How to: Open and close a business email

02/25/2021

Overview

Ask yourself these questions before you start writing your email: Do I ‘know’ the person/people I am writing to? Is this the first communication? How formal do I need to be? Are they a colleague/client/customer? How ‘friendly’ should I be?

Formal salutations

I don’t know your name…

Dear Sir/Madam
Yours faithfully/sincerely

I am writing to a department/group for the first time…

To whom it may concern
Yours sincerely

We haven’t communicated before but I know your name…

Dear Mr./Ms. Green
Yours sincerely/Kind Regards

Neutral salutations

We have communicated before but I need to maintain professional distance…

Good morning/afternoon John/Helen
(Hello) John/Helen

Best/Kind Regards
Regards

Informal salutations

We have communicated regularly before and know each other well…

Hi John/Helen

Best Regards/Wishes

General opening: (formal > neutral)

• With reference to your email of (date)/regarding X…
• With regard to/Regarding X…
• Thank you/thanks for your email
• Thanks for your prompt response/getting back to me to me so quickly
• I am writing to…(give reason)
• Please find attached…

General closing:

• Please don’t hesitate to contact me/get in touch
• I look forward to hearing from you soon

Related resources

Language Toolbox Series – 20 useful phrases to manage online meetings in English

Does the idea of chairing an online meeting in English make you feel nervous? Sometimes it's just a matter of confidence. These 20 phrases will help you manage meetings professionally in English and make you feel more confident when you are leading a meeting with multiple participants.

Language Toolbox Series – 20 ways to manage difficult questions at work in English

What do you say when you are asked a question you don't know the answer to immediately? Difficult enough in your mother tongue. These 20 phrases will help you manage those questions professionally in English.

Language Toolbox Series – 20 ways to disagree politely in English

There are always moments in life and in business where we don't see eye to eye with someone. But the problem is often finding the right language to say "you're wrong" without causing unnecessary offence. Expressing disagreement politely is essential for maintaining positive relationships, fostering effective communication, and upholding personal and professional boundaries. With this language toolbox we hope to provide some language that will help you to handle those difficult discord moments gracefully.