"Sincerely" is formal notes and "Affectionately" in intimate notes are the two adverbs most used in present day, and between these two there is a blank; in English we have no expression to fit sentiment more friendly than the first nor one less intimate than the second.
"Cordially" was coined no doubt to fill this need, but its self-consciousness puts it in the category with "residence" and "retire," and all the other offenses of pretentiousness, and in New York, at least, it is not used by people of taste.
"Warmly yours" is unspeakable.
"Yours in haste" or "hastily yours" is not bad form, but is rather carelessly rude.
"In a tearing hurry" is a termination dear to the boarding school girl;but its truth does not make it any more attractive than the vision of that some young girl rushing into a room with her hat and coat half on, to swoop upon her mother with a peck of a kiss, and with a "-------by, mamma!" whirl out again! Turmoil and flurry may be characteristic of manners of to-day; both are far from the ideal of beautiful manners which should be a assured, as smooth, as controlled as the running of a high-grade automobile. Flea-like motions are no better suited to manners than to motors.
---Etiquette by Emily Post, 1922
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Yours In Haste
Not Good Form
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5 comments:
All well and good, I suppose... but what did Emily have to say about e-mail? ;-)
Buck: I should find out! In a new Emily book.
"Sincerely" is like writing "Dear Sir" - it is just the way to do it. If I am writing something more personal I like "Love Lou." For emails, I usually just put my name - very informal.
Some of these have been quite comical, but good manners never go out-of-style or date.
Just add a few exclamation points and smiley faces - that makes every message more friendly and personable.
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