Sincerely, a comma letter. Epistolary etiquette, or writing letters

Etiquette is a manner of behavior, rules of courtesy and politeness, accepted in society, established norms of morality, which are the result of a long process of establishing relationships between people. Without observance of these norms, political, economic, cultural relations are impossible, since it is impossible to exist without respect for each other. Etiquette in letters is all the same formalities that have become a custom.

Rules of etiquette observed in letters

1. Sitting down to write a letter, you need to remember that "you can't cut out what is written with a pen with an ax." Therefore, it is especially important not to sit down to write in a bad mood when the nerves are inflated.

2. It is customary to write letters on one side of the sheet, leaving reverse side clean. Even in order to write a few phrases, you need to use a whole sheet of paper.

3. On the left edge of the writing paper, leave a free field about two fingers wide, which should be the same width from top to bottom. Bottom also leave 1-3 cm, depending on the paper size.

4. In our country, as in a number of other countries, it is not customary to start a letter with the word "I".

5. Etiquette does not require the beauty of handwriting, but it is undesirable to write illegibly.

6. Date and place must be marked on each letter.

7. It is considered very ugly and impolite to put one letter with a dot instead of a signature.

8. P.S. (postscript), or postscript, is placed at the end of the letter, after the signature.

9. The letter is folded with the text inside.

10. Various congratulations, Thanksgiving letters it is better to write by hand.

11. Holiday greetings must be sent in advance, taking into account the addressee's place of residence, so that they are received on the eve of the corresponding event.

12. Letters should be answered as soon as possible, at least in a couple of lines.

13. The address must be accurate and neatly written.

14. By writing your return address, you save the time of your addressee, who could lose it.

In addition, the sender's address is also necessary if, for some reason, the letter must be returned back.

Sincerely, comma!

Often those who write letters have a question: do I need a comma before the signature or name at the end of the text of the letter? "Respectfully, Ivan Ivanov" or "Respectfully, Ivan Ivanov"? "Sincerely yours, Ivan Ivanov" or "Sincerely yours, Ivan Ivanov"?

According to the norms of the Russian language, a comma is not needed here. On the other hand, in the current practice of Russian writing, it is customary to put a comma after such words: this is due to the orientation towards the English letter ("Love, Ann" - "With love, Ann"). Although the British, in a similar case, the norms of etiquette of the epistolary genre do not contradict the norms of punctuation. In a word, the choice remains with the author: he prefers to follow the established practice or the rules of Russian punctuation. In any case, there will be no error. But at business correspondence it is better to give preference to the option with a comma.

Punctuation difficulties in writing business speech

How to place punctuation marks in the first phrase of the contract containing the designations of the contracting parties?

The correct punctuation for this sentence is: State enterprise"Communication", hereinafter referred to as the "Enterprise", represented by CEO Popovich Alexander Mikhailovich, acting on the basis of the Charter, on the one hand, and a citizen Russian Federation Babkin Ivan Vasilyevich, hereinafter referred to as the "Worker", on the other hand, have entered into this agreement on the following ...

Note that in this sentence the words On the one side And on the other side act as a circumstance and are not introductory, and therefore do not require punctuation marks.

Do I need a comma after words "Sincerely" at the end of a business letter?

After the words "Sincerely" it is customary to put a comma, despite the fact that the spelling rules do not regulate this case.
For example, correct:

Sincerely,
Chief Accountant of LLC "Seascape"
D. O. Ivantseva

Do I need a period after the signature in a business letter?

A dot after the signature in a business letter is not put. In documents, including business letters, the signature acts as a function of the so-called props (obligatory element) that does not constitute a complete sentence.

It should be noted that in newspapers and magazines there is a tradition to put a dot after the author's signature, if the signature is located after the main text of the article.

What to put after the appeal Dear Mr. Ivanov- an exclamation point or a comma?

First phrase business letter- address - can end with an exclamation point or a comma. If there is a comma, the text of the letter starts with a lowercase letter. If there is an exclamation point, we write the first sentence with a capital.

What words are needed and what words do not need to be isolated?

The Punctuation Guide, published on our portal, will help you figure this out. It is based on the most FAQ visitors to the Help Desk.

