What a difference an X makes - are kisses ever appropriate on a professional email?

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What is the difference between these two emails? :

Dear Nathan,

Blah.. Blah.. Blah

Many thanks,

PR person’s name here.


And..


Dear Nathan,

Blah.. Blah.. Blah

Many thanks,

PR person’s name here.
x






The answer - the first one I shall have a look at to see if there is anything newsworthy in it.

The second I shall delete straight away, probably without reading at the content of the message.

The reason? - It’s that innocuous looking little ‘x’ at the bottom.

That innocent 24th letter of the alphabet may not take up much room, and seems harmless, even friendly, tucked neatly under the name of the sender.

But make no mistake, it spells the kiss of death - literally - to many a press release, and not just the ones that land in my inbox.

I know others who are seriously irritated by this overly-informal signature punctuation which assumes too close a relationship between recipient and sender.

I don’t get why people have to slobber over each other when they physically meet for the first time these days.

But it seems to have become customary, and I go along with it out of politeness, and I don’t want to come across as miserable.

But to do it on a professional email to someone you have never met in your life can’t be appropriate. Call me harsh, but it makes me lose all faith in the credibility of the sender.

Whatever happened to yours sincerely, or yours faithfully?

Do these people sign off a letter to the Inland Revenue, or other official body in such a personal manner?  If not, then why do they feel the need to do it with me.

I don’t mind texts or messages from people I know with a kiss at the end, but these are people I gladly peck on the cheek when I see them.

There is nothing more irritating than getting  an email from someone i am dealing with in a professional capacity with a kiss on the end.

And while I’m at it.

I feel the same way about pointless embargoes.

Note PR companies – the word embargo printed in bold across the top of a boring and pointless press release does not make it any less boring or pointless.

And furthermore, if the latest phone company survey on why holidaymakers don’t like roaming charges is embargoed for next week, believe me, I will have forgotten about it by then.

So please, don’t bother...I’m just saying.





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