Here at OC, we are struck by how often we end up in everyday conundrums. The ones that land you in the thick of semi (or full-blown) awkwardness, or maybe, the doghouse.
So, we turned to Simon Collins, the dean of the School of Fashion at Parsons, who after six years in his plum perch, just announced plans to step down at the end of this year. Translation: More time to divulge lessons on how to appropriately sign an email...
Q: On email sign-offs, what are the best ways to seem together and professional, with appropriate investment and just the right amount of sincerity?
Now I’m glad you asked because this has been bothering me for some time. I was taught to sign off with "Yours faithfully," if you’ve not met, and "Yours sincerely," if you have. Leaving aside the intimacies of billets doux, you might also go for "Regards" or even "Kind-" ones. I suppose I can even see past "Yours" on its own if you absolutely must.
But please, please do not write the word "Best," as if it somehow implies a snappy sign off. I mean, Best!? Best what? Best Prices Paid? Best of Breed? Best Beware? No. The word "Best" means "this is all I can manage as I’m so busy and important, so fill in your own addition."
But there’s another that is even more pernicious.
Tell me, please, what is it with this "Warmly" business? FFS as the acronym goes. My passions run very hot or very cold you see, and so "Warmly" suggests indifference or, worse, uncertainty. You might as well write "Ambivalently" and at least be honest.
My advice is to go with the classics—"Yours aye" is a winner. "Ave Atque Vale" (Hail and farewell) is deep and solid or even "Illegitimi non Carbundum" (don’t let the bastards get you down), if you can bear the recent Harvard adoption. But please, under no circumstances the solo word "Warmly," for I will depress the warmly glowing delete key.
Q: Based off of a funny meme we saw, if someone does cross-fit training and is also vegan, which do they talk about first?
As fascinating as both surely are to some, if you feel the urge to actually talk about cross-fit training and veganism, you might need to work on your game. I’ve no beef with either but I can’t pretend to find them endlessly fascinating. And I’ll wager I’m not entirely alone in this.
I am reminded of the morning after a debauched night of Calvados and Absinthe when I awoke with a category-five hangover. As early as 11:30 AM I was ordered to get up, don casual clothes (I know, I was young), and actually run to a cafe for life-giving coffee. That’s the closest I’ve come to cross-fit training and while I was very cross indeed, I didn’t have an actual fit.
As for vegans, well if people choose to quietly take all the pleasure out of food, who are we to criticize? However, if you must take this particular road, can we not do something to liven it up. In Beijing recently I was treated to a raw vegan feast. For those who haven’t seen Posh Nosh, here’s what should’ve happened but didn’t: Take the poor
So, we turned to Simon Collins, the dean of the School of Fashion at Parsons, who after six years in his plum perch, just announced plans to step down at the end of this year. Translation: More time to divulge lessons on how to appropriately sign an email...
Q: On email sign-offs, what are the best ways to seem together and professional, with appropriate investment and just the right amount of sincerity?
Now I’m glad you asked because this has been bothering me for some time. I was taught to sign off with "Yours faithfully," if you’ve not met, and "Yours sincerely," if you have. Leaving aside the intimacies of billets doux, you might also go for "Regards" or even "Kind-" ones. I suppose I can even see past "Yours" on its own if you absolutely must.
But please, please do not write the word "Best," as if it somehow implies a snappy sign off. I mean, Best!? Best what? Best Prices Paid? Best of Breed? Best Beware? No. The word "Best" means "this is all I can manage as I’m so busy and important, so fill in your own addition."
But there’s another that is even more pernicious.
Tell me, please, what is it with this "Warmly" business? FFS as the acronym goes. My passions run very hot or very cold you see, and so "Warmly" suggests indifference or, worse, uncertainty. You might as well write "Ambivalently" and at least be honest.
My advice is to go with the classics—"Yours aye" is a winner. "Ave Atque Vale" (Hail and farewell) is deep and solid or even "Illegitimi non Carbundum" (don’t let the bastards get you down), if you can bear the recent Harvard adoption. But please, under no circumstances the solo word "Warmly," for I will depress the warmly glowing delete key.
Q: Based off of a funny meme we saw, if someone does cross-fit training and is also vegan, which do they talk about first?
As fascinating as both surely are to some, if you feel the urge to actually talk about cross-fit training and veganism, you might need to work on your game. I’ve no beef with either but I can’t pretend to find them endlessly fascinating. And I’ll wager I’m not entirely alone in this.
I am reminded of the morning after a debauched night of Calvados and Absinthe when I awoke with a category-five hangover. As early as 11:30 AM I was ordered to get up, don casual clothes (I know, I was young), and actually run to a cafe for life-giving coffee. That’s the closest I’ve come to cross-fit training and while I was very cross indeed, I didn’t have an actual fit.
As for vegans, well if people choose to quietly take all the pleasure out of food, who are we to criticize? However, if you must take this particular road, can we not do something to liven it up. In Beijing recently I was treated to a raw vegan feast. For those who haven’t seen Posh Nosh, here’s what should’ve happened but didn’t: Take the poor