.

So, here are the important things to consider:

British English usage

As can happen with the English language, there are slight differences in opinion and habitual use when it comes to British English and American English. In general, American English would include Canada, whereas British English means every other country that speaks English. Once again, that’s a general rule.

In British English, there are particular style guides that are considered authoritative when it comes to the language, and one such guide is Henry Watson Fowler’s Dictionary of Modern English Usage. Despite being nearly a hundred years old, it is still referred to as a principle guide for writing in English. So what does Watson say exactly?

·   Use ‘Yours sincerely’ when responding to invitations and friendly, but not intimate, letters

·   Use ‘Yours faithfully’ when writing to unknown persons on business matters

Although ‘yours truly’ and ‘yours very truly’ have become somewhat archaic in modern British English terms, ‘yours sincerely’ and ‘yours faithfully’ are still the main go-to endings for business correspondence. Here Fowler is clear that ‘Yours sincerely’ is slightly more personal that ‘Yours faithfully’.

This approach is supported by advice given in the Oxford Handbook of Commercial Correspondence, which classifies the two terms as follows:

·   Use ‘Yours sincerely’ when you know the person’s name to whom you’re writing

·   Use ‘Yours faithfully’ when you begin a letter with “Dear Sir/Madam”

The Oxford Handbook of Commercial Correspondence also offers up the most informal of salutations:

·   Use “Best wishes” when writing to someone you know well

And there you have it! In British English ‘Yours faithfully’ is the most formal of all, and is used when you do not have the name of the person you are writing to.

American English usage

Across the Atlantic, there is a slight difference of opinion on these matters. Firstly, things are rather less formal in the United States, but there are still conventions of sorts.

‘Yours faithfully’ doesn’t exist as a salutation in the United States. Instead, when the recipient of the email or letter is unknown, the term ‘Yours truly’ is used.

‘Sincerely’ is therefore slightly less formal, and for when you know the name of the person you are addressing the correspondence too. But instead of ‘Yours sincerely’ the inverted ‘Sincerely yours’ is preferred.

So, there we go. Transatlantic differences and the importance of knowing how to end your letter when you know the recipient’s name as opposed to when you don’t. That’s all you need to know.

Hint: when writing online it is always a good idea to get some AI help. Use our free grammar checker or innovative AI-based paraphrasing app to elevate your writing.

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"Yours sincerely", "Yours faithfully," and "Yours truly"

When to use "yours sincerely", "yours faithfully," and "yours truly".

The Quick Answer

• If you know the recipient or use their name, end your letter with 'Sincerely yours' (US) or 'Yours sincerely' (UK).
• If you don't know the recipient or don't use their name, end your letter 'Yours truly' (US) or 'Yours faithfully' (UK).

Starting and Ending Letters

"Yours sincerely" or "Yours faithfully"?

Use "yours faithfully" ( ) or "yours truly" ( ) for unknown recipients.

Use "Yours sincerely" ( ) or "Sincerely yours" ( ) for Known Recipients

With "yours sincerely" and "yours faithfully" give only the first word a capital letter.

Follow "Yours sincerely" and "Yours faithfully" with a Comma

Write the salutation, postamble, and your name by hand, top tip: don't use "s" twice.

This page was written by Craig Shrives .

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   Home » Articles & News » How To Greet Future Employers And Sign Off In A Cover Letter Or Application

How To Greet Future Employers And Sign Off In A Cover Letter Or Application

• Communication
• CV tips and cover letter tips

The cover letter is an extremely important part of communicating your skills and strengths in job applications. Here’s how to handle greeting employers and signing off! It’s all part of your free Young Professional Training .

Why is a cover letter important.

The point of a cover letter is to add further context to the information you provided on your CV or application form, to help you sell your skills more effectively, and to give you a space to showcase your personality and the attributes that you alone can bring to the job.

If a potential employer is on the fence about your application, a great cover letter can sway them in your favour. On the other hand, a poor cover letter can harm an otherwise great application. But many people are confused about the best way to write a cover letter that gets results.

Let’s take a closer look at two of the most important and most often overlooked aspects of cover letters: the greeting and the sign-off.

