Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us  

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 2 of 3 1 2 3
#24370 03/25/01 10:52 AM
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 387
J
enthusiast
Offline
enthusiast
J
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 387
Insincerely, perhaps.

jimthedog

#24371 03/25/01 01:54 PM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 76
B
journeyman
Offline
journeyman
B
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 76
If I want to make a complaint about something I never swear. I will e-n-u-c-i-a-t-e very carefully (to make sure the person understands every word), in a tone that makes it clear that they DO NOT want to make me mad. I am also told that I usually sport a beatific smile that makes it that much more scary.

Can you teach me how to do it? Please? I'm usually able to hold it together for a bit, but if they continue to stonewall me (last time this happened I was talking to the administrators of my health insurance) I really lose it. I mean, not to the swearing point. But I do get personal. And I agree -- not the best way to handle these things.

You're my hero.


#24372 03/25/01 04:35 PM
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
emanuela>Sincerely yours... seems to me too friendly.

to me "sincerely" is entirely neutral, and takes the tone of whatever preceded.


#24373 03/25/01 05:28 PM
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Emanuela, what if you simply omit the 'yours'?

You will have just said you've had proof of how rotten the person is and that you're glad to end contact with him.

"Sincerely, Emanuela" should indicate that you meant everything you said, without "belonging to" the person.

This may have been what tsuwm meant, as well. Sorry I couldn't tell for sure.


#24374 03/25/01 05:49 PM
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
>that may be what tsuwm meant...

yes, but note that the "yours" in "sincerely yours" and "yours truly" type constructions is usually meant simply to indicate "me, myself or I". I don't think these are used much, for example, in love letters (but who writes those any more :).


#24375 03/25/01 05:58 PM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,661
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,661
I don't think these are used much, for example, in love letters (but who writes those any more)

I do, sweetie.


#24376 03/25/01 06:04 PM
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
love letters (but who writes those any more)

I do, sweetie.


ME TOO, she shouted happily!




#24377 03/25/01 07:37 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,773
Pooh-Bah
OP Offline
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,773
In reply to:

But, please, which is the correct signature after such a letter?


The letter writer put nothing after the body of letter except the signature. I think the omission was intentional, and effective.

PS - If you want to know how to propose marriage by letter, let me know.


#24378 03/25/01 09:17 PM
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
- If you want to know how to propose marriage by letter, let me know.

Spill, please! This I've gotta see.






#24379 03/26/01 01:53 AM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 86
S
journeyman
Offline
journeyman
S
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 86
Emanuela: Re: "uncomplimentary closings" The possibilities for uncomplimentary closings are virtually endless and can run the full ranges suggested in this post. A fairly simple, rather mild example might be -- " I trust that even you, Mr. /Ms ----, can understand the full import of the foregoing and can further understand that, in such circumstances, I now remain, and ever shall quite happily remain so,
Your former acquaintance,"

zzzzzzzzzzzzz"
This is a mild and understated version. These are great fun to write. In those glorious days of epistolary communication ( of which Sparteye's letters are an example), before the tel and tech inventions, the complimentary (or UNcomp...) close was itself a minor art form, and a fertile field for making that final, clever, memorable point, whatever its nature.


Page 2 of 3 1 2 3

Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,580
Members9,187
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members
Karin, JeffMackwood, artguitar, Jim_W, Rdbuffalo
9,187 Registered Users
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 332 guests, and 0 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days)
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
wofahulicodoc 10,713
tsuwm 10,542
LukeJavan8 9,931
AnnaStrophic 6,511
Wordwind 6,296
of troy 5,400
Disclaimer: Wordsmith.org is not responsible for views expressed on this site. Use of this forum is at your own risk and liability - you agree to hold Wordsmith.org and its associates harmless as a condition of using it.

Home | Today's Word | Yesterday's Word | Subscribe | FAQ | Archives | Search | Feedback
Wordsmith Talk | Wordsmith Chat

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5