We have all been at the closing sentences of our emails, staring at the “Best Regards,” and wondering if there was a better way to sign off. While your best regards are always welcome and appreciated, they often fail to add a personal touch or a lighthearted tone you may be seeking to put across in your message.
By switching to a more informal, cheerful closing, you can communicate your unique personality, style, and mood more effectively, while also making the email more personable and memorable for the recipient. As well as adding colorfulness and a playful spirit that sometimes can be that missing part from your email.
The right funny email sign-off can go a long way and create a sense of connection with your contact. By choosing one that resonates with them, you can form a relationship which is built on both trust and understanding.
The Right Time to use a Funny Email Sign-off
There is a time and place for everything, and funny email sign-offs are not appropriate in every setting. They are an excellent choice when you are communicating with close colleagues or your friends, but when it comes to serious conversations, we recommend you stick with a professional closing approach for your emails instead of writing a risky sign-off.
Here are some of the scenarios where you can use a funny sign-off to end your e-mail.
- Casual, light-hearted, or informal emails with people you are close.
- Events invitations, to set the mood prior to an in-person gathering or party.
- Private emails with people you have a personal relationship with, and the overall tone of the message is casual and easy going.
But keep in mind that humor is subjective and tricky, especially in writing. Your relationship with the recipient and the context of your message should determine whether it is appropriate for you to make use of a funny sign-off, so think twice before you hit that send button because unsending an email is not easy as you may think!
Pop Culture References as a Funny Email Sign-off
Injecting a bit of humor through pop-culture references can add a touch of personality to your emails, especially if you are aware of the other party’s pop-culture interests. They will make your email more memorable and will likely get you a response back.
- May the force be with you – The original unaltered quote from Star Wars, useful if you want to send well wishes to a fan of the series.
- May the emails be with you – An alternative for Star Wars fans who want to be a bit cheeky and wish to opt for a more subtle way to reference the films.
- Mischief Managed – Fans of the Harry Potter books and films will find this sign-off humorous, especially in emails that announce the completion of a task.
- To Infinity and Beyond – Buzz Lightyear’s famous catchphrase from the Toy Story movies.
- You Can’t Handle the Regards – A humorous twist to the famous quote “You can’t handle the truth” from A Few Good Men
- Live Long and Prosper – The Vulcans in your contacts will appreciate this Star Trek reference at the end of your emails.
- May the odds be ever in your favor - Taken from the dystopian movies and books series, The Hunger Games, which is a wish for good luck and success in a situation where the odds are against you.
- That’s all, folks! - Lifted from the ending of many Looney Tunes cartoons, where Porky Pig closes the show stuttering these final three words.
- Hakuna Matata! - It means no worries and taken from one of Disney classics, The Lion King.
- Yabba Dabba Doo! - A playful and fun sign-off which references Fred Flintstone’s well-known catchphrase, for those who are over 35 and who can remember this!
- Stay classy, San Diego- Fans of Anchorman will instantly know what you are referring to with this tongue- in- cheek sign-off.
- Hasta la vista- Channel your best inner Arnie and use it so that the recipient knows this isn’t the last they’ve heard from you!
These are just some of the many sign-offs which can spice up an otherwise mundane email and used to connect with recipients who share your interests. Just be sure to double-check if the other party is familiar with the reference material or you may end up confusing them instead!
Witty Sarcastic Alternatives as a Funny Email Sign-off
For those who prefer sarcasm over other forms of humor, here are our favorite sarcastic email sign-offs for you to get inspired from, just keep in mind that some of these might come across as aggressive if your relationship with the other party is purely formal. You will be amazed by some of the funny perfectly unhinged sign-offs that are currently being used.
- Coldest Regards – Useful when a friend disturbs your vacation for a minor inconvenience, even more useful when you really want them to know about your disapproval.
- Utterly Amazed – Best to use when someone shares an otherwise trivial piece of information as if it is groundbreaking news, obviously you do not really mean it.
- Deeply Disinterested – Ideal for subtly letting the other party know that you have no interest in the topic at hand, best to bow out from a race you have no horse in.
