Regards | Meaning, Alternatives & Examples

Regards is a common sign-off in emails and other forms of correspondence. It’s used to end an email by wishing the recipient well. It’s followed by a comma, and then your name on a separate line.

While regards is an effective and respectful way to end an email, there are numerous alternatives and modified versions that can be used to vary the tone of your writing to make it more or less familiar.

Kindest regards

Kindest regards (or kind regards) conveys a professional and semiformal tone, wishing the recipient well without being overly familiar. It’s best used in introductory emails, emails to people in a higher professional position, or emails to people you don’t have an established relationship with.

Best regards

This sign-off is respectful but slightly more familiar in tone than “kindest regards.” It can be used in both personal emails and emails to coworkers or associates.

Warm regards

Warm regards (or warmest regards) conveys a familiar, but still somewhat formal, tone. It can be used in emails to colleagues with whom you work closely, or to friends and family. It should not be used in emails to people you don’t know well.

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Frequently asked questions

What is a synonym of regards?

Some synonyms, near synonyms, and variations of regards include:

• Best regards
• Kind(est) regards
• Sincerely yours
• Warm(est) regards
• Yours truly

Is it best regard or best regards?

Best regards is a respectful, semiformal way to close an email. It can be used in both personal and professional emails to someone you’re relatively familiar with.

“Best regard” is a mistake and should be avoided. You need the plural noun “regards” in this sign-off.

What does kind regards mean?

Kindest regards (or kind regards) is a common sign-off in emails and other forms of correspondence. It’s used to wish the recipient well without being overly familiar.

It is a less formal alternative to “sincerely yours” and “yours truly,” but it’s more formal than other sign-offs like “warm regards.”