When do you say yours truly

But don't send for him on my account, I beg of you, nor on his, my dear. We don't particularly want to see each other, I can tell you.

From George M. Baker, The Flowing Bowl [the second instance of "yours truly" in this excerpt seems to mean in the old-fashioned sense, and in contrast to the first instance's meaning "truly yours"]:. Is yours truly. Offers hand. Put it there. Jessie, shrinking, places her hand in his. Don't be skeered, gal : I'm as gentle as a calf here, but out thar rile me, an I'm a tearer. That's me. Charlie taking position at table at corner nearest Jessie, as before.

Mean business, that's me. I'm roaring Carlos of the prairie. I'm a dead shot, a boss horseman, and a sure slinger of the lasso. I've a big ranch, a big herd of cattle, and a big heart, all of which is yours truly. Now short, sweet, and to the pint : when will you marry me? It was the greatest fun out. Pierce, chum," replied Watts, with a look in his eyes which Peter had learned to associate with mischief on Watts's part, "has too great an affection for yours truly to object to anything I do.

Do you suppose, if I hadn't been sure of my footing at the Shrubberies, that I should have dared to ask an invitation for:—then Watts hesitated for a moment, seeing a half-surprised, half-anxious look come into Peter's face, "for myself?

To sum up, the use of "yours truly" as a kind of jocular self-reference—and not merely as part of a formal way to close a letter—seems to have occurred in the middle of the 19th century. In most of the earliest instances where the phrase appears in print in non-epistolary contexts, authors put it in the mouths of unrefined or indeed uncouth characters, implying that the usage arose out of a misunderstanding by unschooled or marginally schooled individuals as to its proper meaning at the end of a letter.

After signing his name to so many letters immediately after closing with "Yours truly", the writer would begin to think of the phrase as synonymous with his name, or self. Rather than constantly using his name to refer to himself, which would also be awkward, he would use an expression that comes to mind easily.

Words that once meant "Someone who is really yours", either in friendship or love, are now a title, and a sweet and kindly seeming way of referencing oneself. So really, it happens the way any expression or word changes meaning over time.

We use it correctly in one context, then by using it too often in that way, become desensitized to its literal meaning and now attribute meaning to it based on its context, giving it a new meaning. It's a shortening of "your humble servant. Sign up to join this community. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top. Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily!

Barbara, you made me laugh! But alas, the usage in English is overwhelmingly accepted. Who am I to say it sounds too mushy and cutesy for my taste? Dee, you caught me in a mental lapse, which may show how infrequently I write actual letters to my family.

This is an unsolicited letter trying to get your business. You will probably throw it in the trash. In spite of this, truly, I am yours. I said this in another response somewhere, but the idea of telling someone I am his or hers, when I have never met that person, feels awkward to me. I had a truly frightening experience yesterday. I sent a business letter to a new client whom I have never met and likely never will.

We also had never corresponded previously. He complained to two of my bosses that it was religious in some way, and inappropriate. These people all have masters in business administration. Can anyone help me vent??? WHAT is going on here!??? Your client and your boss come across as rather illiterate oafs. Yes, I also thought that. I think I just needed somebody to see the illiterate oaf-ness of them as well! It frightens me, but I am obviously more passionate about language than the sirs in question.

I smsed to a girl whom I just met once who came to my office for some business. I asked her if i could keep in touch with her and she said yes. Darmendar: I would say she probably thought you were coming on to her or something.

You should also find out where they studied business or management or whatever and write a formal letter of complaint about their former student. This reflects badly on the educational institution where this person has studied. I utterly agree with the comments of Caroline Leek.

I came to this site because I was shocked that the president of a professional society had sent a notice of a meeting to professional colleagues, all of whom he or she knows, and signed it Yours faithfully rather than Yours sincerely.

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Definitions Clear explanations of natural written and spoken English. Dear Mr. Jones, [blah, blah] Yours sincerely, Charles Windsor-Smyth. Jones, [blah, blah] Sincerely yours, Matt Brown. Dear Sir, [blah, blah] Yours faithfully, This comma is correct. Matt Brown. Dear Sir, [blah, blah] Yours faithfully, Matt Brown.

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