Sincerely

Sincerely is one of the 117 mis-spellings listed as 'Common difficulties' in the section on 'Spelling' within 'Writing' in UEfAP.

It is spelled sincerely, with a total of TWO '-e-'s.

This obeys the normal spelling rule - that one should add the adverb-forming suffix -ly to the complete adjective from which the adverb is to be formed. In this case, the '-e' from the end of the adjective sincere is maintained in the adverb. There is no '-r-' between the '-l' and the '-y' - sincerley and sincerly are not uncommon errors..

• The commonest use of sincerely may be as the conclusion to a formal letter written to someone whose name the writer knows, and starting with such a formal opening as 'Dear Mr Jones' or sometimes 'Dear John', etc.