Proper phrase to close and email

Question

I work in a maritime industry. Often emails to those who are at sea sailing end with:

Sail safe,
- Frank

I don't think this is correct. I think it should be:

Sail safely,
- Frank

Is the top one OK or completely incorrect?

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

Anon;
You can say "Be safe" and "sail safely".
You can't switch words between them - "Be safely" and "sail safe" are incorrect.

Avangi · Answer

Hi, A

's. I seem to recall a long thread about using adjectives adverbially. Weren't some of the uses archaic but others still going strong?
I should think that if a tradition exists, as the OP says, it should be allowed.

Best wishes, - A.

Edit. I sense a difference between "drive safely" and "sail safe," in that sailing is almost like a separate existence; so it could be understood like "be safe," "be well," "sail safe."
"Be safe as you sail" would have a different meaning than "Sail safely." It's sort of a personal blessing, like "Vaya con Dios."

"Drive safely," on the other hand, describes an imperative to perform a duty in a certain way.

Proper phrase to close and email

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