Sign off means to end a letter, broadcast or working day, and to sign off on something means to give it formal approval. To use sign off in a sentence, keep it after the subject: “She signed off with a friendly note.” The verb is usually intransitive, and the approving sense needs the preposition on.
Sign off at a glance
- Sign off is a phrasal verb built from sign plus the particle off.
- Its two main senses are to end a message or broadcast, and to approve something formally with sign off on.
- It is usually intransitive; only the approving sense adds the preposition on.
- It appears in email farewells, radio and television, and workplace approval.
- The commonest error is dropping on, as in sign off the budget, when approval is meant.
What does sign off mean?
Sign off is a phrasal verb with two main senses. It means to end a letter, message or broadcast, and, with on, to give formal approval to a plan, budget or decision. The Cambridge entry for sign off records the ending and the approving uses, and where you want a single verb for the second, approve the plan does the same work.
| Sense | Plain meaning | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| End a message | Close a letter, email or call | She signed off with a cheerful note. |
| End a broadcast | Stop transmitting, usually for the day | The presenter signed off just after midnight. |
| Give approval (on) | Formally agree to a plan or figure | The board signed off on the budget. |
| Stop working (US) | Record the end of a shift | He signed off at five and went home. |
One limitation is worth stating plainly. Sign off is not the same as sign out, which records leaving a building or closing a session, and it is not a signature. A document is signed; a plan is signed off on.
How do you use sign off in a sentence?
Sign off is usually intransitive, so it needs no object; the approving sense adds on before the thing approved. The five frames below cover nearly every real sentence, and to conclude a meeting is the formal way to say the same ending idea without the particle.
| Pattern | Example | What it signals |
|---|---|---|
| subject + sign off | The host signed off with a joke. | Ends an exchange or broadcast. |
| sign off with + noun | He signed off with his initials. | Names the closing words or mark. |
| sign off on + noun | They signed off on the new timetable. | Formal approval of a plan or figure. |
| sign off + noun (business) | The manager signed off the invoice. | Authorising a document; common in British business writing. |
| be signed off (passive) | The deal was signed off on Friday. | Approval completed at a stated time. |
Sign off in a sentence: examples across contexts
Sign off changes meaning with the preposition, and the same particle off shades other phrasal verbs too: break off ends talks suddenly rather than a message, and brush off dismisses a suggestion. The rows below keep the target verb in the workplace and on the air.
| Context | Example sentence | Why this works |
|---|---|---|
| Classroom | The head teacher signed off on the trip after the forms came back. | Approval sense with a condition. |
| Workplace email | I will sign off with the usual closing and my full title. | Ending sense for written correspondence. |
| News report | The veteran anchor signed off after thirty years on air. | Broadcast ending sense. |
| Business writing | Finance must sign off on any spend above the limit. | Formal approval tied to a rule. |
| Radio or podcast | She always signs off with the same farewell line. | Recurring ending that builds identity. |
| Conversation | I will sign off now and finish the report in the morning. | Stopping work for the day, common in the United States. |
| Legal or technical | The safety report was signed off by two inspectors. | Passive keeps the emphasis on the approval. |
| Project management | We cannot start until the client signs off on the design. | Approval as a gate before action. |
| Feature writing | He signed off his column by thanking the readers who stayed with him. | Uses the ending sense with a direct object in journalism. |
Sign off vs sign out
Sign off and sign out share a shape but do different jobs. Sign off closes a message or grants approval; sign out records leaving a system, building or shift. To end the working day either verb can appear, but only sign off carries approval.
| Attribute | sign off | sign out |
|---|---|---|
| Core meaning | End a message, or approve with on | Record leaving a place or session |
| Object | None, or a plan after on | None, or a place after of |
| Typical subject | A presenter, writer, manager or board | An employee, user or guest |
| Common pairing | sign off on a budget, sign off with a joke | sign out of an account, sign out at reception |
| Register | Neutral to business | Neutral and technical |
| Common slip | Dropping on before a plan | Using sign off for a log-out |
Verdict: use sign off to close a message or approve a plan, and sign out to leave a system or a building. A broadcaster who chooses to retire from the airwaves has signed off for good.
Word forms and grammar of sign off
Sign off is a phrase, so sign inflects and off stays fixed. The noun and adjective take a hyphen, which is where written forms most often go wrong.
| Form | Part of speech | Example |
|---|---|---|
| sign off | verb, base form | Please sign off before you leave the desk. |
| signs off | verb, third person singular | He signs off every call the same way. |
| signed off | verb, past and past participle | The chief signed off on the repair. |
| signing off | verb, present participle | She is signing off for the holidays. |
| sign-off | noun or adjective | We are waiting for the final sign-off. |
| signed-off | compound adjective | This is a signed-off policy, not a draft. |
Common mistakes with sign off
- Incorrect:
The board signed off the plan.Correct: The board signed off on the plan. Rule: The approving sense needs the preposition on before the thing approved. - Incorrect:
I signed off from my email with a joke.Correct: I signed off with a joke. Rule: The ending sense takes with, never from. - Incorrect:
She signed off of her account.Correct: She signed out of her account. Rule: Leaving a system is sign out; sign off is for ending or approving. - Incorrect:
They will sign-off the deal tomorrow.Correct: They will sign off the deal tomorrow. Rule: The verb is two separate words; the hyphen belongs only to the noun and adjective. - Incorrect:
The presenter signed off on the air.Correct: The presenter signed off for the night. Rule: On marks approval, so it does not belong in a broadcast ending.