The signature "with respect" at the end of the letter is a standard formula of politeness. Is it always necessary to end the letter with this phrase? How to write it correctly in Russian and English? Let's look at examples.

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How to end a business letter with respect

There are no random phrases in official correspondence. Stylistics requires conciseness and careful selection of words from the author. Final phrases reinforce positive emotions express confidence and appreciation at the same time. A clear signature helps maintain contributes to the achievement of the goal. Respect the interlocutor and compose the text so that it is pleasant to read. Politeness combined with professionalism speaks of the competence of a specialist.

When writing a formal message, remember that you are speaking on behalf of the entire company. The secretary must be correct, as he represents his leader. Compliance with the generally accepted rules of business correspondence creates a positive image of the company in the eyes of partners and customers.

Official correspondence always has specific goals. The purpose determines the structure of the text. In general the text is divided into several semantic parts: introduction, statement of the problem, argumentation and conclusion. Each part performs specific tasks. The introduction, for example, prepares for the perception of the main ideas. Conclusion - expresses wishes and hopes , assures further partnership.

Letter of thanks to an employee from the head of the organization

Note! For each of the tasks there are generally accepted formulas. By ending the letter politely, you show that you respect your partner, set him up for positive emotions and leave a good impression.

How to spell "respectfully" at the end of a letter

Uniform regulation of business correspondence and bringing it to common standards characteristic of large companies. Design letterhead , the form of "autographs" at the end of the message becomes part of the corporate culture, an element of style. Whether it is a paper or electronic message, compliance with a single standard is an indicator of attention to detail and important subtleties.

There are several types of closing phrases in business correspondence. Their choice depends on how well you know the addressee. For example, the signature "with respect" in a formal letter is neutral. If you want to focus your partner’s attention on something or once again remind him of the request, use restrained phrases:

• Yours sincerely...
• Sincerely...
• WITH Best wishes...

When choosing the final formula of politeness, try to do without familiarities. Be aware of how well you know the person you are writing to. If the acquaintance is formal, stick to the official style.

The answer was prepared jointly with the editors of the electronic journal " Secretary's Handbook».

Answered by Maria BELDOVA,
With. n. With. VNIIDAD, expert in the field documentation support management

What are we waiting for when sending a letter to a partner or client? So that our information, even negative, makes a favorable impression on the addressee and causes a response or decision. This can be achieved if you follow the rules of correspondence etiquette, properly format the letter and prepare a high quality text. Your text should be of moderate length; contain the necessary arguments and clear language and have a structure that best conveys the information.

Reception 1. Separate the main from the secondary

The text of a business letter should have a volume sufficient to ...

The full version of the answer is available after free

"Respectfully" at the end of the letter: with or without a comma

The final form of politeness is given at the end of the text. It is placed on the same vertical with the date, on the right side. The phrase is separated from the main text by two or three intervals. Slightly below are props "Signature" , including the name of the position of the compiler, his personal signature and transcript. This arrangement complies with the standards of GOST 6.30-97, which defines the requirements for paperwork. If the message is on official letterhead or has private character, the title of the position and the decoding of the signature are not put.

The question of how to write at the end of the letter "with respect": with or without a comma, does not have a clear answer. Both options are acceptable. The absence of a sign can be perceived as negligence and even illiteracy. On the other hand, according to the rules of punctuation, this comma should not be placed. From the point of view of Russian grammar, the sign is redundant. The words "with respect" are not an introductory turnover, and the signature is an appeal. This phrase implies that "This letter was written with respect to you by N.N.". As in it, in the abbreviated version, the comma is not put according to the rules.

Why is it so common in practice? IN rules of correspondence in English, German and other European languages, this sign is required. The phrase "with respect" at the end of the letter in English is separated not only graphically, but also punctuation. Over time, although it is grammatically erroneous, the rule became part of the norms of the Russian language.

Letter Conclusion: Sample "Regards"

How to write "respectfully" in a business letter in English

Rules business communication in English in many ways similar to those adopted in Russia. At the end, the addressee is thanked for their time and expresses their intention to continue the correspondence. Common phrases are also used: "with respect", "with gratitude", "with best wishes". After with new line indicate the name and surname of the compiler, as well as his position. Let's look at an example: how to sign a letter in English "with respect ..."