The Greeting

The greeting is how you open your cover letter, and it’s your first opportunity to make a great impression. Since cover letters are formal pieces of business communication, avoid casual greetings such as “hi” or “hello”, and stick with “Dear…”.

Here’s how to open your cover letter, depending on whether you know the name of the recipient or not.

When you know the person’s name

If at all possible, we recommend trying to find out the name of the person who will be reading your cover letter. This might be the hiring manager or a recruiter, if you’re trying to find a job through a recruitment firm. The contact person’s information might be listed on the job ad, application materials, or the company’s website. Failing that, you can always call and ask for the name of the hiring manager for this position.

It’s best to err on the side of being more formal in cover letters, rather than less, so use the person’s title and surname (Dear Mr. Smith as opposed to Dear Bob).

If in doubt about titles, always use Ms. for a woman and Mr. for a man. Some people use the non-gendered title Mx., although this is still relatively unusual. If you don’t know the person’s gender, play it safe and use both their first name and surname (e.g. Dear Sam Jones). In some industries, it is a good idea to check whether there is a professional title you should be using, such as Dr. or Professor.

Oh, and don’t forget to double- and triple-check the spelling. Attention to detail is important in many jobs, and spelling the hiring manager’s name wrong in your cover letter looks sloppy and unprofessional.

When you don’t know the person’s name

Sometimes, you will do your best to find out the person’s name but still have no success. In these instances, there are still right and wrong ways to open your cover letter.

“To Whom It May Concern” used to be popular, but is now quite out of fashion due to its impersonal nature. “Dear Sir or Madam” is still acceptable in industries that trend towards greater formality, though a little old-fashioned (avoid “Dear Sirs” at all costs, though!)

Here are a few strong openers to consider when you don’t know the recipient’s name:

• Dear Hiring Manager
• Dear [company name] Human Resources Manager
• Dear [name of position you’re applying for] Hiring Manager
• Dear [job title of the person you would report to, e.g. Marketing Manager]
• Dear [name of department the position sits in, e.g. Sales] Team

The Sign-Off

So you’ve made a great impression with your fantastic cover letter. Now you need to ensure you leave things on a good note with the right sign-off.

The Final Line

The final line of your cover letter is valuable space that you can use to make a lasting good impression. This is a space where you can take the opportunity to reiterate your interest in the position and encourage them to get in touch with you to learn more.

There’s a fine line between enthusiastic and genuine as opposed to pushy and presumptuous, though. Here are a few examples of great last lines you can use for inspiration and adapt for your own style:

• Thank you for your time and consideration, and I look forward to hearing from you.
• I would love to further discuss the position and the skills I would bring to it.
• I believe that my experience in [X, Y and Z] make me a great fit for this position and would love to speak with you further.
• I am excited about the work [company name] is doing in [X area] and would welcome the opportunity to contribute towards its success.

Be enthusiastic without being over the top, and don’t be afraid to reiterate why you’re an amazing fit for the position. The cover letter is all about selling yourself to the employer, after all.

Sincerely/Faithfully

Just as with the greeting, the sign-off you use might depend on whether you know the person’s name. Remember learning about “Yours Sincerely” and “Yours Faithfully at school? Well, it’s still fine to use them in your cover letters.

“Sincerely” is for a letter addressed to a specific person (so a letter that begins “Dear Mr Smith” would end “Yours Sincerely”) and “Faithfully” is for a letter addressed to a generic person (so a letter that begins “Dear Hiring Manager” would end “Yours Faithfully”).

As long as you use the right one, you cannot go wrong with these classic sign-offs.

Other Options

If you think Sincerely/Faithfully are too formal for the job you’re applying for, there are lots of different and equally acceptable options available to you. Here are a few you might want to consider:

• Kind regards
• With very best wishes
• Respectfully

Avoid less formal closers such as “thanks”, “cheers”, or “bye”.

Whichever closing sentiment you choose, follow it by your name. Most cover letters are now sent electronically but if you are sending a physical copy, don’t forget to sign it.

Task: Draft a Cover Letter for Your Dream Job

Think about your dream job. Even if it doesn’t exist yet or you are not yet qualified for it, that doesn’t matter for the purpose of this exercise. Now draft the cover letter you’d use to impress a hiring manager at that dream job.