Practice using sign off
Work through the six items, then check the reason attached to each answer.
- Fill the gap: The director must ______ on the final cut before release.
- Choose the better word: Once the meeting ends, remember to (sign off / sign out) at reception.
- Correct the error: The committee signed off about the new policy.
- Build a sentence: use sign off with a closing joke for a radio show.
- Spot the register: which belongs in a business email — I will sign off with the agreed figures, or Catch you later, signing off?
- Rewrite with a single verb: The board approved the budget. Use sign off on instead.
Answers
- sign off — approval of the cut needs the preposition on.
- sign out — leaving the building is recorded with sign out.
- The committee signed off on the new policy — the preposition is on, never about.
- Model answer: The host signed off with a joke about the weather.
- I will sign off with the agreed figures — a business email keeps a neutral, formal tone.
- The board signed off on the budget — the phrasal verb with on replaces approve.
The bottom line
Use sign off in a sentence to close a message or broadcast, and add on to approve a plan formally. The two nuances that decide most sentences are the preposition on, which separates approval from ending, and the spoken or written form, since the verb is two words while the noun takes a hyphen. Where you want one plain verb for approval, approve a plan is clearer.
Frequently asked questions about sign off
Is sign off one word or two?
As a verb it is two separate words, as in she signed off with a cheerful note. The noun and the adjective take a hyphen: we are waiting for the final sign-off. Keeping the verb open is the rule that most often goes wrong, because the hyphen looks tidy but changes the grammatical job.
Why does sign off need the word on?
On marks the approving sense. Sign off alone means to end a message or broadcast, while sign off on means to give formal approval to a plan, budget or design. Dropping the preposition is the commonest error, so the board signed off the budget should be the board signed off on the budget.
Can you sign off a document?
Yes, in British business writing the approving sense can take a direct object, as in the manager signed off the invoice. North American writers strongly prefer signed off on the invoice. Either way the meaning is formal authorisation, which is distinct from simply signing a document to show you have seen it.
Can sign off be a noun?
Yes, and it is written with a hyphen: the sign-off. It names the act or moment of approval, as in we are waiting for the final sign-off, and it can also describe the closing words of a broadcast. The one-word form signoff appears in some house styles, but the hyphenated version is safest.
“Sign off” is a common term used in communication, especially in formal and professional settings. When you “sign off,” you are concluding a message or conversation in a polite and respectful manner. It can be verbal or written, and often includes a closing phrase or gesture.
In written communication, signing off typically involves using phrases like “sincerely,” “best regards,” or “thank you.” Knowing how to effectively sign off in different situations can help convey professionalism and courtesy.
7 Examples Of Sign Off Used In a Sentence For Kids
- Sign off your name at the end of your drawing.
- Remember to sign off with a big smile when you finish your work.
- Make sure to sign off your homework before handing it to the teacher.
- It’s important to sign off with a thank you after receiving a gift.
- Don’t forget to sign off your letter to your friend with a warm goodbye.
- Before you leave, always remember to sign off from the computer.
- When you complete a task, don’t forget to sign off with a job well done.
14 Sentences with Sign Off Examples
- Remember to sign off your emails professionally when contacting potential employers.
- Make sure to sign off the group project collaboration document once you have completed your assigned tasks.
- Before submitting your college application, always remember to sign off on the declaration form.
- When attending online classes, don’t forget to sign off the video call before leaving.
- After completing your online exam, remember to sign off the testing platform to submit your answers.
- Before leaving the library, don’t forget to sign off from the computer you were using.
- When borrowing books from the college library, always remember to sign off the check-out form.
- Before leaving a group study session, make sure to sign off the shared online document.
- Don’t forget to sign off your social media accounts when using public computers on campus.
- After completing your online course modules, always remember to sign off the learning platform.
- When participating in online discussions for class assignments, remember to sign off the forum once you have shared your thoughts.
- Before exiting the virtual classroom, always remember to sign off to end the session.
- When submitting your research paper online, be sure to sign off on the plagiarism declaration statement.
- Before leaving a group project meeting, make sure to sign off the meeting minutes document to confirm attendance.
How To Use Sign Off in Sentences?
To Sign Off in a sentence means to formally end or conclude your message, usually by giving your name or a closing phrase. When using Sign Off, it is important to choose an appropriate closing that matches the tone and content of your message.
Here’s how you can effectively Sign Off in a sentence:
1. Decide on a closing that suits the context of your message. For example, in a formal email, you might use “Best regards” or “Sincerely.”
2. Place the Sign Off at the end of your message, just before your name or signature. This signals to the reader that the message is coming to a close.
3. Take into consideration your relationship with the recipient when choosing a Sign Off. For example, “Best wishes” might be more appropriate for a friend or family member, while “Yours faithfully” could be used in a more formal setting.
4. Remember to keep it concise and to the point. Avoid overly lengthy closings that may distract from the main message.
By following these simple steps, you can effectively Sign Off in a sentence and leave a lasting impression on your reader.
Conclusion
In professional communication, the sign off is a crucial element that conveys respect and professionalism. From a simple “Best regards” to more formal options like “Sincerely,” the sign off sets the tone for the entire message. Using an appropriate sign off ensures that your message leaves a positive final impression on the recipient.
Whether it’s a formal email to a colleague or a friendly message to a friend, choosing the right sign off can enhance the overall impact of your communication. Taking the time to select a sign off that aligns with the tone and purpose of your message demonstrates thoughtfulness and consideration for the recipient.
