Selecting An Appropriate Ending
Write a friendly/polite line before the actual closing phrase. You might want to thank your reader for his or her time, or say that you look forward to her or his feedback (in a formal letter), or simply say that you miss them very much (in an informal letter). Keep in mind, the first three suggestions are formal while the last three are informal. Here are some ways to wrap up your letter before the ending phrase: Ich bedanke mich bei Ihnen im Voraus (I thank you in advance). Ich würde mich freuen, bald von Ihnen zu hören (I look forward to hearing from you soon) Für weitere Auskünfte stehe ich Ihnen gerne zur Verfügung (I am readily available should you require additional information) Ich freue mich auf Deine Antwort (I look forward to your reply). Bitte antworte mir bald (Please write back soon). Melde dich bald (Get in touch with me soon).
Choose a formal ending phrase if you've determined that your letter is a formal one. Here are the most commonly used ones. Keep in mind, the first closing sentence should only be used for very formal occasions: Hochachtungsvoll (With the highest regards/reverence) Mit freundlichen Grüßen (Sincerely) Mit besten Grüßen (With best regards) Mit freundlichen Empfehlungen (With friendly compliments) Freundliche Grüße (Kind regards)
Choose an informal ending for more casual correspondence. The first three closing phrases are fairly informal while the last four are very informal: Freundliche Grüße (Polite regards) Mit herzlichen Grüßen (With heart-felt regards) Herzliche Grüße (Heart-felt regards) Ich drück Dich (I hug you) Alles Liebe (All that is lovely to you) Bis bald (See/talk/write to you soon) Ich vermisse Dich ( Miss you)
Sign your name after the concluding line. The last step is to sign your name and send your letter!
Understanding Your Audience
Be aware of your audience's age. Language is constantly changing, and this is reflected in verbal as well as written communication. For older generations, it's always safer to go with a more formal letter structure and ending. For younger generations, you might be able to remain more colloquial. Tip: A good rule of thumb is to be more formal (yes, even in informal letters) with people 60 years of age and older.
Establish how many people you're writing to. Sometimes, your audience will be one person but sometimes you might have to address a group of people. Though this point might matter most for the body and addressing of the letter, it can also help you further define an appropriate ending.
Know how familiar the recipient of the letter is with German. You can choose a more intricate ending if your recipient is a native speaker or has advanced familiarity. But stay with a clear and concise one if your reader only has a working knowledge of the language.
Establishing The Tone Of Your Letter
Determine if your letter is formal. If you wrote to someone you don't know well or at all, your letter will most likely be formal. It's very important to keep this in mind, not only for the body of the letter, but especially for the ending. Formal: examples might be your boss, a co-worker, an organization, and anyone you've had limited to no interaction with.
Determine if your letter is informal. Writing your best friend or mom? Your letter will likely be informal. Informal: examples might be family and friends, and anyone you feel very comfortable with.
Understand the spectrum of formality. Once you've decided that your letter is formal or informal, it's time to zone in on the degree of formality. In other words, writing a letter to your boss might have a different ending than a letter to the President. And writing a letter to your significant other might take a different ending than a letter to your mother or father.
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