greetings for essays

100+ Useful Words and Phrases to Write a Great Essay

By: Author Sophia

Posted on Last updated: October 25, 2023

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How to Write a Great Essay in English! This lesson provides 100+ useful words, transition words and expressions used in writing an essay. Let’s take a look!

The secret to a successful essay doesn’t just lie in the clever things you talk about and the way you structure your points.

Useful Words and Phrases to Write a Great Essay

Overview of an essay.

Useful Phrases for Proficiency Essays

Developing the argument

• The first aspect to point out is that…
• Let us start by considering the facts.
• The novel portrays, deals with, revolves around…
• Central to the novel is…
• The character of xxx embodies/ epitomizes…

The other side of the argument

• It would also be interesting to see…
• One should, nevertheless, consider the problem from another angle.
• Equally relevant to the issue are the questions of…
• The arguments we have presented… suggest that…/ prove that…/ would indicate that…
• From these arguments one must…/ could…/ might… conclude that…
• All of this points to the conclusion that…
• To conclude…

Ordering elements

• Firstly,…/ Secondly,…/ Finally,… (note the comma after all these introductory words.)
• As a final point…
• On the one hand, …. on the other hand…
• If on the one hand it can be said that… the same is not true for…
• The first argument suggests that… whilst the second suggests that…
• There are at least xxx points to highlight.

Adding elements

• Furthermore, one should not forget that…
• In addition to…
• Moreover…
• It is important to add that…

Accepting other points of view

• Nevertheless, one should accept that…
• However, we also agree that…

Personal opinion

• We/I personally believe that…
• Our/My own point of view is that…
• It is my contention that…
• I am convinced that…
• My own opinion is…

Others’ opinions

• According to some critics… Critics:
• believe that
• suggest that
• are convinced that
• point out that
• emphasize that
• contend that
• go as far as to say that
• argue for this

Introducing examples

• For example…
• For instance…
• To illustrate this point…

Introducing facts

• It is… true that…/ clear that…/ noticeable that…
• One should note here that…

Saying what you think is true

• This leads us to believe that…
• It is very possible that…
• In view of these facts, it is quite likely that…
• Doubtless,…
• One cannot deny that…
• It is (very) clear from these observations that…
• All the same, it is possible that…
• It is difficult to believe that…

Accepting other points to a certain degree

• One can agree up to a certain point with…
• Certainly,… However,…
• It cannot be denied that…

Emphasizing particular points

• The last example highlights the fact that…
• Not only… but also…
• We would even go so far as to say that…

Moderating, agreeing, disagreeing

• By and large…
• Perhaps we should also point out the fact that…
• It would be unfair not to mention the fact that…
• One must admit that…
• We cannot ignore the fact that…
• One cannot possibly accept the fact that…

Consequences

• From these facts, one may conclude that…
• That is why, in our opinion, …
• Which seems to confirm the idea that…
• Thus,…/ Therefore,…
• Some critics suggest…, whereas others…
• Compared to…
• On the one hand, there is the firm belief that… On the other hand, many people are convinced that…

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Phrases For Balanced Arguments

Introduction

• It is often said that…
• It is undeniable that…
• It is a well-known fact that…
• One of the most striking features of this text is…
• The first thing that needs to be said is…
• First of all, let us try to analyze…
• One argument in support of…
• We must distinguish carefully between…
• The second reason for…
• An important aspect of the text is…
• It is worth stating at this point that…
• On the other hand, we can observe that…
• The other side of the coin is, however, that…
• Another way of looking at this question is to…
• What conclusions can be drawn from all this?
• The most satisfactory conclusion that we can come to is…
• To sum up… we are convinced that…/ …we believe that…/ …we have to accept that…

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Essay on Greetings

Students are often asked to write an essay on Greetings in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Greetings

Introduction.

Greetings are a universal way of acknowledging others, expressing respect, and building relationships. They vary across cultures, reflecting unique customs and traditions.

Types of Greetings

Cultural variations.

Different cultures have unique greetings. In Japan, people bow, while in France, they kiss on the cheek. Understanding these can help us connect with people from diverse backgrounds.

In conclusion, greetings are a simple yet powerful way of fostering mutual respect and understanding among individuals worldwide.

250 Words Essay on Greetings

The significance of greetings, cultural aspect of greetings.

Cultures worldwide have diverse greeting customs that reflect their unique histories and values. For instance, in Japan, a bow signifies respect and humility, while in France, a kiss on each cheek is a warm gesture of friendship. Understanding these cultural nuances is crucial for fostering cross-cultural communication and respect.

Psychological Impact of Greetings

Psychologically, greetings can have profound effects on interpersonal relationships. A warm, sincere greeting can create a positive impression, promote trust, and set the tone for a constructive conversation. Conversely, a lackluster or insincere greeting can create distance and mistrust.

Societal Implications of Greetings

In a broader societal context, greetings play an essential role in maintaining social order. They act as social glue, reinforcing social norms and expectations. By acknowledging each other’s presence, we recognize our shared humanity and interconnectedness.

The Evolution of Greetings

With advances in technology, greetings have evolved beyond face-to-face interactions. Digital platforms have created new forms of greetings, such as emojis and GIFs, which add a visual and emotional dimension to digital communication.

In conclusion, greetings are a powerful tool for building connections, fostering mutual respect, and maintaining societal harmony. As we navigate our increasingly global and digital world, understanding the significance and nuances of greetings is more important than ever.

500 Words Essay on Greetings

The cultural significance of greetings.

Historically, greetings were a way to demonstrate peaceful intentions. The act of extending a hand, for instance, was a sign that one was unarmed. This gesture has evolved into the modern handshake, a universal symbol of goodwill and respect. Similarly, the Roman salute, a military greeting, has morphed into various forms of salutes in today’s armed forces.

Greetings have also evolved with the advent of technology. The digital age has introduced new forms of greetings, such as emoticons and GIFs, which serve as non-verbal cues in written communication. These digital greetings, while less personal, have become an integral part of our online interactions, highlighting the adaptability of human communication.

Global Diversity in Greetings

Greetings vary significantly across cultures, reflecting unique societal norms and values. In Japan, the bow is a traditional form of greeting that signifies respect and humility. The depth of the bow varies depending on the social status of the person one is greeting. On the other hand, in New Zealand, the traditional Māori greeting, the hongi, involves the pressing of noses and foreheads, symbolizing the exchange of breath and the sharing of life.

Psychologically, greetings play a vital role in establishing rapport and building relationships. A warm, sincere greeting can make people feel acknowledged and valued, fostering a sense of belonging. On the contrary, a cold or indifferent greeting can create a barrier, leading to feelings of exclusion or discomfort.

Conclusion: The Power of Greetings

In conclusion, greetings are a powerful tool of communication that transcend mere words. They serve as a mirror to societal norms and values, a testament to cultural diversity, and a catalyst for human connection. As our world continues to evolve and become more interconnected, understanding and appreciating the significance of greetings in different cultures can promote empathy, respect, and unity among diverse populations.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

Happy studying!

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Greetings: 28 Useful Formal and Informal Greetings in English

Greetings are an essential part of communication in any language. They are the first words we say when we meet someone, and they can set the tone for the entire conversation. In English, there are formal and informal greetings, and it’s important to know when to use each one. In this article, we will cover everything you need to know about formal and informal greetings in English.

Understanding Greetings

Greetings are an essential part of communication, and they help to establish a connection between the speaker and the listener.

Firstly, it is important to understand the difference between formal and informal greetings. Formal greetings are used in professional settings, when showing respect to someone, at formal gatherings, and when talking to someone for the first time. On the other hand, informal greetings are used in casual settings, among friends and family, and when the speaker wants to convey a more laid-back tone.

Some common examples of formal greetings include “Good morning,” “Good afternoon,” and “Good evening.” These greetings are commonly used in a formal atmosphere and are used as a replacement for the word “hello.” It is important to note that the appropriate greeting depends on the time of day. For example, before 12 p.m., you should say “Good morning,” after 12 p.m., you should say “Good afternoon,” and after 6 p.m., you should say “Good evening.”

Informal greetings, on the other hand, are more casual and relaxed. Examples of informal greetings include “Hello,” “Hi,” and “Hey.” These greetings are commonly used among friends and family, and they convey a more laid-back tone. It is important to note that the appropriate greeting depends on the situation and the relationship between the speaker and the listener.

Formal and Informal English Greetings

Common formal greetings.

• Hello Mary!
• How are you?
• Good morning .
• Good afternoon.
• Good evening.
• What are you doing?
• It’s nice to meet you.
• How is it going?
• How are you doing?
• Good to see you.
• It is a pleasure to meet you.
• How do you do?
• It’s an honor to meet you.
• Nice to meet you .

Common Informal Greetings

• What’s up?
• How are ya?
• What’s new?
• What’s going on?
• How are things?
• How is everything?
• How’s life?
• Long time no see!

Formal Greetings

Business settings.

When meeting someone in a business setting, it is important to use formal greetings to show respect and professionalism. Some common formal greetings in business settings include:

• Good morning/afternoon/evening
• Nice to meet you

It is also important to use appropriate titles when addressing someone in a business setting. For example, if you are addressing someone with a higher rank or position, you should use their title and last name (e.g. “Good morning, Mr. Smith”).

Academic Settings

In academic settings, formal greetings are also important to show respect and professionalism. Some common formal greetings in academic settings include:

When addressing a professor or teacher, it is important to use their title and last name (e.g. “Good morning, Professor Johnson”).

Government Settings

When meeting someone in a government setting, it is important to use formal greetings to show respect and professionalism. Some common formal greetings in government settings include:

When addressing someone with a higher rank or position, it is important to use their title and last name (e.g. “Good morning, Secretary Smith”).

Informal Greetings

Friendly settings.

When greeting friends, family, or acquaintances in casual settings, people often use informal greetings such as:

• How’s it going?

These greetings are often accompanied by a smile or a wave, and are used to acknowledge the other person and start a conversation.

Casual Settings

In casual settings such as parties, concerts, or sports games, people often use informal greetings to acknowledge strangers or acquaintances. These greetings can include:

These greetings are often accompanied by a nod or a handshake, and are used to start a conversation or show friendliness.

The Art of Responding to Greetings

Responding to greetings is just as important as giving them. It shows respect and politeness towards the person greeting you.

Formal Responses

When responding to a formal greeting, it is important to use a formal response. Here are some examples:

• Good morning/afternoon/evening. (Response: Good morning/afternoon/evening.)
• How do you do? (Response: How do you do?)
• It’s a pleasure to meet you. (Response: The pleasure is mine.)

It is important to note that in formal situations, it is best to use the same greeting that was given to you in your response.

Informal Responses

Informal responses to greetings are more relaxed and casual. Here are some examples:

• Hey! (Response: Hey!)
• What’s up? (Response: Not much, how about you?)
• Hi there! (Response: Hi there!)

When responding to an informal greeting, it is acceptable to use a different greeting in your response.

In conclusion, responding to greetings is an important aspect of communication. It is important to use the appropriate response based on the formality of the situation. By using the examples provided, you can ensure that you are responding appropriately and showing respect towards the person greeting you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some examples of informal greetings in English?

There are many informal greetings in English, such as “Hey”, “Hi”, “Hello”, “What’s up?”, “Howdy”, “Yo”, and “Sup”. These greetings are typically used between friends, family members, or peers in casual settings.

What is the difference between formal and informal greetings?

Formal greetings are typically used in professional settings or when meeting someone for the first time. They are more polite and respectful, such as “Good morning/afternoon/evening”, “Nice to meet you”, and “How do you do?”. Informal greetings, on the other hand, are more casual and relaxed, such as “Hey”, “Hi”, and “What’s up?”.

What are some common friendly greeting phrases?

Some common friendly greeting phrases include “How are you?”, “What have you been up to?”, “It’s good to see you”, “How’s your day going?”, and “What’s new?”.

What are some English greetings and responses?

English greetings include “Good morning/afternoon/evening”, “Hello”, “Hi”, “Hey”, and “Howdy”. Common responses to these greetings include “Good morning/afternoon/evening”, “Hello”, “Hi”, “Hey”, and “How’s it going?”.

What are some ways to greet someone in English?

Some ways to greet someone in English include saying “Hello”, “Hi”, “Good morning/afternoon/evening”, “Hey”, “Howdy”, “What’s up?”, and “Nice to meet you”. It’s important to choose the appropriate greeting based on the situation and the relationship with the person being greeted.

Last Updated on November 9, 2023

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English greetings: 29 words and phrases to say “hello” in style

Formal greetings

Sometimes you need to use more formal or business language to keep a professional tone. Here are the most common situations when such greetings are necessary:

• job interview
• business meeting
• communicating with top management or CEO
• chatting with a new colleague
• having a conversation with clients
• showing respect to an older person
• speaking with someone you barely know

Use the following salutations to start a formal conversation in any of these situations.

If you are looking for a VERY formal phrase for someone you meet for the first time, or business English vocabulary for a professional situation, this one will be the most suitable. While this salutation is quite uncommon today, you can still hear it from older people.

“Hello. How do you do?” is perfect for a business dinner or a formal event, such as a conference. As per professional speech in every language, the most appropriate response is neutral or positive “I’m doing well thank you / Fine, thank you” to keep some distance, even if you are actually having a very bad day!

If used as a formal greeting, sometimes “How do you do” is, strangely, used as a statement rather than a question. This most often happens when shaking hands with someone for the first time. It is easy to hear if this is the case: there will be no inflection at the end of the sentence. In this instance, the correct response is to repeat the question back to the asker in the same flat tone, “How do you do?”

This is one of the respectful greeting examples you can use replying to someone you meet for the very first time. For example:

• A: Good morning. I’m Alex White from [Company].
• B: Nice to meet you, Mr. White.

When people meet, it is a common practice to shake hands. A handshake generally lasts for a few seconds, which gives enough time to say “Pleased to meet you”.

This is a polite way to ask “ How are you? ” when you have not seen a person for a long time. Ask this question only if you have met someone before.

• A: How have you been?
• B: I’ve been busy working a lot. How about you?

The best way to ensure that your greetings sound natural and confident is to practice them aloud, preferably with a fluent speaker to give you pointers. No-one to practice with? Find your perfect tutor.

Download a list of proverbs for free

These ways of greeting people are used at different times of the day. Whether you speak with a regular customer, colleagues or new neighbors, these phrases are effective to start the ball rolling.

The greetings change depending on the time of the day. For example, “Good morning” is generally used from 5:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. whereas “Good afternoon” time is from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. “Good evening” is often used after 6 p.m. or when the sun goes down.

Keep in mind that “Goodnight” is not a salutation. In formal communication, it is used to say goodbye. For example:

• It was nice to meet you. Goodnight!
• Goodnight! See you tomorrow.

To show your respect, you can also add the person’s last name to your greeting words. Usually, native English speakers tend to be more informal even in business communication and use the person’s first name after the salutation:

• Good morning, Mr. Houston
• Good afternoon, Ms. Partridge
• Good morning, Tom
• Good evening, Kelly

It is also common to say “Good morning, sir/madam” when greeting someone in a formal situation whose name is unknown. This is often heard by staff talking to customers in shops, restaurants and hotels.

Want to polish your conversational skills? Check out our article on the five main principles of small talk .

Formal greetings for letters and emails

In any language, many of the most formal conversations take place in written form: job applications, legal queries, complaints against a company. Here are the best ways to greet someone in writing when you have something serious to say.

You might also want to check out our handy guide to writing emails in English .

If you do not know the name of the person you are sending a professional letter or email to then “Dear Sir or Madam” is the most common way to start the conversation. It is clear, respectful, and to the point. Some instances when this is useful include:

• When you are reaching out to a department you would like to work with
• When you are emailing a company

However, if you are able to find the person you want to talk to with some online research, it is much more professional to do so and send a personalized formal greeting.

This is another professional way to address an email to a stranger. It is a little old fashioned, but perfect if your formal email is going to be relevant to a group of people, or if you want to sound especially reserved. Suitable situations include:

• When you are emailing a whole department that you are unfamiliar with
• When you are sending a complaint to a company
• When sending a reference letter for someone you used to manage

If you are sending a job application or emailing an HR department about a role you would like to apply for, “To the Hiring Manager” is a very useful greeting. It is particularly helpful if you are emailing a generic company-wide “info@” inbox because it signals that your message will be about a work opportunity, and immediately instructs whoever manages the inbox to forward your message to the HR department.

If you know the name and title of someone you are sending a formal email to, it is better to begin the conversation with “Dear Mr [surname]” instead of “Dear sir or madam.”

In rare cases, the person you are emailing might use a salutation which signifies their profession. Doctors and academics who have a PhD sometimes use “Dr”, and college professors sometimes use “Prof”. Otherwise, you can use “Dear Mr [surname]” for a man, “Dear Mrs [surname]” for a married woman, or “Dear Miss [surname]” for an unmarried woman. If you do not know the marital status of a woman you are emailing professionally, you should use “Ms [surname]”. If you do not know the title of the person you want to reach, or cannot guess their gender from their name, try looking them up on Linkedin.

Be aware: even when sending very formal professional messages, most people will switch to “Dear [First name] after the first or second email exchange. Usually, the person you have reached out to will reply using “Dear [first name]”, and after this point, it is polite to address them in the same way.

Want inspiration for the next line? Check out our guide on how to start a letter and write a great hook .

Informal greetings

When it comes to a conversation with a neighbor or a chit-chat with colleagues during a coffee break, you can opt for these informal greetings. Situations where these fit naturally include:

• a casual meeting with colleagues
• having a conversation with your team at work
• networking events
• greeting neighbors
• chatting to a friend

As you almost certainly know already, “ Hello” and “Hi” are the most popular greetings for informal situations. Generally, they are followed by the person’s name:

• Hello, Michel. How are you?
• Hi, Monica. Nice to see you!

As a rule, use “hey” with people you know well. It is perfectly okay to start a conversation with a stranger in an informal situation with “hey” too, but do not pronounce it too harshly in this case, or it can come across as rude or confrontational.

This is a friendly and warm way to greet someone in most informal situations. It sounds particularly natural if you are just walking past someone who you relate to informally but do not have time for a long chat with, such as a postman, or a neighbor, or a cafe assistant. This said, it works just as well to start a longer conversation.

This is a casual way of asking “How are you?” People prefer to ask one of these questions after the main greeting. Usually, it is followed by a brief, positive answer. For instance:

• A: Hello, Amanda! How are you doing?
• B: Fine, thanks. And you?

When you have not seen a person for a while or meet somebody unexpectedly, use one of these friendly greetings. You can use them at the beginning of a conversation, or just after the initial “hello”.

• Hello, Veronica. Nice to see you there.

These common phrases are used to greet an old friend or begin a conversation with a person you haven’t seen for a very long time. These expressions are often followed by questions like “How are you?” or “What’s new?” And it is a great way to start small talk about what has happened since your last meeting.

• A: Hey, John! Long-time no see. How are you?
• B: I’m fine, thanks! What’s new?
• A: Hi, Taya. How’s it going?
• B: Good thanks
• A: I haven’t seen you for ages.
• B: Yes, it’s been a while.

Want these phrases to feel natural? Learn them by speaking with a tutor on Preply

Slang greetings

Slang is fun to learn: it’s informal and a little bit silly, and using it signifies to someone that you’re on friendly terms. Here are some different ways to say “hello” to your good friends and younger relatives.

This funny greeting came from hip-hop culture in 1990s America. It is still commonly used in the US today.

This is a very common slang greeting used a lot both in person and over text message. It is a more relaxed way of greeting a friend by asking how they are doing, and what is new in their life. It is not rude and can be used with colleagues who you are close with, as well as family members and friends.

This is a short version of “What’s up?”, which was very popular in America in the early 2000s. Now it is mostly only used ironically or in text.

When texting or sending direct messages, some people like to add extra “y”s at the end of “hey”. For some mysterious reason, this is most often used when flirting. The longer the tail of “y”s, the flirtier the message! More than three or four looks a little bit desperate though…

British greetings

Knowing a few British English greetings will make you seem especially friendly when traveling to the UK, showing from the very first impression that you want to engage with the local culture. Here are some British “hello”s, perfect for testing out on the Queen, or on your mates down the pub!

When greeting each other in a formal setting, British people are more likely to describe it as “lovely” to meet someone than “nice”. If you travel to the UK, you will notice that many people use the word “lovely” to mean the same as “fine” in American English. To British English speakers, it sounds kinder and more sincere.

This is a British slang version of “Hello. How are you?” If your friend greets you like this, you can respond with “yeah, fine” or, if you want to sound even more British, “not bad” — which means exactly the same thing.

This is a very common slang way to say a chilled-out “Hi” to a friend. It is a shortened version of “Are you alright?”. Once again, a suitable and friendly answer is “Not bad, mate, you?”

This is a very common way of saying “hello”, especially in the North of England. It is also used a lot in text messaging.

This greeting is only used in Ireland, and “craic” is pronounced to rhyme with the English words “crack” and “back”. It is a very warm phrase which means, “what is new with you?” or “have you got any interesting new gossip since we last met?”

Be careful though: if you use this phrase to greet someone Irish and are not Irish yourself, it is possible that they might think you are making fun of them!

Hungry for some more British slang? Check out our guide to the 40 most memorable British slang words for ESL learners

Funny Greetings

It is very difficult to be funny in a new language (or difficult to be funny on purpose, at least!). Being able to understand and make jokes is often even seen as a sign of fluency. If you are still in the process of learning, slipping a silly or old-fashioned version of “hello” into a conversation is a simple way to make someone laugh.

If you are learning English to chat with a partner or friends, surprising them with one of these weird conversation starters can be very funny. Here are some less serious “hellos” and tips on when to try them for maximum effect.

This is a very old greeting that dates all the way back to Old English, and was once used by sailors to call ships. Nowadays, it is only really spoken by Spongebob and other ocean-based cartoon characters. It is just as silly when written in a text message as in person.

This is sometimes used when greeting friends that you haven’t seen in a little while. It is a jokier version of “long time, no see”.

This is a shortened version of “Hello, governor”, a greeting used by tradespeople in Victorian London, to show respect when talking to upper class members of society. Dropping the “H” from the “Hello” is intended to make the pronunciation sound similar to the famous “cockney” accent, associated with the East of London. Today, it is only really used by people teasing their British colleagues!

This is a ridiculous way to say “Good morning”. It is unnecessarily formal and associated with old-fashioned poetry, so using it in real conversation is definitely pretty silly!

This is another way of saying, “What’s up?” or “What’s going on?”.

This is a very rarely-used greeting, but will definitely make someone laugh. A buttercup is a delicate yellow flower which grows in grass, and also a very common thing to name your pet cow. It is quite funny to address an adult as “buttercup”.

This is an abbreviation of “How do you do?” stereotypically used in some regions of Canada and America. Now, it is mostly only used by cartoon cowboys.

A well-chosen “hello” sets the tone for any conversation, whether talking to a close friend or someone you barely know. 

Don’t be afraid to try out these new expressions in your daily communication. Armed with these words and phrases, you can start almost any conversation off in a more vibrant and fluent way.

Want to speak with confidence as quickly as possible? Find a personal English tutor perfectly suited to your budget and schedule.

FAQ about English greetings

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Adam is a content marketing specialist with a passion for language. He's originally from Birmingham, England but now lives in Barcelona. He is currently learning Spanish on Preply with his tutor, Jordi.

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How to Greet People in English [Formally and Informally!]

Greetings serve as the cornerstone of effective communication and social interaction. They are your first step in establishing connections with people in English-speaking countries. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to enhance your greeting skills, this in-depth guide will teach you how to greet people in English. If you want a partner to practice English with, don’t forget to check out our awesome article on the best website for English speaking practice (FOR FREE!) .

How to Greet Someone in English

Formal greetings.

Formal greetings are typically used in professional settings, when meeting someone for the first time, or to convey respect. Here are some common formal greetings, complete with examples:

• Example : “Hello, Mr. Smith. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
• Example : “Good afternoon, Professor Johnson. How has your day been so far?”
• Example : “How do you do, Madam President? I’ve heard a lot about your work.”
• Example : “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Dr. Lee. Your research is quite impressive.”

Informal Greetings

Informal greetings are employed when interacting with friends, family, or in relaxed settings. They tend to be more casual and friendly:

• Example : “Hi, Sarah! How’s everything going with you?”
• Example : “Hey, buddy! What’s on your mind today?”
• Example : “What’s up, Jane? It’s been a while since we caught up!”
• Example : “How’s it going, Mark? Anything exciting happening lately?”

What Do You Say Instead of Hi?

If you want to add variety to your greetings beyond the standard “Hi,” consider these alternatives:

• Example : “Greetings, everyone! I hope you’re all having a wonderful day.”
• Example : “Salutations, my friends. Let’s make this gathering memorable!”
• Example : “Hey there, how’s your week been treating you?”
• Example : “Hello there, stranger! Long time no see. What have you been up to?”

How to Greet a Person in English

Effectively greeting someone in English isn’t just about the words you choose; it’s about the context and your relationship with the person. Here are some essential tips to enhance your greeting etiquette:

• Pay attention to the situation : Consider whether you’re in a formal or informal environment. If you’re unsure, it’s safer to start with a more formal greeting.
• Use appropriate titles : In formal settings, address individuals by their titles and last names (e.g., Mr. Smith, Dr. Lee). In informal settings, you can use first names or nicknames (e.g., Sarah, Mark).
• Match the level of enthusiasm : Tailor your greeting to the atmosphere. If someone greets you warmly, respond in kind. In formal situations, maintain a respectful tone.
• Smile and make eye contact : These non-verbal cues convey friendliness and approachability, making your greeting more genuine.
• Practice active listening : After the initial greeting, listen attentively to the person’s response. This shows that you value the interaction and are ready to engage in meaningful conversation.

