[Nightedge]

Recently I've received a few emails, and some of them end this way

[...]

Best!

TS Eliot

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What does 'Best!' mean? Are they praising anyone or does it have a special meaning? One of this kind addressed to my mother's sister's grandson is from a teacher, just telling him about how students perform in class. ←context

[susan53]

It's an abbreviation of Best regards.

It's usual to end emails in neutral style - ie not to friends - with
Best regards or just Regards. However sometimes, to make it slightly more informal, if you know the person though they're not a friend, then just Best is used.

I'm afraid your signature is unlikely though. Eliot died quite a long time before emails were ever thought of - unlikely he would have used it

[aurays]

Hi everyone!

Can it also be that Best is an abbreviation of All the best?

[susan53]

Interesting. Had never thought of that one. Again, that would only be appropriate in more informal messages, but it's certainly possible. It would depend on what the specific writer was thinking. And at that point, why not also "Best wishes" ? i've always interpreted it as "Best regards", but who knows what other people intend.

[Nightedge]

Excellent answers. Thank you.