- Filling Up Your Inbox – Fit for expressing the fact that your email will fill up their inbox for something that is completely unnecessary, but you are forced to send it anyway.
- Affectionately Annoyed – A playful reply you would send to someone you are close to and is currently getting on your nerves. Remember that communication is key!
- Sincerely Impressed – When someone manages to complete a task despite your absolute expectations for them to fail, there is always truth in good sarcasm.
- Looking Forward (Not) – Do you need to express your lack of enthusiasm about an upcoming event? A single (k)not can decently wrap up your sign-off.
- With Eye Rolls – We have all physically rolled our eyes (and sometimes our brains!) in response to an email or a text, now you can tell the person about it so they can know what their email made you do.
- With Headaches – When someone sends you a long, complicated message that is hard to understand, you should really tell them the consequences of their actions.
- Congrats On Reading This Whole Email- When you know the email is way too long but it’s better to send this email, then have another meeting! Often people just skim through a message without reading the full thing. This sign-off is poking fun at that.
- Are You Still Reading This? - Again, on the cheeky side, suggesting the email is way too long and that your reader may have zoned out.
Witty sarcastic sign-offs can be a great way to show your creativity to your reader and can make others more empathetic towards you. You will be received as fun among friends and close colleagues where you have this type of mutual understanding and relationship. We do, however, recommend that this is avoided in professional conversations. As they can come across as disrespectful and unprofessional, especially when the humorous intent fails to translate through text.
Playful Alternatives as a Funny Email Sign-off
These can add a layer of irony to your message, perfect for those moments when a straightforward response just won’t do. They can range from mildly teasing to sharply witty, depending on how bold you feel and how well you know the person on the receiving end. You have been warned!
- I Apologize for Any Typos; I Haven’t Had My Morning Coffee Yet - Many of us claim the need for that first morning coffee so that we are able to function and make sense of the day ahead. This sign-off is an apologetic way to make an excuse of any typos or any misinterpretations and let the reader know that you and your brain are still waking up!
- Over and Out - Keeping it simple and cool and using a playful spin of using a walkie-talkie from back in the day.
- Thank goodness it’s Friday - Aiming to inject a humorous twist to your email by expressing gratitude for the working week being finally nearly over!
- Warmest Regards and A Gentle Chuckle - This sign-off is great for breaking the ice or keeping the mood light, especially after a long or detailed email.
- Adulting Successfully, One Email at a Time - Showcasing that being a professional adult is tough, but you achieved something by sending out that very email.
- Kindest Neglect – Best used when you are on holidays, and you really want the other party to know that you will be neglecting their request.
These are best used with established clients or colleagues who know you and your humor, but with whom you hope to build a deeper connection. They’re perfect for when you want to showcase your personality in a business environment but used in jest so that you are not overstepping the bounds of professionalism.
When to Avoid a Funny Email Sign-off
While funny email sign-offs like the ones above can add a touch of character and personality and making you and your message more memorable, there are of course situations when it is best to avoid them. We will let you be the judge of your own personality, but here is a list of scenarios where we recommend you remain professional and serious in your emails.
- Avoid funny sign-offs when emailing someone new, as they may not understand or appreciate the humor.
- For serious or sensitive matters, it is best to maintain a professional tone throughout the email, including the sign-off.
- No amount of humor can lighten the mood in an overall bad-news scenario, stay professional which will help to avoid collateral damage.
- If you are corresponding with someone from a different culture or language background, it’s probably best to remain professional and focus on the task at hand to avoid any misunderstandings and respect cultural sensitivity.
- Save humor for friends, close colleagues, or people in your life who you know would appreciate a chuckle. To others, it might seem out of place and could add confusion and be misunderstood.
- A sign-off that doesn’t match the tone and content of the email body can create a disjointed or frustrating experience for the reader.
Final Thoughts When Writing Funny Email Sign- Offs
Let us wrap everything up! Remember that while humor can provide a personal touch to your emails, timing and context are key in determining its effectiveness. The right sign-off can also enhance your message and we suggest mixing up your emails to keep things interesting. By knowing ‘when’ and ‘where’ it is safe to be witty, you can add personality to your emails while maintaining your professionalism and a lasting positive impression on your readers.