Table 1. Final politeness formulas in English language

	Yours faithfully
Used if in circulation is the name of the recipient. The most common option.	Obsolete variant, found in British English. It is written in the absence of the name of the addressee in the appeal: Dear Sir or Dear madam	American equivalent for British yours faithfully.	A less formal option, acceptable for correspondence with a familiar person. Variations: Kind regards, Warm regards, Regards, Kindest regards
yours sincerely, Aleksandr Klimov Marketing Director	yours faithfully, Aleksandr Klimov Marketing Director	yours truly, Aleksandr Klimov Marketing Director	kind regards, Aleksandr Klimov Marketing Director

The ability to tactfully and correctly use standard cliché phrases is an indicator of the level of professionalism and knowledge of the language. IN English writing the phrase "respectfully" can be expressed in different ways. When composing a text for a foreign partner, consider all the factors and choose the most suitable translation.

How to sign a letter correctly: "with respect" and other politeness formulas

When compiling a message, the sender should be guided not only by generally accepted standards, but also by the rules of good manners. If you are writing to a stranger, and the appeal is strictly formal, use established expressions. The style of business speech strictly limits the choice of phrases.

If the matter concerns email or communication with well-known people, one can deviate from rigid canons, while remaining polite and correct. Let's look at a few examples of final phrases that are acceptable in less formal communication.

Table 2. Use of alternative final expressions

Indication of a name without a courtesy formula	Valid if there is an active exchange of messages.
Have a good day	Suitable for the final message if you do not plan to continue the correspondence today.
See you	If you have arranged a meeting in the near future and want to emphasize that you have not forgotten about it.
Good luck in your hard work	It is acceptable when trying to cheer up the recipient if he asked for advice or help.
Thank you for your attention	Used at the end commercial offers

We also argue in the bureau, but our proofreaders answer meekly and briefly: no. So it was in the time of Pushkin, so wrote Chekhov and Gorky, Blok and Solzhenitsyn (look through the books in which the letters of classic writers are collected), pre-revolutionary professors and the Soviet, including D. E. Rosenthal ... Well, why list them all! This is how they taught in schools and institutes, this is what proofreaders were taught old school. It was right and it was logical.

For greater persuasiveness, we will quote the Doctor of Philology, Professor of the Moscow State Linguistic University Dmitry Ivanovich Ermolovich: “If you write this (“Respectfully, Anton”) separated by a comma in a line, “Anton” looks like an appeal. The fact that in letters the name of the author of the letter is written on a new line does not change anything: this is how it is distinguished purely graphically, however, such highlighting does not affect punctuation.

In all sorts of reference books like “Business Letters” or “Culture of Oral and writing business man"The uselessness of a comma is explained even more simply -" in the indicated forms, a comma before the signature is redundant in terms of punctuation and should not be placed.

By the way, they began to put it in contemporary practice business letter, perhaps by analogy (or in imitation) of the rule of some foreign languages, in particular English, where a comma is required. But each hut, as they say, has its own rattles. Why transfer to Russian writing what is not legitimate from the point of view of Russian grammar? The “guiding star” in such cases should be the epistolary practice of undeniably educated and cultured people, philologists believe. By the way, review the letters you received from your German partners. They also do not put a comma after "Mit freundlichen Grüßen".

Although, indeed, the opinion still prevails that the comma is necessary and obligatory. In a strange way, this little “squiggle” is often a kind of marker for the literacy of the author of the letter (or even the company) for partners, bosses, and a potential employer. And the absence of a comma can be perceived not only as the illiteracy of the writer, but also as gross negligence, almost disrespect for the addressee. In this case, says Professor Yermolovich, one can put after the words “Sincerely yours” or “Respectfully”, “With best wishes”, “With best wishes and hope for cooperation”, etc. dot or dash. A dash, explains a respected philologist, “this is also competent: a dash replaces the implied words (“wrote to you, addressed to you”).”

These variants can also be found in the letters of our classics.

Well, the wonderful portal you mentioned, whose hint is also used in our editorial office, motivates the use of an extra comma by the “established practice of writing.” How it developed, you already know.