Yours sincerely

[nouamaneer]

Dear all,

I need to know how to sign off a formal letter. Is itr with 'yours faithfully' or 'yours sincerely'? In a book for cambridge exams preparation, I found that yours sincerely is the one used and alone. But other sources, indicate the use of the former in some case.

Thanks,

 

[5jj]

The traditional BrE system is:

If you begin with 'Dear Sir/Madam', you end with 'Yours faithfully'.
If you begin with 'Dear Name', you end with 'Yours sincerely'.

 

[emsr2d2]

The traditional BrE system is:

If you begin with 'Dear Sir/Madam', you end with 'Yours faithfully'.
If you begin with 'Dear Name', you end with 'Yours sincerely'.

I've seen other threads on this forum suggesting that things have changed but I was taught the above "rule" in 1983 and I have stuck with it firmly ever since. It has stood me in good stead.

 

[Esredux]

The traditional BrE system is:

If you begin with 'Dear Sir/Madam', you end with 'Yours faithfully'.
If you begin with 'Dear Name', you end with 'Yours sincerely'.

I wonder if there is any logic behind it. I must confess I have never written a letter without cheating for fear that I could confuse the opening/closing remarks.

 

[konungursvia]

That rule doesn't exist on this side of the pond, I believe. I think it's just a throwback to old notions of class, and the protocols and etiquette associated with these systems.

If you think about it, you can be faithful to Bob or Madame, and you can be sincere to a Sir or a Shirley.

The traditional BrE system is:

If you begin with 'Dear Sir/Madam', you end with 'Yours faithfully'.
If you begin with 'Dear Name', you end with 'Yours sincerely'.

 

[Esredux]

If you think about it, you can be faithful to Bob or Madame, and you can be sincere to a Sir or a Shirley.

Horror of horrors! It sounds even more confusing :shock:
Thanks for the tip anyway - I could never be sincere to any Sir :lol: