Bests or Best: Can You Use Bests in an Email?Grammar Guide For 2k26

If you have ever written a professional email, you may have stopped at the end and wondered: Should I write “Best,” “Bests,” or “Best wishes”?

This is a small question, but it can be confusing, especially for English learners.

You may see people ending emails with Best, followed by their name. Then you may wonder why some people write Bests.

Since many English nouns can become plural by adding -s, it seems natural to think that “bests” should work in the same way.

The important point is that “Best” and “bests” do not work the same way. “Best” has several grammar roles. It can be an adjective, adverb, noun, and verb. The form “bests” is mainly used as the third-person singular form of the verb best, meaning “defeats” or “outdoes.” (Merriam-Webster)

In email writing, however, Best is the normal and widely accepted closing. “Bests” is not the standard choice for an email sign-off.

By the end of this guide, you will know exactly when to use “Best,” when “bests” can be grammatically correct, why “Bests” sounds unusual at the end of an email, and which email closings are safest for professional and everyday communication.

What Does “Bests” Mean?

The word bests is a real English word, but its meaning is usually not what English learners expect.

Most commonly, bests is the third-person singular form of the verb best. As a verb, best means to defeat someone, beat someone, or do better than someone in a competition. Merriam-Webster gives the verb forms as bested, besting, bests. (Merriam-Webster)

Grammar rule

When best is used as a verb with he, she, it, or a singular noun, we add -s:

• I best my opponent.
• He bests his opponent.
• She bests the other players.
• The champion bests every competitor.

This use is grammatically correct, but it is relatively formal and is often associated with competition or achievement.

Examples of “bests” as a verb

1. The young player bests his older rival.
2. She bests her competitors in almost every race.
3. The new design bests the older model in performance.
4. He regularly bests his opponents at chess.
5. The team bests its strongest competitor.
6. This computer bests the previous model in speed.
7. The athlete bests everyone in the final round.
8. Our new system bests the old system in several tests.

Notice something important: in each sentence, bests is an action. Someone or something is beating, defeating, or outperforming another person or thing.

That is very different from the word Best at the end of an email.

Can “bests” be a noun?

You may also see bests in expressions such as personal bests, especially in sports or performance writing. For example:

The runner recorded new personal bests in several events.

Here, bests refers to the person’s best performances or results. Merriam-Webster’s current examples include the phrase “personal bests” in this type of context. (Merriam-Webster)

However, this does not mean that “Bests” is a normal email closing.

Common learner confusion

A common mistake is to think:

Best → Bests → plural form → email closing

English does not work that way here.

Best is not being used as an ordinary plural noun when you write:

Best,
Ayan

The word is functioning as a conventional email closing. Adding -s changes the word into something that looks like a verb or, in some contexts, a plural noun.

So:

Best,
Ayan

is natural.

But:

Bests,
Ayan

is generally unnatural and should be avoided in standard email writing.

What Does “Best” Mean?

Best is a very common English word with several different uses.

It is the superlative form of good and well. Depending on the sentence, it can work as an adjective, adverb, noun, or verb. Cambridge Dictionary lists these different uses and also identifies Best wishes as a polite way to finish a letter. (Cambridge Dictionary)

1. “Best” as an adjective

As an adjective, best means the highest in quality or the most suitable.

Examples:

1. She is my best friend.
2. This is the best restaurant in town.
3. He gave me his best advice.
4. That was the best answer.
5. We chose the best option.
6. Today is the best day for the meeting.
7. This is our best offer.
8. He is one of the best students in the class.

Here, best describes a person, thing, or choice.

2. “Best” as an adverb

Best can also describe how an action is performed.

For example:

• Which option works best?
• I work best in the morning.
• She sings best when she is relaxed.
• Which time suits you best?

Cambridge describes this use as meaning “in the most suitable” or satisfactory way, or to the greatest degree. (Cambridge Dictionary)

3. “Best” as a noun

Best can also mean the highest level of quality or someone’s greatest effort.

Examples:

• I always try to do my best.
• This is the best of his work.
• She gave her best.
• He is at his best when he is teaching.

Merriam-Webster also lists meanings such as one’s maximum effort and a best performance or achievement. (Merriam-Webster)

4. “Best” in an email

At the end of an email, Best is a conventional closing.

