complimentary close

American  

[kom-pluh-men-tuh-ree klohz, -men-tree] / ˌkɒm pləˈmɛn tə ri ˈkloʊz, -ˈmɛn tri /

Also complimentary closing

noun

1. the part of a letter that by convention immediately precedes the signature, as “Very truly yours,” “Cordially,” or “Sincerely yours.”

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Etymology

Origin of complimentary close

First recorded in 1915–20

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

complimentary close

Include a polite closing line, use a professional complimentary close, and type your full name.

From Textbooks ● Dec. 21, 2021

Appropriateness is the only guide to the choice of a complimentary close.

From Practical Grammar and Composition by Thomas Wood

The complimentary close should be written on a separate line near the middle of the page, and should begin with a capital letter.

From Practical Grammar and Composition by Thomas Wood

The complimentary close follows the body of the letter, about two or three spaces below it.

From How to Write Letters (Formerly The Book of Letters) A Complete Guide to Correct Business and Personal Correspondence by Mary Owens Crowther

The complimentary close of the letter is followed by a comma and the signature by a period.

From Social Life or, The Manners and Customs of Polite Society by Maud C. Cooke

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