As a bonus task, leave your covering letter for a day or two after writing a draft, and then return to it. Chances are, looking at it with fresh eyes will show you one or two places it could be improved.

The Cover Letter Matters

A great cover letter can help you land a great job. And when it comes to writing your cover letter, attention to every detail matters. These tips will help you get two often-overlooked but crucially important aspects right.

Happy job hunting!

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• Yours Sincerely | Meaning, When to Use & Examples

Yours Sincerely | Meaning, When to Use & Examples

Published on 16 December 2022 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on 27 June 2023.

Yours sincerely is a standard sign-off, used to end an email or letter, followed by your name on the next line. ‘Sincerely’ is an adverb meaning ‘genuinely’ and is used to emphasise your honest intentions toward the person addressed.

This sign-off is relatively formal, but it should usually only be used when writing to someone you already know, not a complete stranger. An alternative like ‘Yours faithfully’ should be used with someone you’ve never written to before.

I am writing to inform you …

Yours sincerely,

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Table of contents

Yours sincerely or sincerely yours, sincerely on its own, sincerely, truly, or faithfully, frequently asked questions.

The order in which you write the two words depends on whether you’re writing in US or UK English :

• In US English , Sincerely yours is the normal word order.
• In UK English , Yours sincerely is used instead.

Sincerely yours, / Yours sincerely,

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A popular alternative, particularly in the US, is to write Sincerely on its own, without including ‘yours’ at all. This usage is now more common than the version with ‘yours’ in US business correspondence. It conveys a slightly less formal tone, although still not casual.

Use this sign-off in US correspondence if you want to tone down the formality slightly without becoming overly informal. In the UK, where it hasn’t gained as much popularity, it’s still safest to stick with Yours sincerely .

Sincerely can also be replaced with either faithfully or truly in formal correspondence. Both these alternatives are supposed to be used when writing to a person you haven’t interacted with before, especially if you addressed them as ‘Dear Sir or Madam’.

Their popularity again varies between US and UK English:

• Yours truly is more popular in US English .
• Yours faithfully is standard in UK English .

Note that the rules of when to use each one are followed less strictly in US correspondence. Yours truly is often used whether you know the person or not, and people are unlikely to object to it.

Yours truly, / Yours faithfully,

Sincerely is an adverb meaning ‘genuinely’ or ‘honestly’. It’s related to the adjective ‘sincere’. It’s commonly used on its own or in combination with ‘yours’ as a sign-off at the end of an email message or letter. It’s a formal way of ending a message that emphasises your honest intentions toward the recipient.

It’s also used in other contexts to emphasise the genuineness of a feeling (e.g., ‘I am sincerely sorry for my comments’).

‘Your sincerely’ is a mistake; the correct spelling of the phrase used as a sign-off for email messages and letters is Yours sincerely .

The possessive pronoun ‘Yours’ is needed, not the possessive determiner ‘Your’. A determiner like ‘your’ doesn’t stand on its own but modifies a noun.

Traditionally, the sign-off Yours sincerely is used in an email message or letter when you are writing to someone you have interacted with before, not a complete stranger.

Yours faithfully is used instead when you are writing to someone you have had no previous correspondence with, especially if you greeted them as ‘ Dear Sir or Madam ’.

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Caulfield, J. (2023, June 27). Yours Sincerely | Meaning, When to Use & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved 15 April 2024, from https://www.scribbr.co.uk/strong-communication/yours-sincerely/

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How to write a cover letter

Need help? Here's how we can support you with your cover letters. If you’ve struggled with cover letters in the past and you’re worried they’re holding you back, we can help. Step 1:  Use the information below to write your cover letter Step 2: Upload your cover letter to  CareerSet for immediate feedback Make sure you read the whole of the feedback report, not just the bullet point highlights Edit your cover letter and reupload - repeat as many times as you like Step 3:  If you have a specific question that CareerSet can’t help you with, upload your cover letter to your documents on  Handshake  and message the careers Information Team, requesting a review. We do not offer a repeat cover letter 'checking' service, so when you have applied the feedback, you should return to CareerSet to help further refine your cover letter.  Read the  Talk to Us  page for more information about our support. Postgraduate students should also visit the Graduate Research School's  Applications and interviews  page.

