What in god's name is the phrase kind regards supposed to mean? I'd never heard it until a year ago, and now everyone seems to be signing off their emails with it.
I'm all for pleasantries and crap like that, but think about it for a moment: how can you send regards that are kind? It doesn't make sense. You can send warm regards, and you can send affectionate regards, but kind regards? I don't think so.
And even if it were possible to send your regards kindly, who the hell are you to point it out? Surely whether you're being kind or not is down to the recipient or a third-party to decide. Would you dream of signing off an email with the phrase welcome regards? Well then.
But the worst thing about the phrase kind regards is that it's so bloody trite. The sort of people who write kind regards are the sort of people who buy Phil Collins albums. If they can't be arsed to sign off with an original or, at the very least, appropriate valediction, well, quite frankly, sod them!
Come on, folks, you're emailing real people out there. Don't insult them with platitudes. If you need to keep it formal, plain old regards is good enough. If you're on good (or even bad) terms with the individual concerned, however, why not show an ounce of imagination and sign off with something a bit more personal or humorous? Here are some examples you might like to consider:
- Kind of regards,
- Haughty regards,
- Naughty regards,
- Punctilious regards,
- (Insert random adjective here) regards,
- Graders (anag.)
- Moustache! [must dash, geddit?]
- Let's do brunch!
- Let's make babies next time!
- Fingers-crossed re. your clinic results!
- I think I'm in love with your wife. There, I've said it!
- We'll always have Cleckheaton.
- Be there or wear flares.
- Don't worry, I'm sure it will clear up. They have some wonderful ointments these days.
- LOOK OUT! LOOK OUT BEHIND YOU!
- Must go—Natalie Imbruglia has just called round. I wish she'd leave me alone, she's turning into a real nuisance!
- I could go on like this all day, but I'll be damned if I'm going to.
- Let's just leave it at that, should we?
- Toops!
- Nooby-poots!
- Wooooooooooooop!!
- I take it the 'Princess Anne' situation is resolved.
- It's your round.
- On second thoughts, forget it.
- What's that smell?
- SEND PHOTOS, DAMMIT!
(I fully appreciate I'm asking for trouble here.)