By mastering how to greet people in English, you’ll be better prepared to navigate social and professional interactions, creating positive first impressions and fostering meaningful connections. So go ahead, greet confidently, and open the door to enriching conversations!

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Informal & Professional English Greetings for Every Situation

Dec 7, 2022 | Advanced Vocabulary

This lesson was originally posted in February 2016. It was updated in December 2022 with new content and a video lesson.

Have you ever heard someone you don’t know say, 

• Hey, what’s up?
• Hi, how’s it going?

Perhaps it was a stranger you walked past in your neighborhood. Or someone you’ve seen at work once or twice but you don’t really know.

What exactly are they asking? Do they want to know how your day is going?

And is it polite or respectful to say “Hey, how’s it going” even with people you don’t know very well, like your neighbors?

Well. Sometimes. 

In this Confident English lesson, you’ll learn other ways to say hello in English with greetings for professional situations, casual conversations, and encounters with strangers or people you don’t know well. 

You’ll understand the nuances of age, for example greeting peers vs. someone older than you.

And you’ll l earn a common structure of English greetings – most of the time, we don’t stop with a simple hello.  

Lastly, if you’re not sure what someone really wants to know when they say, “What’s up” or “How’s it going”, we’ll talk about that too. Including when someone truly wants to know how you’re doing.

English Greetings for Informal and Professional Situations — Other Ways to Say Hello

Common structure for english greetings.

Let’s start with a structure you’re likely to hear (and use) for spoken greetings in English. 

In an effort to be friendly and polite, it’s not uncommon for an English speaker to casually greet a friend, a neighbor, an acquaintance, or even a stranger with a greeting such as 

• Hey, how are ya?

To be clear, these are casual, friendly greetings that can be used in a variety of situations. 

And they all mean one thing: hello .

These are simple, polite greetings that acknowledge someone’s presence or take the first step in starting a conversation.

In this structure, you have a single greeting word (hi/hey) + a question. 

For example, How’s it going or what’s up?

However, this isn’t the same as asking: how are you? 

It’s not an invitation to talk about your day, how you’re feeling, or what’s happening at work right now.

In fact, the only response expected is a similar: “ Hey, how’s it going ?” or “ Hi. Good. You? ”

In other words, you exchange one greeting with a similar greeting. No one shares specific details about how they are feeling or what is happening in their life.

What this means is two strangers might politely pass each other on the street and say: 

A: Hey, what’s up?

B: Hey, how’s it going?

In this exchange, they are simply saying hello to each other.

If that’s the case, then how do you know when someone is REALLY asking: How are you?

That’s a great question. And I’ll be answering shortly but first, let’s look at other ways to say hello casually and professionally.

English Greetings for Informal Situations

Let’s start with casual greetings to use most of the time, whether you’re greeting a friend, a coworker on the elevator, a neighbor you’ve never spoken to, or a complete stranger on an early morning walk.

Because I’m an American and I currently live in the U.S., I’ll focus on greetings used in the United States.

There may be common greetings where you live that I haven’t included here. 

If you’re not sure what to say, I recommend listening to others around you, particularly those who consistently speak with politeness, kindness, and warmth. Which greetings to they typically use? 

This is a good way to identify the best ways to say hello to others where you live.

Now here are several you can use: 

Good Morning

This is the most formal way to say hello in casual conversation but it’s also very friendly and warm. With this combination of formality and warmth, it’s perfect to use when passing by a stranger on a morning walk, greeting a neighbor, or saying hello to coworkers.

Of course, because it includes the word ‘morning’ we stop using it around noon.

Hello / Hi / Hey / Hey there 

These are all common ways of saying “hello” in a casual, friendly way, and quite often, these are immediately followed by a question such as…

How’s it going? / What’s going on? / How’s everything? 

These questions are typically combined with hi, hey, or hey there. For example

• Hey, how’s everything? 
• Hey there. How’s it going?
• Hello. How’s it going?

When responding to these greetings, the expectation is that you use simple answers or simply respond with a similar greeting. For example

• Good, thanks. You?
• Fine thanks, you?
• Everything’s great, thanks. You?

What’s up? / What’s new?

Similar to how’s it going but more informal is what’s up or what’s new . 

For example:

Common responses include:

• Hey, what’s new?

Here is an example dialogue:

A: Hey Mina, what’s up?

B: Oh, hey. Not much. How’s it going?

While not as common as hi or hey, you may occasionally hear “yo.” It is typically only used with individuals who know each other well and is more common

“Howdy” is a regional greeting, which means it is only used in some areas of the United States. 

Good to see you. / It’s been ages! (since I’ve seen you.) / Where have you been hiding? / What have you been up to? 

These are common greetings when you have not seen someone you know for some time and often follow a hi or hey .

These expressions can be used as part of your greeting when you see someone unexpectedly, at a party, a family gathering, etc. 

The question “ where have you been hiding ” invites conversation. It is a way of saying, “ How have you been? ” Here is an example dialogue:

A: Hey! It’s good to see you! It’s been ages! Where have you been hiding?

B: Hi Sue, what’s up? I’ve just been busy, working a lot of long hours. What about you? How have you been?

A: Everything’s good. Nothing new really.

English Greetings for Professional Situations

Let’s transition to situations in which we may need more formal or business professional language in English. Some common examples include

• Business meetings & negotiations
• At a job interview
• Communicating with high-level management
• Saying hello to the company president or CEO
• Meeting new business colleagues
• Communicating with new clients, high-level clients, angry clients

Good morning / Good afternoon / Good Evening

Good morning is the only one on this list that is commonly used in place of “hello” when greeting an individual. 

To be particularly respectful, you can also include the person’s last name, for example: “ Good morning, Ms Jones .” If you know someone well, you can also use their first name.

  When you are greeting a group of people – for example at a meeting – you can also say something such as:

• Good morning, everyone. I hope you are doing well this morning .

In greeting an entire group, this is also when someone might use Good afternoon or Good evening. 

For example, at the start of a presentation or lecture.

How do you do?

How do you do is a bit old-fashioned and not often used. In fact, I’m not sure if I’ve ever used it. 

It is also quite formal and is used when meeting someone for the first time. 

It’s often confused with the question “How are you?” but it isn’t a question at all. How do you do is a statement. A greeting. It’s an alternative to “I’m pleased to meet you.”

Hello / Hi 

Similar to the casual greetings we discussed, we’ll often start a professional conversation with a simple hi or hello.

How have you been doing? / How have you been?

Similar to asking “how’s it going,” these questions will often be used after a hi or hello as a polite greeting.

The expectation is to receive a short, positive focused response such as:

• Great, thank you. And you?
• Very well. How are you?
• Good thanks. How about you?

When does “How are you” mean “How are you?”

With our casual and professional greetings, we’ve heard many alternatives to the question “How are you” including

• How’s it going?
• What’s new?
• How have you been?

But none of them really ask, how are you? When those questions get asked in a greeting, we don’t really expect a lengthy conversation about how you’re doing.

So when does someone what a real answer? When does someone truly want to know how you are?

The secret: they will ask you twice. 

Imagine you unexpectedly see a coworker at the grocery store. Here’s what that conversation might sound like:

• Your Coworker: Hey Sue! Good to see you. How’s it going?
• You: Good thanks. And you?
• Your Coworker. Everything’s fine. Just busy with the kids, of course. So how are you? It’s been a tough few weeks at work with the looming deadline, hasn’t it?

What do you notice?

In that dialogue, the coworker asked ‘how are you’ a second time, after the initial polite greeting. When that happens, someone really wants to know how you’re doing.

I’d love to hear from you! What is your favorite greeting in English? 

In your English life, do you use informal or professional greetings more often? What lessons have you learned about greetings in English from your own experiences?

Please be sure to share your experiences or ask questions in the comments section below.

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Hello Annmarie, I’ve got a question. My Japanese colleague told me that once I said “Good morning” to greet someone in the morning, then I couldn’t use “Good afternoon” to greet the same person later that day. I should use “Hello” or “Hi” instead. Is this correct?

Hi Calla, interesting question. I have never heard that advice before. The greetings ‘Good morning’ and ‘Good afternoon’ are perfectly appropriate at any time. They are both highly formal and polite. Using ‘hello’ or ‘hi’ are also okay. They are less formal and they suggest a level of closeness with the other person.

Thank you so much!💛

Hello Annmarie, Thank you dear, for your English lesson it was very helpful. 