What is a cover letter?

A cover letter (or covering letter) is a document that accompanies your CV when you are applying for jobs. It’s a chance for you to expand on your CV and explain why you’re interested in and qualified for the job.

Letter or email?

It’s unlikely that you’ll actually post a job application, but even when emailing an application many employers still prefer you to attach a cover letter and CV, rather than put the content of your cover letter in the body of your email.

Saying that, don’t worry too much. Just do what the employer asks you to do. If they say to apply with a CV and cover letter, attach a CV and cover letter to your email. If you’re unsure, ask us.

How to lay it out

Set out your cover letter as a formal letter. That means your name and address on the top right and the address of the employer on the left. Include the job title and/or job application reference. Sign off your letter ‘Yours faithfully’ or ‘Yours sincerely’ depending on who you have addressed the letter to (‘Yours sincerely’ when your letter is addressed to a person, ‘Yours faithfully’ when your letter is addressed to the organisation or ‘Sir/Madam’).

What to include

Unless you’re told otherwise, keep your cover letter brief. One side of A4 is enough. Here’s a general structure:

• Paragraph One: Introduce yourself and explain what’s motivated you to apply for this role. Explain why you want to work for the employer and why you want that specific role.
• Paragraph Two/three: Explain why you are suited to the role. Highlight your strengths, skills and experiences that are relevant. You can refer to sections of your CV but don’t just repeat what’s on there.
• Final paragraph: Conclusion. Draw everything together and end on a positive note.
• If you’re given instructions, follow them. Sometimes you’ll be given a word count or be told to write a cover letter no longer than one page of A4.
• Remember that your cover letter is a chance to show off your writing style and your ability to be concise. Do not ramble or write your letter like an academic essay.
• When outlining your skills, refer back to the job description to make it clear how your skills are relevant.
• If you’re sending a speculative application (applying for a role that isn’t being advertised) try to address your cover letter to a specific person. Letters addressed to the company or to ‘Sir/Madam’ are easily ignored. Use LinkedIn or the company website to find the name of the best person to contact.
• Proofread, and consider asking a family member or friend to check it. We can give you feedback on your cover letter but we do not provide a proofreading service. Use  Texthelp tools to get your computer to read out your answers to help you spot mistakes.

Speculative applications

A lot of jobs are never advertised; sometimes a job may even be created for you if you are the right person. Read our advice on sending speculative applications:

• In order to write a good speculative letter/email you will first need to do some research into the organisation you are writing to. This way you will be able to target your application to their needs and demonstrate your passion for the company, role and industry
• Catch the attention of the person you are writing to. Give them a clear reason to want to contact you and take things further. For example, demonstrate that you have relevant skills, perhaps through extra-curricular activities and explain how offering you work experience will be of benefit to them (not just you!). Include a web link to your best work if possible. Also demonstrate that you understand what they do as an organisation - perhaps mention an interest in the clients they work with/your enjoyment of a documentary they made/an article you read that resonated with you – ie really tailor the application to that particular organisation
• Be explicit about what you are asking for and what you can offer
• It is a good idea to write to a specific named individual. If necessary phone to clarify who the best person to contact would be before sending your letter/email. Company websites, X/Twitter and LinkedIn profiles may also be useful for this
• Follow it up! It’s a good idea to contact the organisation a week or two after you have sent it. Ask if they’ve had a chance to read it and whether there will be any opportunities for you. If not, find out if they know of anyone else you could approach for work experience opportunities
• Create an online presence: use social or professional networking sites like Facebook and LinkedIn. Not only can you find out about companies in this way, they can find out about you! Use X/Twitter to follow individuals working in the roles you are interested in - this will help you keep up to date with their news, but could also lead to job opportunities (eg they could put out a last minute call for help if a runner lets them down). However, remember they can check you out online, so think about the impression you want to give and lock down your privacy settings of anything personal you wouldn’t want them to see.

Cover letter examples

• Sample cover letter  on Prospects
• Sample cover letter for a speculative application  on Prospects
• Sample cover letter and speculative work experience approach  on TARGETjobs
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