Hi Theresa! "Cheers" simply means "Thanks" and should be used in informal situations or when we already have a good level of rapport with the person we're writing to. In a situation where you need to show respect towards the person you're communicating with, "cheers" would not be appropriate. For example; you may say "Cheers" to your mother for buying you some food, or "cheers" to your friend for helping you out in some way, however saying "cheers" to thank an employer for inviting you to interview would appear disrespectful. "Thank you would be more appropriate in this case. Hope this helps!

Cheers is an informal way of saying "thank you" and can also be used in place of "Kind regards" or "Best wishes" when writing an informal email. For instance; if I were buying something in a supermarket, I would typically say cheers to the person at the checkout. As far as I'm aware, this is something only to be used in the UK. Americans can get quite confused when you say "cheers" to them.

Just to add my two penn'orth (as we say in Britain): 'Cheers' has three main uses: 1. As a toast. When in company, you raise your glasses before drinking and say 'Cheers!' Usage = Throughout English-speaking world. 2. To mean 'Thank you'. This is an informal, casual expression of thanks, for a minor favour or service, as Dewey and Richard have explained. Usage = British - but not universal. It's used more by males than females, and more by younger people than older ones. 'Cheers, mate' would be a typical informal way that one British man would thank another one. I've never said it in my life. 3. As a sign-off for a note or email - a more informal version of 'Best wishes', as Christopher describes above. Usage = I'm not sure, but this seems to be mainly American.

To chime in as an American, as Dewy said, it's mostly a U.K. phrase. Some Americans will use it to sign an email, but not a majority of people. The only time Americans routinely say "cheers" is during a toast. That's why we get confused if we hear it out of that context -- we're wondering why we don't have alcohol and we're not clinking glasses together. :)

If cheers is being used as a sign off for an email then its like a cool guy response emparting good will and well wishes. Like someone telling you they're getting married and instead of being over excited and shouting you respond with "cheers, man". English use it more than Americans.