Practice
Yours faithfully or yours sincerely: sign-offs
A formal letter begins Dear Ms Patel. Its closing is Yours sincerely. If the same letter begins Dear Sir or Madam, the traditional closing changes to Yours faithfully. The name in the greeting makes the difference.
Choose Yours sincerely when a formal letter addresses a named person and Yours faithfully when it begins with a general salutation such as Dear Sir or Madam.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
Yours faithfully and Yours sincerely /jɔːz ˈfeɪθfəli/ and /jɔːz sɪnˈsɪəli/
The short answer
Use Yours sincerely when you know and use the recipient's name in the greeting. Use Yours faithfully when the greeting is general because you do not know the recipient's name.
Dear Dr Morgan, Thank you for your reply. Yours sincerely, Amira Khan
Why it works: Dr Morgan is named in the greeting, so Yours sincerely is the traditional closing.
5 more examples
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Dear Mr Ahmed, I am writing to confirm the interview time. Yours sincerely, Lena Ortiz
The greeting names Mr Ahmed, so the traditional British closing is Yours sincerely.
Not this:Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing to ask for an application form.
Yours faithfully, Lena Ortiz What changes: The writer does not know the recipient's name, so the general greeting pairs with Yours faithfully. -
Dear Professor Lewis, Thank you for considering my request. Yours sincerely, Evan Brooks
A title and surname identify the recipient clearly.
Not this:To whom it may concern, Please find my documents attached.
Yours faithfully, Evan Brooks What changes: The recipient is not identified, so the more general closing fits the traditional pattern. -
Dear Ms Green, I would like to request a copy of the invoice. Yours sincerely, Noah Price
Ms Green is a named recipient, even though the letter is formal.
Not this:Dear Customer Services Team, I would like to request a copy of the invoice.
Yours faithfully, Noah Price What changes: The second greeting addresses a group without naming a person. -
Dear Ms Romero, Thank you for the information. Kind regards, Samira Ali
This is a common modern email closing. It does not follow the traditional letter pair exactly.
Not this:Dear Ms Romero, Thank you for the information.
Yours sincerely, Samira Ali What changes: For a traditional formal letter to a named person, Yours sincerely is the expected choice. -
Dear Sir or Madam, I am applying for the advertised position. Yours faithfully, Mina Shah
The writer has no recipient name and uses a general formal greeting.
Not this:Dear Ms Taylor, I am applying for the advertised position.
Yours sincerely, Mina Shah What changes: Once the applicant knows Ms Taylor's name, the sign-off changes.
Read the full guide
Look at the greeting before choosing the sign-off. A name in the greeting usually leads to Yours sincerely. A general greeting such as Dear Sir or Madam usually leads to Yours faithfully.
Check the greeting first
The greeting gives you the clue. If you write Dear Mr Shah or Dear Dr Wright, you know who will read the letter. In the traditional pattern, choose Yours sincerely at the end.
Dear Ms Brown, Yours sincerely,
The name Ms Brown connects the greeting with Yours sincerely.
Does Dear Mr Cole name the recipient?
Yes. Use Yours sincerely in the traditional British pattern.
Use Yours faithfully after a general greeting
Use Yours faithfully when the greeting does not name a person. Dear Sir or Madam is the common example. The writer is being formal but does not know the recipient's name.
Dear Sir or Madam, Yours faithfully,
The greeting is general, so the traditional closing is Yours faithfully.
Which closing fits Dear Sir or Madam?
Use Yours faithfully.
Keep the closing and name separate
Put the closing after the last paragraph, then write your name below it. This layout helps the reader see where the letter ends. A comma after the closing depends on the style you are following.
Yours sincerely, Priya Nair
The sign-off is a polite close, while Priya Nair identifies the writer.
Where should you write your name?
Write your name below the closing phrase.
Choose a level of formality that fits
Yours sincerely and Yours faithfully are formal. A university application, complaint, or official request may use them. A routine email to a colleague may use a shorter closing when that suits the relationship and workplace.
Dear Ms Kent, Thank you for reviewing my application. Yours sincerely,
The application is formal, and the reader is named.
What should you check before choosing a shorter email closing?
Check the relationship, the workplace style, and any instructions from the recipient.
Follow the required format when one exists
Some schools, employers, and public organizations give applicants a letter template. Use that template even if you have learned a different convention. A stated format gives the reader a consistent document and removes guesswork.
Dear Recruitment Team, Yours faithfully,
The team is not named as an individual person, so this follows the general-greeting pattern.
What takes priority when an organization provides a letter template?
Use the organization's stated format.
Before you go
Remember this
Use Yours sincerely after a formal greeting with a person's name. Use Yours faithfully after a general greeting with no name. Keep the sign-off on its own line and follow any requested letter format.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Yours faithfully or yours sincerely: sign-offs"
When should I use Yours sincerely?
In the traditional British formal-letter pattern, use Yours sincerely after a greeting that names the recipient, such as Dear Ms Green or Dear Dr Malik. The sign-off shows a formal, polite ending and matches the fact that the writer knows the person's name.
Dear Mr Ahmed, I am writing to confirm the interview time. Yours sincerely, Lena Ortiz
When should I use Yours faithfully?
Use Yours faithfully after a general formal greeting when the recipient's name is not known. Dear Sir or Madam is the usual example. If the letter gives you a person's name to use, choose Yours sincerely instead in the traditional British pattern.
Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing to ask for an application form. Yours faithfully, Lena Ortiz
Can I use Yours faithfully after Dear Ms Taylor?
Traditional British letter style uses Yours sincerely after Dear Ms Taylor because the greeting names a person. Yours faithfully is paired with a general greeting such as Dear Sir or Madam. Check any template supplied by the organization because its required format takes priority.
Dear Professor Lewis, Thank you for considering my request. Yours sincerely, Evan Brooks
Are these sign-offs suitable for every email?
No. Yours sincerely and Yours faithfully are formal closings. They suit many letters, applications, and official requests, but a shorter closing may be normal in an ordinary workplace email. Choose the level of formality that fits the relationship and any local style guidance.
To whom it may concern, Please find my documents attached. Yours faithfully, Evan Brooks
Where does my name go after the sign-off?
Write the closing phrase after the final paragraph and put your name below it. This makes the ending easy to read. Whether you add a comma after Yours sincerely or Yours faithfully depends on the letter style or template you are following.
Dear Ms Green, I would like to request a copy of the invoice. Yours sincerely, Noah Price