You’re very welcome, Margaretha.

Hi Annmarie 🙋🏻‍♀️ I hope you and your husband are doing good in California. I‘m still constantly learning new things with you. Very easy and useful lesson. Thanks again! Deny

Hi Deny, it’s great to hear from you! I’m so glad you enjoyed this lesson. It’s surprising how much we can learn just about simple greetings.

Hi Anne!! What´s up? I found your video contents greatly informative and educational as well. I never miss any of your weekly presentations. I love the way U tell us about the latest as well as updated ways of communicating with others whoever the others are.

Thank you so much, Ana. I’m happy to know my lessons are so helpful to you!!

Good afternoon!! However, at time to say hello to someone you do not know just to gather his/her attention, in the USA people tend to keep distance. Days after I was told that it is a culture custom and was given a pice of advice that “never greet someone from behind”, depending on where I was, I could be in trouble.

Hi Annmarie, How is it going? How is life treating you? I’ve quite disconnected from your lessons. Basically, cos I passed my police force exam in Septemberand decided to have a small rest from English. My head was like a vase blender. Now, I feel a bit more relaxed and is high time to continue brushing my English with you. Thank you so much for how you teach everything to us.

Hi Victor, congrats on completing your police force exam! It’s totally normal to take breaks from time to time and I’m glad to have you back enjoying my lessons.

Thank you so much for this. İ praticed alot,thank you again,have a good day/night/evening/noon

İn our school,there will be a important english check up. Can İ make a greeting centence likd this?Greetings,İm glad to see you sir/ma’am.

Thank you for such an informative post. I have a question: could you greet a group of friends like Hello friends! Or it’s not common , and better to say Hey guys! thanks

Great question, Ann. Both are perfectly appropriate.

Interesting practical and useful. T/Y

Thanks so much Annemarie, it’s really educating

This article was so useful to me, similarly to other post of yours.

I’m glad to hear that, Sheila.

Thank you for this simple and very useful lesson. I am enjoying it so much

From my perspective, greeting goes hard for strangers because of being unaware of the native language in a certain ethnic group you are approaching but greeting senior or junior is much easy to distinguish by observing through appearance, job position, event on progress, the problem you are having to the person you are greeting.m e.g 1 you have gone the wrong way u need to ask u will use a very polite language. e.g 2 your lecturer is younger than but you will have to greet honorably .thank you

Thanks a lot for your help!!

Thank you. I am now in a position to distinguish types of greetings., because I will be teaching young learners who needs to be taught the righr thing at their age. That’s wonderful.

I want to in this course to speak English fluently without confusion and I want to improve my communication skills

Hi Saritha,

You can find out more about my available courses on my English courses page . Best, Annemarie

I got a clear picture of how to use the greetings. Thank you very much for such a wonderful way of describing how to use the various greetings.

thank you so much, this is very helpful

Hello Annemarie! This is the most exhaustive list of English greetings I have ever found. I’m writing a report on translating English greeting into Vietnamese or vice versa so I would like to cite your work in my report. Would you mind telling me how to cite it in the refference list of my report? I’m waiting for your answer. Thank you a lot.

Thank you for the comment and inquiring how to cite my work. I sincerely appreciate that and I’m thrilled to know this was helpful to you. Here is how you can site this page:

Fowler, Annemarie. “The Right Greeting for Every Situation in English.” Speak Confident English, 16 Feb. 2016, http://www.speakconfidentenglish.com/greetings-for-every-situation/ .

Didn’t find the answer for the questions that burns me a lot: two-three colleagues are chatting in the hall, you are approaching them and say “Good morning!” and …. is getting no sign of response: not a glance, not a wave, not a word…. Am I right to expect at least one of them? Do I need to ignore them at the first place ? Lastly, do I ignore someone’s greeting while conversing with somebody else?

Hi Vera, Thank you for sharing your question. That is a very frustrating situation and I have to say, I’m surprised. Can I ask what country this is in? I’m completely shocked that when you say “Good morning” you don’t get a glance or any responses. In my opinion, that is very rude of the others. I’ve always believed (and taught) that when someone says hello or greets you, you always greet them back. It’s the polite thing to do. Are these people you see every day? I think the decision about what to do is up to you. You …  Read more »

(Midwest American City perspective:) It could be contextual or non-verbal, or confusion, or just rudeness. If the conversation is critical (new emergency/imminent, high pressure meeting/personal correction) then, they may not spare the attention for those around them (still rude, if they’re in the hall). Probably not the case, if they’re just chatting in the hall. If they are in a conversation and you say “Good Morning” to the group, it would not be unusual for the person speaking to acknowledge the greeting non-verbally, typically by 1. Making eye contact, 2. slight smile, 3. slight lift of the chin for acknowledgement, …  Read more »

Hello Alex,

Thank you for sharing these helpful insights. You’re absolutely right that there are many reasons someone might not respond to a greeting.

In the end, it sounds to me like Vera has had this situation happen many times and that’s what I find shocking. It makes me sad to think people are being rude by not responding. I agree with your conclusion when you said, “I would continue to say ‘good morning’ and not think too much of it…” It’s always best to continue being polite, even if others aren’t.

Thanks for your comments.

this website is very inportant, i love it.

Thank you for your comment, Muktar. I’m happy it’s helpful to you.

Great! Your lesson like this opens the eyes of foreign language speakers like me. Please keep sharing.

Hello Mantegaftot,

Thank you for the comment. I’m happy to know you found it useful.

Thank you a lot, Annemarie! I appreciate your lessons, all are very helpful.

I’m so glad they’re helpful, Dildora! Thank you for your kind comment.

Hi How r u doing? Hopefully you are doing well.

Let me ask you: 1) Would you mind sending me conversation and dialogues between two friends how to overcome fear and shy short notice? 2) how can we speak with soneone confidently make him our friends ? 3) Could you send me such spoken English short and interesting congestion?

I am looking forward to seeing from you soon. Thank you very much for your help.

God bless you Abraham

Hello Abraham,

If you would like additional assistance in English, specifically with speaking, please review my Fluency School course. I offer it two times per year and that is the best place to get speaking practice and additional help from me. Thank you.

hello, do you have a YouTube channel so that i can follow your lesson there?

teacher annemarie, thank you very much for the time that you extended to me and i learnt a lot from you.

That’s great. I’m glad you’ve learned a lot, Aireen.

Interesting and useful indeed.Thank you very much,Annemarie.

I’m glad it was interesting and useful, Zou.

Thank you for your efforts us . We will done well

You’re very welcome.

Thank you so much. It’s so intresting and correct us a bit mistakes.

very interesting!this lesson helps improve more my knowledge when teaching english other fellows and co-workers.thanks a lot

Awesome, Iongin. I’m so glad this is useful to you and your English skills.

I am really glad, because I learn a lot from this lesson. and I am willing to join your class, thanks.

Hello Daji,

Wonderful! I’m very glad to know you liked it.

Good Afternoon

Thank you again your lessons really appropriate to me 🙂

best regards

Hi again, Alami,

You’re very welcome!

Good Day Dear AnneMarie as you see my greatest above , this is the way to great someone in professional life, I use the greatest when i wreat email and send them to some colleagues. apart that i used familial/slang greetting with family and friends like hi / hey or what’s up. also i want to thank you for the three familial greeting (how’s it going / how’s it going on / how’is everything) before when a heard these greeting i be confused what should do and say because i dont know what the meaning of them. now i wont …  Read more »

I’m thrilled to know this lesson helped you and you no longer feel confused by expressions such as how’s it going or how’s everything ! That’s great.

And for your emails, it looks like you have a great way to start them. Well done. Best, Annemarie

Thanking you very much

You’re very welcome, Naveen. 🙂

Thanks to my teacher, I am really love to join your bage or challenge ,because I want to learn this language fluently.

Thank you, I’m glad the lesson was useful to you.

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Different Greetings in English

You probably already know “hello” and “how are you?” in English.

However, English speakers also use many other English greetings and expressions to say slightly different things.

Let’s learn how to use some other simple formal and informal English greetings, as well as fun slang expressions that English-speakers use to greet each other.

What is a Greeting in English?

Formal greetings in english, 1. good morning / good afternoon / good evening, 2. it’s nice to meet you / pleased to meet you, 3. how have you been, 4. how do you do, informal greetings in english, 5. hey / hey man / hi  , 6. how’s it going / how are you doing, 7. what’s up / what’s new / what’s going on, 8. how’s everything / how are things / how’s life, 9. how’s your day / how’s your day going, 10. good to see you / nice to see you, 11. long time no see / it’s been a while, slang greetings in english, 13. are you ok / you alright / alright mate, 15. sup / whazzup, 16. g’day mate, english greetings for emails and letters, 18. dear [recipient’s name], 19. dear sir or madam, 20. to whom it may concern, and one more thing....

