What do you think of "Warmly," as a letter closing?

Really, I don’t pay that much attention to valedictions. I know I’ve spent time thinking about what works and nothing ever quite feels right. I think I asked how people close their emails recently. I’m sure she’s just trying to be a little friendlier than the ‘best wishes’, ‘regards’, ‘bye’ or whatever. I personally wouldn’t read too much into it.

Cheers

Bella

sounds weird and makes me think of pee. Use kind regards.

I too thought of pee

If used for friends she cares about, it’s fine. A bit smotherly, but I wouldn’t worry about it. For an acquaintance it’s a bit much, but she may be a really warm human being who loves everybody.

Another syrupy sign off is ”with love and light,”

Eww.

I don’t care much for it, but really, it’s hard to find a comfortable closing in the wide gap between “Sincerely” (aloof and formal) and “Love” (don’t say it unless you mean it). I don’t think there are many left who can even tell you what “regards” means. What else is there? “Fondly”? “Affectionately”? I’ve paused long and uneasily over the closing of many a handwritten note (thank-yous, condolences, congratulations) with my pen frozen in my hand, wondering what in the world to say.

It’s ok by me.

With warmest wishes and cuddly thoughts

Rojo.

sometimes I need reminding where I am

I agree with Jeruba that it seems like there are not a lot of good choices out there. I wouldn’t care much, though – I’d figure what she writes is ultimately her choice.

@woodcutter: What? (warmly, jca LOL).

I’ve seen, “With warm regards,” and I like it better than “Warmly,” which just seems incomplete.

@hearkat: I agree, and yet “with warm regards” seems so stiff and formal. I wouldn’t use it with close friends, but maybe that’s just me. There has to be something between “With wrm regards” and “peace out, people.” LOL

I let my gut tell me whether to adorn my signature, and how. Normally I use “Sincerely” in business letters and emails (though I think it looks profunctory and means next to nothing), and in personal notes and emails a word appropriate for the relationship—and sometimes none regardless of the relationship. Occasionally, in a handwritten note or card, I simply insert a smile into the first letter of my first name. It’s silly but I think it makes a happy closing when the message is happy in nature. Ditto an emoticon in an email.

As to the word “warmly,” I rarely use it. I let the personal note itself convey my warmness.

It rings a bit trite, especially if they use it liberally for all acquaintances. I’ve seen people use it in what is essentially business correspondence if they want to indicate some personal interest or consideration.

I beg you to accept the expression of my most respectful sentiments,
bookish1

I am so bad with correspondence period.
I tend to come off as unintelligent as some of you may have noticed when I write anything.
I struggle with how to close any email I write. Depending on the person I’m writing it to, I usually just go with “hugs”.

As to your question, “How much should this bother me”, probably not much at all. Hopefully they mean it.

To me, it rings cold and phony. I hate it. But I only know one person who routinely uses it and I think she is cold and phony. I try to take it at face value and assume it is true.

I know someone who closes with ‘love and light’ or something equally simpery. She is a really lovely and genuine person but quite spiritual. When I see that at the end of emails, I cringe.

If I’m writing to someone I know well I close with “warmest love”, to me “warmly” indicates goodwill. As we were saying goodbye, someone I had just met in person the first time, said “go gently” to me, I really had to hold back my laughter, sounded very new-agey, something that draws out every ounce of cynicism within me.