While a literal translation of this phrase would be “looking forward to reading you,” its actual meaning is closer to “looking forward to hearing from you” or “looking forward to your reply. "
Veuillez recevoir, Monsieur/Madame, mes salutations distinguées is used for general business or formal letters. This phrase is similar to “yours sincerely” in a letter written in English. Veuillez agréer, Monsieur/Madame, l’assurance de mon parfaite considération is used if you are writing to someone who would be considered your equal, or someone in an inferior position to yourself. For example, you might use this expression if you were a business owner writing a vendor.
Use Je vous prie d’agréer, Monsieur/Madame, l’expression de mes sentiments respectueux if you are writing to someone who would generally be considered your superior, such as if you are applying for a job. Je vous prie de croire, Monsieur/Madame, à l’assurance de mes salutations distinguées is used if you are writing to a dignitary or elected official. It means something closer to “yours faithfully,” and implies a subjugation to the recipient.
For example, suppose you’re writing a business owner named Jacques Cousteau to apply for a job. You might close your letter Je vois prie d’agréer, Cher Monsieur Cousteau, l’expression de mes sentiments respectueux.
For example, suppose you were writing to a business owner on behalf of a nonprofit organization to request a donation. You might close your letter with Nous vous prions d’agreer, Monsieur/Madame, l’expression de nos sentiments respectueux.
If you used a formal closing that ended with respectueux, use the word cordialement instead so you don’t repeat yourself.
The single word cordialement typically is used to close a business email. This is considered semi-formal. You should still use the full formal closing if you’re writing to someone who would be considered your superior, especially if you’ve never communicated with them before.
If you need to make a digital copy of your signature, sign a white piece of paper and scan it. Then you can paste the image into your email and manipulate the size as you wish. You may also be able to create a digital signature image with your finger on a tablet, or by using a trackpad on a laptop.
For example, suppose you were writing to your sister, who has a daughter named Sophie. You might add embrasse Sophie pour moi (which means “Hug Sophie for me”).
Among friends or close acquaintances where you have a tu relationship, use amicalement, a word with a meaning similar to “best wishes” in English. With closer friends or family members, you might use affectueusement, which means “love from” or “with love. " You might also sign off with hugs or kisses, using a phrase such as je t’embrasse or grosses bises (“big hugs”), or gros bisous (“big kisses”).
For an older relative, such as a grandparent, you might use je vous embrasse, which sends an affectionate hug but still addresses the older person as vous. For a distant acquaintance or friend you still have a vous relationship with, you might use votre ami dévoué(e), which means “your devoted friend. " Basic closings that might be used regardless of the closeness of your relationship include amitiés (“best wishes” or “all the best”) or chaleureusement (“warmly” or “with warm regards”). If you’re extremely close to the recipient, these might come across as too generic or cold. However, they would be appropriate if, for example, you were sending an email to several friends of varying degrees of closeness.
For example, if you addressed a letter to an older relative to Madame Cousteau, you would typically sign the letter using Madame or Monsieur, as appropriate, followed by your last name. If you addressed the letter to the recipient by their first name, you would typically sign the letter with your first name.
If the recipient is okay being on tu terms with you, they will let you know in their response. Always use vous in business letters, even if you know the recipient.
This rule applies even to close relatives who are older than you, such as grandparents or aunts and uncles. In that case, even if you have a close and warm relationship, addressing them as vous indicates a measure of respect and politeness. This is similar to how you might use “ma’am” or “sir” with an older relative in English.
In business communications, the use of vous would indicate that you consider the relationship to be professional in nature, even if you occasionally interact more personally. To some degree, this may be considered an older habit. If you are already on tu terms with the person, you can generally assume that you can write them more informally as well.
Your level of formality would also depend on the purpose of your letter. If you are writing the person in their capacity as a government official or other dignitary, use vous even if you have a more personal relationship, out of respect for their office.
