>What is the correct way to end a message or letter in the English language? I am sure the answer varies according to the country. I have often seen: "Regards, (name)", but it seems this varies, depending on the country. Are there other common endings, used in the US? (apart from TIA and HTH)
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>In Spanish we use the equivalent of "Greetings, (name)". Is "greetings" acceptable in English?
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>TIA, Hilmar.

Hilmar;

Messages and letter will have different endings and even within themselves there are many approaches based upon formality, content and audience.

“Regards” used to end a communication is rather British.

“Sincerely” is often used to end a business letter.

“Thank you” is sometimes used.

These things change with time and sometimes you will find no ending at all.

Forty years ago when I would write to friends and relatives in Spain and South America the first paragraph (which would be long) would be devoted to praying for the good health of the individual and his/her family. The ending of letters was also long and the structure was very formal even though the association with these individuals was very close. Today we skip the first paragraph and end our letters with “Hasta Pronto” or a similar expression. It seems Spanish speaking nations are becoming more informal.

To make things more complex in Spain, forty years ago we would communicate in Castellano. Today there are 28 languages in use by Spain and we have relatives in Catalonia and Basque country as well as Zaragoza. One of my wife’s uncles is from Catalonia and we never could understand him as is the case of family members from Basque.

We make comments and sometimes joke about the English language as used in the U.K., Canada and the United States. Our language, rules and usage seem to change over short periods of time. What was correct ten years ago may not be correct today. One term that I greatly dislike is “do you know what I mean”? It has been popular from the late 1960’s and began with the LSD crowd. I always tell people that use that term, “no please explain what you mean”. I hate guessing about what others may be thinking or mean.

Tom