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Greetings in English are expressions or sometimes gestures used when meeting someone. They are a way to show respect, friendliness and goodwill.

Common English greetings include phrases such as “hello,” “hi” and “good morning.”

Depending who you are with, greetings can range from formal to informal. Knowing a good range of greetings will help you start a conversation off right with anyone, no matter what the situation is!

It’s best to begin by using formal greetings in most business situations, and then listen to how your co-workers or business partners greet you.

It’s a good idea to wait until someone speaks casually with you before you speak casually with them. You may find that people will begin to use casual greetings with you over time, as you get to know each other better.

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Formal greetings are also used when you meet older people.

These are formal ways of saying “hello”, which change depending on the time of day. 

Keep in mind that “good night” is only used to say “goodbye,” so if you meet someone late in the day, remember to greet them with “good evening,” rather than “good night.”

“Good morning” can be made more casual by simply saying “morning.”  You can also simply use “afternoon” or “evening” as informal greetings, but these are less commonly used.

These greetings are formal and polite. If you say this to someone when you meet him or her for the first time, it will make you seem courteous (polite).

Remember to only use these greetings the first time you meet someone. Next time you see the person you can show that you remember him or her by saying “it’s nice to see you again” or simply “it’s nice to see you.”

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This greeting question is only asked by people who have already met. If someone asks you “how have you been?” they want to know if you have been well since the last time the two of you met.

This greeting is VERY formal, and quite uncommon and old-fashioned now, but it may still be used by some older people.

The proper response is “I’m doing well” or, as strange as it seems, some people even ask “how do you do?” right back as an answer.

You can use “hey” and “hi” to greet someone instead of “hello.” Both are particularly popular among younger people.

While “hi” is appropriate to use in any casual situation, “hey” is for people who have already met. If you say “hey” to a stranger, it might be confusing for that person because he or she will try to remember when you met before!

You can also add “man” to the end of “hey” when greeting males. Some people also use “hey man” to casually greet younger women, but only do this if you know the woman very well.

Remember that “hey” doesn’t always mean “hello.” “Hey” can also be used to call for someone’s attention.

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These are casual ways of asking “how are you?” If you’re trying to be particularly polite, stick with “how are you?” but otherwise, you can use these expressions to greet almost anyone. 

The word “going” is usually shortened, so it sounds more like “go-in”. You can answer with “it’s going well” or “I’m doing well” depending on the question. 

Although it’s not grammatically correct, most people just answer “good”—and you can too. Like when responding to “how are you?” you can also follow your answer by asking “and you?”

These are some other informal ways of asking “how are you?” which are typically used to casually greet someone you have met before. Most people answer with “nothing” or “not much.”

Or, if it feels right to make small talk, you could also briefly describe anything new or interesting that’s going on in your life, before asking “what about you?” to continue the conversation.

These can be used to casually greet someone and ask how the person is doing, but most often these sentences are used to greet someone you already know. To these, you can answer “good” or “not bad.”

Again, if small talk feels appropriate, you could also briefly share any interesting news about your life, and then ask the person “what about you?” or another greeting question.

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These questions mean “how are you?” not just right now, but how you’ve been all day. You would use these greetings later in the day and with someone you see regularly.

For example, you might ask a co-worker one of these in the afternoon, or a cashier that you see at the grocery store every evening.

“It’s going well” is the grammatically correct response, but many people simply answer with “fine,” “good” or “alright.”

By the way, notice that “good,” “fine” or “not bad” are perfect answers to almost any greeting question.

These casual greetings are used with friends, co-workers or family members that you haven’t seen in a while.

It’s common for close friends to hug when they greet each other, particularly if they haven’t seen each other in some time. So you might use this greeting along with a hug or handshake depending on your relationship with the person.

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These casual greetings are used when you haven’t seen someone in a long time, particularly if you meet that person unexpectedly.

How much is a long time? It depends on how often you normally see that person. For example, you could use one of these greetings if you normally see the person every week, but then don’t see them for a few months or more.

Usually, these phrases are followed by another question, like “how are you,” “how have you been?” or “what’s new?”

Slang greetings are extremely informal, and should only be used with people that you know very well, and feel very comfortable with.

Keep in mind that a lot of slang is regional, and using Australian slang in the United States, for example, can sound quite strange.

You’ll need to learn the local slang wherever you are, but these common examples will help you get started.

This extremely informal greeting is common in the U.S. It comes from 1990’s hip-hop slang and these days it’s often used both seriously and jokingly.

This greeting should only be used with very close friends, and never in a business setting.

This casual way of asking both “hello” and “how are you” is common in Britain.

You can respond “yeah, fine,” or simply “alright” before asking “and you?” to the other person. 

This is a very informal abbreviation of “how do you do?” that is common in certain parts of Canada and the U.S.

Keep in mind that if you say “howdy” outside of these regions, you will sound like a cowboy, and it might make the other person laugh.

These greetings are abbreviations of “what’s up?” which are common among teenagers. Like with “what’s up?” you can answer “nothing” or “not much.”

This casual greeting is an Australian abbreviation of “good day.”

Keep in mind that Australian greetings often use “ya” instead of “you.” So “how are ya?” is the same as “how are you?,” and “how are ya going?” is basically the same as “how’s it going?” or “how are you doing?”

This greeting, short for “how are you?”, is commonly used in certain parts of England. However, you don’t need to actually answer this question—you can just say “hey!” right back.

When writing an email or letter, there are specific greetings you should use to address the person you are sending it to. Here are some of the most important greetings you should know for this context.

This greeting is commonly used in formal correspondence and professional settings. It indicates respect and maintains a polite tone. Including the recipient’s name makes it more personal.

It’s suitable for emails or letters addressed to colleagues, clients, or people who you have a professional relationship with.

You can use this greeting when writing to someone whose name you don’t know, or when your letter or email is directed at a more general audience.

It shows respect and professionalism, making it a good option for things like job applications, formal inquiries, or letters to unknown recipients.

“To whom it may concern” is a formal greeting used in business letters or emails when the sender does not have a specific recipient in mind.

This greeting is appropriate when addressing general inquiries, formal complaints, or other situations where the recipient’s identity is unknown or irrelevant. This greeting has less of a personal touch, so best not to use it with someone you are more familiar with!

And of course, once you’ve nailed the introductions, there’s another set of phrases you need to learn.

That’s right, farewells (saying goodbye)! This video will give you a brief introduction to saying goodbye in English. 

I hope you enjoy trying out these new English greetings. You’ll find that greeting people in different ways will help your English sound more natural, and it might even make English greetings more fun and interesting for you.

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Greetings: Formal and Informal Greetings in English

Greetings in English! In any situation when using the English language, there will be times that you are required to greet someone and it is therefore very important that you have this type of vocabulary under your belt. In this article, we will be looking at various greetings that can be used in a variety of situations when conversing with English speaking people.

What Is A Greeting?

A greeting is simply a way of saying hello to someone. In the English language, there are multiple ways in which this can be done. There are greetings which can be used in formal situations and also greetings which are used in a more friendly, informal setting. It is very important to be able to select an appropriate greeting for every situation. We will be looking at this a little more closely in the next section.

Formal Greetings

When meeting someone under formal circumstances such as in a business meeting or meeting an important person for the first time, you might use some of these more formal greetings. If you are ever in any sort of doubt as to whether you should use a formal or informal greeting, it is always better to opt for the formal to avoid causing offence. If the situation calls for an informal greeting, the other speaker will likely signal this.

• Good morning /afternoon/evening/day –  These formal greetings are used as a replacement for the word ‘hello’ and are often used in a formal setting depending on the time of day. Usually, before 12 pm, you say ‘good morning,’ after 12 pm you say ‘ good afternoon ‘ and from around 6 pm you say ‘good evening.’ You can use the term ‘good day’ at any point during the morning or afternoon.
• How do you do? – This is quite an old-fashioned greeting, but it is still widely used in very formal situations. You are likely to hear a reply such as ‘very well, thank you’ when asking this question.
• Pleased to meet you  – This is a greeting which is often used when meeting someone for the first time. It is common in formal circumstances but may also be used in a less formal situation on a first meeting.
• How are you doing?  – This is a polite way of asking how someone is and is often used in conjunction with words like ‘hello’ or ‘good morning/afternoon/evening’ etc.

Informal Greetings

There are many more informal greetings in English than there are formal ones and this is because most situations call for a more laid back tone. We are now going to take a look at some informal greetings which you can use with English speaking friends, family or anyone else that you are familiar with.