For example:

Thank you for your help.

Best,
Ayan

It is short, polite, and commonly used in professional and friendly emails.

The email closing Best developed from longer expressions such as best wishes. Merriam-Webster notes that “Best” became established as a correspondence closer from the phrase “best wishes.” (Merriam-Webster)

Why “Best” works but “Bests” does not

When you write Best, at the end of an email, you are not trying to make the word plural.

You are using Best as a shortened conventional closing, similar in function to:

• Best wishes,
• All the best,
• Kind regards,
• Warm regards.

So adding an -s is unnecessary.

Difference Between “Bests” and “Best”

The easiest way to understand the difference is to look at their grammatical jobs.

Usage difference

Consider these two sentences:

He bests his opponent.

Here, bests is a verb. It means he defeats his opponent.

Now compare:

Best,
Ayan

Here, Best is an email closing. It does not mean “defeats.”

The two forms have completely different jobs.

Grammar logic

English often adds -s to verbs in the third person singular:

• He works.
• She runs.
• It helps.
• He wins.
• She bests her opponent.

That is why bests is grammatically possible.

But email closings are not formed by simply adding -s to a word. You cannot take a conventional closing and automatically make it plural.

For example:

• Best, — natural
• Best wishes, — natural
• All the best, — natural
• Bests, — generally unnatural

Meaning comparison

Best can communicate the idea of something being excellent, most suitable, or someone’s highest effort.

Bests, when used as a verb, communicates an action: someone defeats or outdoes another person.

That difference is the key.

Grammar Rules You Must Remember

Rule #1: Use “Best” as an email closing

If you want a short, polite email ending, use:

Best,

Example:

Thank you for sending the information.

Best,
Ayan

This is one of the simplest choices for everyday professional email writing.

Rule #2: Do not use “Bests” as a normal email sign-off

Avoid:

Bests,
Ayan

Even though bests is a real English word, it is not the normal form of the email closing.

Choose:

Best,

instead.

Rule #3: “Bests” can be a verb

Use bests when the subject is singular and the meaning is “defeats” or “outdoes.”

For example:

The champion bests his rival.

The subject is the champion, so the verb takes -s.

You can also say:

She bests her opponent in the final.

Here, bests means defeats.

Rule #4: “Best wishes” is different from “Best”

Both can be used at the end of an email.

For example:

Best,
Ayan

or:

Best wishes,
Ayan

Best is shorter and often more modern or casual-professional. Best wishes sounds a little warmer and more complete.

The exact choice depends on your relationship with the reader and the purpose of the email.

Common Mistakes Students Make

Many learners make this mistake because they apply a simple plural rule to the word best.

Mistake 1: Writing “Bests” at the end of an email

Wrong or unnatural:

Bests,
Ahmed

Better:

Best,
Ahmed

The problem is not that bests is an impossible English word. The problem is that it does not normally function as the email closing.

Mistake 2: Thinking “Bests” means “many best wishes”

Some learners think that Bests means something like “best wishes.”

It does not.

If you want to express good wishes, use:

Best wishes,

or:

All the best,

Mistake 3: Using “best” like a normal adjective in a sign-off

You do not need to write:

Best regards, Ayan

and then change it to:

Bests regards, Ayan

The word regards already has the correct form. The adjective remains best.

Correct:

Best regards,

Incorrect:

Bests or Best

Mistake 4: Confusing “bests” with “best”

Look at the context.

Bests or Best

Here, bests is a verb.

Bests or Best,

Here, Best is an email closing.

The same basic word appears, but the grammar is different.

Easy correction tip

When you see bests, ask:

“Does this mean defeats or outdoes?”

If yes, bests may be correct.

If you are ending an email, choose Best, not Bests.

Easy Trick to Remember the Difference

Here is a simple memory trick:

Email = Best. Competition = Bests.

Think of these two situations.

Email:

Thank you for your time.

Bests or Best,
Ayan

Competition:

Bests or Best

In the first sentence, you are saying goodbye politely.

In the second sentence, someone is beating another person.

Another useful trick is:

Bests or Best

When you see bests, look for an action.

• She bests him.
• The team bests its rival.
• The new model bests the old one.

