Closing business emails

Recently, I was asked by one of my students whether it was correct to write ‘Thank you, in advance, for your consideration’ or ‘Thank you in advance for your consideration.’ This got me thinking about a separate issue. Did I actually like the idea of thanking someone in advance for something they hadn’t done, or even agreed to do? Did I find this expression too smug? Audacious? Arrogant? 

It led me to do some digging around online and I found that, while it is quite common in some cultures, the general consensus among professionals in English speaking countries is that it borders on being rude. Still, everyone is entitled to their opinion …of which there is an abundance.

Many people expressed a dislike for the fact that the writer presumes that you will provide what is requested and so is ‘thanking you in advance.’ Thank you is an expression of gratitude or acknowledgement of something someone has done. There is some ambiguity as to whether the reader will be thanked after fulfilling the request. Will his or her compliance then be unceremoniously ignored? The mere uncertainty risks alienating the reader. By saying thanks in advance you risk ‘short-changing’ the complete interaction process by presuming this person will do something even before they have agreed.

It goes without saying that people who write ‘thank you in advance’ do not intend to be pushy or cocky; conversely, their intention is to be polite. Nevertheless, to quote Albert Camus “…good intentions may do as much harm as malevolence if they lack understanding.”

Since this is a formal expression used in letters and emails, I have decided to focus this article on alternative expressions for closing business emails. For those of you who are not so accustomed to using business English, you can learn more by reviewing the Business English section of my course on Udemy.

Try closing out your email with one of these statements:

• Thank you for any help you can provide.
• In the meantime, thank you so much for your attention
• Thank you for considering my request.
• I really appreciate any help you can provide.
• I will appreciate your help with this situation.
• I will be grateful if you can send me this information.
• I hope what I have requested is possible. 

Whichever expression you decide to use to close your email, you will need to follow it with a closing phrase. 'Kind regards,' '(Yours) sincerely,' are both acceptable. You will also need to include, your full name and job title, your company name and a contact phone number (your email account should give you the option to store this information automatically as a personal signature).

At Speakeasy, you can benefit from teachers with real world experience of working in the business world, from the financial sector to NGOs. Learn from the comfort of your own home with a native speaking teacher who makes you feel relaxed and confident. Take lessons from home, from your office at lunch time or even while travelling abroad. As long as you have a Skype account and internet access, you can attend classes and study in an environment most convenient for you.

Visit our website for more information on our one-to-one courses www.speakeasy121.com

visit our video tutorial course on Udemy to learn more about the most commonly used idioms in English-speaking countries, as well as tips for business English.