• Hi  – This word, which is another word for ‘ hello ‘ is probably one of the most commonly used greetings in the English language and something you will hear very frequently.
• Hiya  – This is another take on the above mentioned ‘hi’ and is commonly used in the UK.
• Hey (there!)  – Another variation on the word ‘hello’. this is used as a friendly, upbeat greeting.
• How’s it going?  -This is an informal way to ask someone how they are and is used often in place of ‘hello.’
• How you doing?  – Once again, this is a way of asking how someone is and is something that is commonly said in English.
• Alright!  – This is a very common greeting which is used to say hello to someone and is very common in the UK.
• ‘Sup  – More common in the USA, this greeting is a slang term meaning ‘what’s up?’ Many people will use the term ‘what’s up’ but often it is shortened to ‘sup.
• Yo  – This is another one which is more common in the USA, and is simply another way to say ‘hey, what’s up?’
• How’s things/how’s life?  – Rather than asking the more formal question ‘how are you?’ many people use this less formal term.
• Long time, no see  – This greeting is usually used when bumping into a person who you have not seen for a long time.

There are many ways in which you can greet someone using the English language. Depending on whether the situation is formal or informal will depend on what sort of greeting you use. There are so many to choose from that you can truly make your greetings diverse and interesting.

Greetings Infographic

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How to Greet Someone in English: Formal, Casual, Semiformal

This article covers the following areas –

Greetings are the conversation starters, no matter whether you are talking to someone face to face or over the phone. As a greeting creates the first impression, it plays a vital role in determining whether the conversation will go well or not.

The most common formal greeting is “hello,” and “hi” is the most popular way of greeting informally. The way one should greet someone exclusively depends on the setting and the kind of relationship they maintain. You greet your close friends casually, whereas you are expected to maintain formality while greeting someone professionally.

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Do you have in your mind right now any other common ways of greeting in English? If yes, you can share them with all of us in the comment box. Also, you can suggest any book that can help my students improve their English, as I suggest you try English Made Easy Volume One: A New ESL Approach: Learning English Through Pictures (Amazon Link) . This book creatively uses pictures and text in tandem to revolutionize English language learning, making it easier to understand and more effective overall.

Now, let’s have a quick look at some ways of greeting different people surrounding us such as friends, customers, colleagues etc. Here’s a table presenting various ways to greet different groups of people, including friends, strangers, elderly persons, customers, and colleagues. Each category has three expressions suitable for the respective group:

Each greeting is tailored to fit the context of the relationship and the level of formality typically associated with each group. In the following sections, I’ll share some more examples of greeting friends, strangers, elderly persons, customers, and colleagues.

#1 Greeting a Friend

When greeting a friend, the language is typically relaxed and informal, reflecting the closeness and familiarity of the relationship. The greetings can vary widely, from playful and casual to warm and caring, depending on the context and the nature of the friendship. The key is to convey friendliness and genuine interest in the other person’s well-being. Here are some ways to greet a friend.

Note: Greeting a friend is always informal. However, you must be polite in your choice of words, tone, and body language while greeting them.

#2 Greeting a Stranger

Note: To start a conversation with a stranger, you may ask for permission from them or make polite requests to talk to you. The above examples show how to do it as a part of greetings. If you know some other ways of doing it, please share them with us in the comment box.  

#3 Greeting an Elderly Person

Note: Don’t mention someone’s age (i.e., senior citizen, old man, etc.) since it may sound impolite to some people. To many people, age is just a number. However, to learn to ask about someone’s age without offending them, you can read another post titled How to Ask Someone About Their Age .

#4 Greeting a Customer

The first interaction with a customer sets the stage for the customer service experience. Greetings should be professional, friendly, and helpful, aiming to make the customer feel valued and welcomed. It’s also essential to offer assistance and be ready to attend to the customer’s needs, demonstrating the service-oriented nature of the business. Here are some appropriate ways of greeting your customers.

#5 Greeting Your Colleagues

For close colleagues, for senior colleagues or boss, #6 greeting a job interviewer, #7 seasonal greetings.

Seasonal greetings are a wonderful way to connect with others during various times of the year, celebrating the change in the environment, holidays, and festivities. They’re an expression of the joy and spirit that each season brings, and they provide an opportunity to share well-wishes with everyone we encounter, from friends and family to strangers and colleagues.

Autumn/Fall:

It’s always considerate to be inclusive of all cultures and beliefs when offering seasonal greetings. For instance, during the winter holidays, if you’re unsure about a person’s cultural or religious background, a safe and inclusive greeting is “Season’s Greetings” or “Happy Holidays.” This ensures that your well-wishes are received in the warm spirit they are given, without the risk of excluding anyone’s personal beliefs or traditions.

#8 Greetings in Letters and E-mails

How you greet someone in written correspondence like letters or emails is not just a matter of etiquette—it’s an essential element that establishes the tone for the interaction. It also subtly reflects the nature of your relationship with the recipient.

Whether you are reaching out to a professional contact, engaging in a semi-formal dialogue, or connecting with a close friend, the opening salutation can influence the effectiveness of your communication. Here’s an expanded guide to help you navigate the nuances of crafting the perfect greeting for every situation, from the strictly professional to the warmly casual.

1. For Formal Communications

In formal communications, it’s crucial to adhere to traditional etiquette. This conveys professionalism and respect towards the recipient. Whether you’re addressing a potential employer a business associate, or making a formal request, the proper salutation can set a respectful tone for your message.

2. For Semi-Formal Communications

3. for informal communications, 4. email-specific greetings.

Emails allow for a range of greetings influenced by the immediacy and informal nature of the medium. Tailoring your greeting to the time of day or using a simple first name can add a personal touch to your message, making it feel more direct and engaging.

5. Situational Greetings

6. general tips for greetings in letters and e-mails.

Remember, the greeting is just the beginning. Ensure the body of your letter or email maintains the tone set by your greeting and always close with an appropriate sign-off.

10 Tips to Appropriately Greet Someone in English

Greeting someone might seem simple, but it’s an important part of communicating effectively in English. Depending on the situation, the way you greet someone can vary significantly. Here are ten tips to help you master the art of greeting in English, whether the setting is formal, casual, or semi-formal.

Well, before moving to the tips, I would like to share about a book that can help you improve your conversational skills. 110 Real Life English Conversations (Amazon Link) is a great book for ESL learners and teachers as it provides various conversation and situational dialogues, 223 everyday English expressions, and idioms. It’ll certainly help you to gain the confidence to speak English in real life.

1. Know Your Audience

2. be mindful of the setting, 3. use body language.

A firm handshake, eye contact, and a smile can complement your verbal greeting and convey confidence in a formal setting. A wave or a high-five might be more appropriate in a casual scenario.

4. Listen and Respond Appropriately

Pay attention to how the other person responds and mirror their level of formality or enthusiasm. If someone offers a subdued “Good morning,” they might not be in the mood for a boisterous “Hey, what’s up!”

5. Follow Cultural Norms

6. keep it short and sweet.

Especially in formal and semi-formal situations, it’s best to keep greetings concise. A simple “Pleased to meet you” or “Good to see you” is often enough.

7. Be Positive, but Genuine

8. use seasonal or time-specific greetings, 9. ask open-ended questions if appropriate.

In a semi-formal situation, following your greeting with a question like “How has your day been?” can invite conversation and show interest.

10. Practice Makes Perfect

Sample conversation: greetings in english, 1. formal greetings.

Situation: At a business conference, Mr. Thompson, a senior executive from a renowned company, meets Ms. Rivera, a potential client.

Ms. Rivera: Good afternoon, Mr. Thompson. The conference has been quite informative, and I’ve had the opportunity to meet several industry leaders. How has it been for you?

Mr. Thompson: It’s been productive. Our company always looks forward to events like these to connect with potential partners and clients. I hope we can discuss potential collaborations during our meeting tomorrow.

2. Informal Greetings

Jake: Hey Lucy! Long time no see! How’ve you been?

Jake: Oh, you bet! Just for fun these days. And yeah, work keeps me on my toes too. We should catch up properly sometime soon.

Lucy: Totally! Let’s grab dinner next week. I’d love to hear more about your adventures.

3. Semi-formal Greetings

Councilman Rodriguez: Good evening, Sarah. I appreciate your kind words. It’s essential to have spaces where our community can come together. How do you feel about the proposed design?

Sarah: I think it’s a good start. I do have a few suggestions, especially regarding the play area for kids. Maybe we could discuss it further at the next meeting?

Concluding Thoughts

we’ve seen how saying hello in different ways matters a lot. Whether we’re chatting with a friend, meeting someone new, respecting an older person, serving a customer, working with others, at a job interview, during special times of the year, or writing a note, being good at greeting can make a great first impression.