When you see Best at the bottom of an email, it is simply a polite closing.

Daily Life Examples

Here are some natural examples you may see or use in real communication.

Example 1: Short professional email

Thank you for confirming the meeting.

Bests or Best,
Sarah

This is a simple and safe closing.

Example 2: Email to a coworker

I have attached the updated file. Please let me know if you need anything else.

Bests or Best,
David

Best works well because the message is professional but not overly formal.

Example 3: Email to a teacher

Thank you for explaining the assignment. I understand it much better now.

Bests or Best
Ali

Here, Best wishes gives the email a warmer tone.

Example 4: Friendly email

It was great talking to you today. I hope everything goes well with your new project.

Bests or Best

All the best is friendly and natural.

Example 5: Competition

Bests or Best

Here, bests is a verb meaning defeats.

Example 6: Sports performance

Bests or Best

Here, bests refers to best performances or results.

Example 7: Technology

Bests or Best

Here, bests means outperforms.

Example 8: Work email

I have completed the report and attached it below.

Bests or Best

This is a natural professional email ending.

Example 9: Warm professional message

Thank you again for your support. I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Bests or Best

This sounds polite and friendly.

Example 10: Informal professional email

Thanks for your help. I really appreciate it.

Bests or Best

This is short, natural, and common.

Practice Section

Choose Best or Bests in each sentence.

1.

Thank you for your help.

_____,

Ali

2.

The player _____ his strongest opponent in the final.

3.

The new car _____ the older model in several tests.

4.

She achieved three personal _____ this year.

5.

I hope everything goes well for you.

_____ wishes,

Sara

Answers

1. Best
This is an email closing.

2. bests
Here, bests means defeats.

3. bests
The new car outperforms the older model.

4. bests
Here, bests refers to best performances or results.

5. Best
The complete expression is Best wishes.

A useful habit is to check the job of the word rather than only looking at its spelling.

FAQs

1. Can you use “bests” in an email?

You can use the word bests in an email when it has a normal grammatical meaning, such as a verb meaning “defeats” or “outdoes.” You may also see it in expressions such as “personal bests.”

However, Bests is not the standard way to close an email. Use Best instead.

2. Is “Best” correct at the end of an email?

Yes. Best is a common and natural email closing.

For example:

Bests or Best

Bests or Best

It works especially well for professional emails, workplace messages, and friendly business communication. (Merriam-Webster)

3. Is “Bests” grammatically correct?

Yes, but only in the right context.

Bests can be the third-person singular form of the verb best, meaning “defeats” or “outdoes.” For example: “She bests her opponent.” It is not the normal plural form used for an email sign-off. (Merriam-Webster)

4. Is “Best” formal or informal in an email?

Best is generally neutral and professional. It is not extremely formal, but it is appropriate for many workplace and business emails.

For a more formal situation, you might choose Kind regards, Sincerely, or another suitable closing.

5. What is better: “Best” or “Best wishes”?

Both are correct.

Best is shorter and very common in professional email. Best wishes is slightly warmer and can sound more personal.

For example:

Bests or Best

sounds concise, while:

Bests or Best

sounds a little warmer.

6. Can I write “Bests regards” in an email?

No. The standard expression is Best regards, not Bests regards.

In Best regards, best describes the good wishes expressed through the closing. There is no reason to add -s.

Correct:

Bests or Best

Not recommended:

Bests or Best

Conclusion

The short answer to “Bests or best: can you use bests in an email?” is simple: Use “Best,” not “Bests,” as your email closing.

The word bests is a real English word, but it normally has a different grammatical job. It can be the third-person singular form of the verb best, meaning to defeat or outdo someone. For example, “She bests her opponent.” It can also appear in contexts such as personal bests.

When you finish an email, however, Best is the natural choice:

,Bests or Best
Ayan

You can also use Best wishes, All the best, or Best regards, depending on the tone you want.

The easiest rule to remember is:

Email → Best.
Competition → bests.

Once you connect each form with its job, the difference becomes much easier. Keep using these expressions in real emails, and choosing the correct form will soon feel automatic.0

Oliver Bennett

Oliver Bennett is an English language educator and content writer passionate about simplifying grammar. He creates clear, practical lessons, writing tips, and learning resources that help readers improve their English with confidence.