Have you read an email signed with “V/R” and questioned its meaning? This V/R in Email abbreviation comes from military and government traditions where people use it to add formality to professional messages.
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When breaking down the meaning of v/r, it translates to “Very ,” where ‘V’ stands for “Very” and ‘/r’ stands for “Respectfully.” People use this type of signing off in military messages, government communications, or in some formal business environments. So what does v/r mean at the close of an email? In simple terms, V/R in Email shows respect and a professional tone making it useful in settings with clear hierarchy. Military members often include this v/r sign-off when writing to officers or senior-ranking individuals. Based on military etiquette, “Very ” serves as the proper way to end emails when addressing someone of a higher rank.
This guide will help you understand what a formal email signature like V/R means when it fits well in your emails, and what other options could work better for your professional messages.
What does V/R mean in an email signature?
V/R in email signatures goes beyond being a simple sign-off. It stands for “Very ” and acts as a formal ending that shows respect and professionalism in written communication.
The military came up with V/R as part of its culture to show respect in a hierarchy. In military writing junior members use this sign-off to show respect when addressing someone of the same or higher rank. Senior officers use “/r,” which stands for “Respectfully,” when writing to subordinates.
This small difference in how they sign off helps maintain the chain of command. According to the SECNAV Manual, “Very ” should be used when the person receiving the message has a higher rank than the sender. Over time, this tradition moved beyond military settings and started appearing in government and some corporate workspaces.
There are different ways people format V/R.
- V/R (all uppercase)
- V/r (mixed case)
- VR (no slash)
In professional environments outside of the military, V/R adds formality to emails those sent to executives or officials in high-ranking positions. This is more common in industries tied to the military, like defense contracting, aerospace, or organizations connected to the government.
Beyond that, V/R can act as a way to show mutual respect between professional groups in industries like luxury brands, law, or consulting. It sticks to traditional email etiquette and keeps a respectful tone by recognizing the status of whoever receives it.
When to use V/R and how to do it right
Using the V/r signature boosts professionalism in communication. Military and government sectors have specific rules on how to use it .
The most important rule is to use V/r when writing to someone of higher rank. Junior members are expected to sign off with “Very ” in messages to superiors. It’s also the best most polite choice when corresponding with colleagues of equal rank.
Getting the format right is crucial. The proper way to write it is “V/r,” with a capital V, lowercase r, and a comma. People often make mistakes like writing “v/r” or “V/R,” but these are not in line with official standards.
The timing plays a big role in using this . To start formal emails, you should stick with the full phrase “Very ” since it shows the most respect. But later, in follow-up exchanges, you can shorten it to “V/r” as it aligns with official guidelines.
You can use “V/r” outside the military in situations like:
- Professional communications between businesses and executives
- Formal sales emails to high-level decision-makers
- Customer service messages in luxury markets or consulting
- Conversations tied to government contracts
However, the shortened “V/r” might confuse non-military audiences. To avoid misunderstandings in general emails, it’s smarter to write out “Very ” .
When you shouldn’t use V/r and what to write instead
Even though V/r serves a purpose in military settings, it does not fit well in everyday civilian communication. Army guidelines suggest that veterans avoid using cryptic acronyms like V/r when they write to people outside the military world because it tends to confuse readers.
Using V/r in a professional civilian environment leads to a few problems:
- It confuses people unfamiliar with how the military operates
- It feels stiff in typical business interactions
- It comes across as detached compared to common sign-offs
Forbes writers have pointed out that, while the phrase carries positive intentions, it is still “too confusing” for most professionals to use .
Instead of V/r, try these alternatives that may better fit the situation:
- To write professional emails: Use “Best regards,” “Kind regards,” or just “Regards.”
- To handle formal communication: Choose “” or the full “Respectfully.”
- To show appreciation: Say “Many thanks” or “Much appreciated.”
- To maintain relationships: Close with “Best wishes.”
“Best regards” works well as a flexible choice that fits somewhere between friendly and formal. You can use it when communicating with clients, coworkers, or partners.
Keep in mind how much a closing line can shape someone’s perception of your email. An email adviser once noted that “using the same sign-off all the time might make it seem like you’re not making much effort.” Matching the tone of your sign-off with your relationship to the reader and the nature of your message makes it more personal.
Conclusion
Knowing email signature etiquette makes handling professional communication clearer and smoother. This guide explained the meaning of V/R, which stands for “Very ,” talked about its military background, and outlined when it fits best. The abbreviation holds importance in settings with a clear hierarchy in government and military environments.
Still, people in civilian jobs need to think before using this closing. The formal tone of V/R suits situations where you’re addressing higher-ups, but it can feel confusing or serious in everyday business emails. Veterans stepping into civilian roles should pay close attention to this difference.
The email closing you choose depends on who you’re writing to and the purpose of your message. “Best regards” works well in most professional settings because it balances being formal and friendly. If you need something more formal, options like “Kind regards,” “,” or writing out “” in full are also solid choices.
Though it seems like a small thing how you sign off your email can leave a big impression on the reader. Picking the right closing shows you’re mindful of etiquette and have good communication skills. Whether you use V/R in specific situations or go with more common sign-offs, this detail says a lot about your professionalism.