Sign-off
SYNE-off
/ˈsaɪn.ɒf/
A concluding phrase or valediction at the end of a letter or email; or official approval to conclude a project.
Refers to closing remarks like 'Best regards' or 'Sincerely' before your signature, as well as final approval actions.
The story behind the word. Originating in radio broadcasting, operators would literally 'sign off' the official logbook when shutting down transmissions for the night. The phrase naturally migrated into workplace correspondence to mark the closing line of a letter or email.
Word relationships
- valediction: 'Valediction' is the formal literary term for a farewell statement, whereas 'sign-off' is the everyday workplace term.
- closing: 'Closing' is a broad term for any ending, while 'sign-off' specifically refers to the concluding sign-off text or approval step.
- salutation: A 'salutation' opens the message, while a 'sign-off' closes it.
Commonly confused with
- sign-on: 'Sign-on' means logging into a system or joining an agreement, while 'sign-off' means concluding or approving.
Word family
- sign off (phrasal verb): To conclude a letter/broadcast or give final approval.
Collocations
- professional sign-off
- casual sign-off
- obtain sign-off
- final sign-off
Example sentences
- "Choosing an overly casual sign-off like 'Cheers' might not suit a formal job application email." Email closing choices
- "We need formal sign-off from the lead manager before launching the new email campaign." Project management approval
Memory hook
SIGN-OFF is the mark you leave as you walk OFF the stage of your email. The final mark before leaving.
When not to use
Do not confuse with 'sign-in' or 'log-off', which refer to system authentication processes.
Fun facts
- Research shows 'Thanks' or 'Thanks in advance' is statistically the email sign-off that gets the highest response rate from recipients.
Related words
Explore more words
benediction, ratify, valedictory, clinch, cadence, postscript
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