FAQ: Greetings in English

1. What’s the difference between “Hello” and “Hi”?

“Hello” is a standard greeting, while “Hi” is more casual and informal.

Use “Good morning” until noon, “Good afternoon” from noon until around 5 or 6 pm, and “Good evening” afterward.

4. Can I use “What’s up?” with my boss?

You can use “Hello everyone” or “Hi all.”

For emails, “Dear [Name]” or “Hello [Name]” is standard. For texts, a simple “Hi” or “Hello” will do.

7. How do I greet someone I’ve met before but don’t know well?

In some southern parts of the U.S., “Howdy” is a casual greeting. In Australia, “G’day” is popular.

Common responses include “I’m good, thanks,” “I’m well,” or “I’m doing fine.”

10. Can I use “Goodnight” as a greeting?

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Graduation wishes: what to write in a graduation card.

Hats off to graduates! Whether they’re earning a diploma, a program certificate, a degree or even a cool new professional title, their hard work deserves some warm, thoughtful words of recognition and encouragement.

Maybe you’re experiencing one of those “Class of Everyone!” years where you have a lot of graduation cards to send. Or maybe you just want some fresh ideas for what to write in a card for one special graduate. Either way, we’ve got you covered.

Inspired? Create and share by tagging @Hallmark .

You can read the whole guide or jump straight to the specific ideas you need. Whichever way you go, we hope our ideas help you add a little pomp to all your graduation-card circumstances!

• Congratulations
• Look to the Future
• Graduation During a Difficult Time
• When You Can Be There
• When You Will Not Make It
• Give Advice
• For a Family Member
• Warm Closings

Find tips for crafting your own special graduation message and get some real life examples from Hallmark Senior Writer Courtney Taylor in the video below or skip straight to the graduation wishes using the links above.

Congratulations  

There’s no need to deliver a whole commencement address in your card. “Congratulations” is a great basic message, and it’s easy to say even if you don’t know the graduate well. Here are some ideas for going a word or two beyond to warm up and personalize your congratulations.

More casual

• “Congratulations and BRAVO!”
• “This calls for celebrating! Congratulations!”
• “You did it! Congrats!”
• “Caps off to you, Graduate! Well done!”
• “What a proud day! We just couldn’t be happier for you!”
• “What an impressive achievement!”
• “Happy Graduation Day!”
• “Good looks, brains, heart and now a diploma too? You’ve really got it all! Congrats!”
• “You did the damn thing, Grad! SO proud.”
• “The community, the church, your family and especially your mama could not be prouder of you.”
• “You deserve all KINDS of high fives and hugs! You worked hard and got it done.”
•  “¡Bravo! ¡Felicidades en tu graduación!”

More formal

• “Congratulations on your well-deserved success.”
• “Warmest congratulations on your graduation.”
• “Congratulations on your graduation and best wishes for your next adventure!”
• “So happy to share in the excitement of your graduation day, and so very proud of you, too!”
• “With love and pride today and always,”
• “Prayers and blessings on your graduation and for your future.”
• “Tu graduación es la recompensa de todo tu esfuerzo. ¡Muchas Felicidades!”

Helpful tip: If the card you’ve chosen already has “congratulations” printed, follow it with an ellipsis […] and add to the “congratulations” message.

Look to the Future  

Graduation is the perfect time to look ahead, offer encouragement and express optimism and excitement about the graduate’s future. And you don’t even need a crystal ball to do it!

• “Hope you’ll always find yourself as happy and full of big, crazy dreams as you are today!”
• “Hope you’re able to take a well-earned rest, vacation—whatever kind of break sounds like fun. You’ve earned it!
• “You’re going to be a star! Congratulations!”
• “You deserve to see your dreams come true…congrats!”
• “This definitely won’t be the last time I get to brag about you.”
• “I’m so happy for you, even if this does mean you’re an [add school mascot here] for life.”
• “You’ve stepped up on the world stage ready to be a star. Love to see your shine!”
• “¡Lo lograste! Que todos tus sueños siempre se hagan realidad.”
• “I’m sure today will be only the first of many proud, successful moments for you.”
• “Sending warm congratulations today and wishing you all the best at Michigan State in the fall!”
• “Congratulations today and best wishes for all your tomorrows.”
• “I just know life has even more wonderful things in store for you.”
• “Today, the field of education gains a very promising new addition. Congratulations on your graduation and best of luck in your teaching career!”
• “Can’t wait to see where life will take you next. Wherever it is, our prayers go with you!”
• “¡Muchas felicidades! Tu actitud triunfadora te seguirá llevando muy lejos.”

Helpful tip: Let your relationship be your guide if you decide to write a lighthearted message. If humor is part of how you communicate with the graduate in everyday life, then feel free to be your funny self when you sign the card.

Graduation During a Difficult Time  

Graduation is supposed to be a time of joy, but sometimes life has other ideas. Here are some message ideas for when difficult personal, family or broader circumstances make it impossible to celebrate the way you and the graduate would have hoped.

When Commencement Is Canceled

• “Of course, we’re disappointed we won’t get to watch you walk across the stage like we’d always dreamed—but that just means we’re going to celebrate you even bigger as soon as we get the chance!”
• “Even though graduation is going to look different for you, the achievement is still the same. You’ve put in the same hard work. You’ve learned and grown so much. And I couldn’t be prouder.”
• “We’re sorry you’ve had to let go of the graduation ceremony and celebrating you’ve been looking forward to for the past four years. We wish it could have been different, but we want you to know we’re still so proud of you and what you’ve achieved.”
• “It’s going to take more than a canceled graduation ceremony to stop me from blowing an air horn in your honor. Way to go, Grad!”
• “You are still celebrated for this amazing accomplishment.”
• “Aunque por el momento no podemos celebrar tu graduación, celebramos con orgullo tu logro.”

When the Graduate Is Struggling

• “Congratulations on your graduation. I wish it could have happened at a happier time for you, but I hope it helps to know how loved you are and how proud you’ve made all of us who care about you.”
• “You might not feel up to celebrating as you graduate, but we hope you do feel the pride, caring and good wishes surrounding you right now.”
• “This is not how I pictured your graduation going, but you sure are the strong, resilient person I always imagined you’d grow to be. Anytime you don’t feel strong, please know you can lean on me.”
• “As you graduate, you’re in all my proudest and happiest thoughts…and in my most caring, heartfelt prayers, too.”
• “Sé que ahorita estás pasando por un mal momento, pero quiero que sepas que eres una persona que inspira a todos a su alrededor, y que se te desea todo lo mejor en tu graduación y siempre.”

When the Future Feels Uncertain

• “You’re graduating at a tough time, but I believe in my heart that better days are coming. It may take some time, but I hope you can hang in there and keep believing, too.”
• “Someday you’ll look back and think, Wow, I graduated at the strangest time ever… Until then, we’ll be here for you, cheering you on, looking forward to wherever life takes you next, and feeling so proud of you.”
• “Graduation cards are supposed to wish you a bright future, but right now, I’m all for taking things one day at a time. I hope you’re able to do that, too. Especially today, I hope you can just enjoy all the pride and good wishes coming your way.”
• “Praying for you as you graduate—for pride today, hope for tomorrow, and for love and support to go with you always.”
• “Your talent is still your talent. Your hard work is still your hard work. Your dreams are still your dreams. You will help turn the world right side up again. Because you are still that amazing.”
• “Hard work, talent, drive and vision will always outlast tough times. That’s how I know you’re going to make the world what you want it to be.”
• “Recuerda que Dios está contigo hoy que te gradúas y siempre. Él te guiará y te acompañará a cada paso.”

Helpful Tip: It’s okay to be real in the face of hard circumstances. If the real you would say “This sucks,” then write “This sucks.” But don’t leave it at that. Try to take your message in a more hopeful, caring direction from there.

When You Can Be There  

If you’re going to be at the commencement ceremony or a part of the celebration afterwards, you might choose to focus your message on the pride and fun of sharing in the graduate’s big day.

• “Congratulations, Jamal. It means so much to be a part of your graduation day!”
• “WOO-HOO! We’re thrilled to be celebrating your graduation with you!”
• “First I get to see you walk across the stage. Then there’s a party? Awesome!”
• “Your whole village is stomping their feet and shouting your name right now, Kendrick.”
• “¡Qué alegría poder ser parte de tu graduación!”
• “So happy we could be here to watch you graduate with honors. It’s an honor to share in such an important day.”
• “It’s my great privilege to know you…to think about all you’ve achieved…and to be with you on your graduation day.”
• “You’ll always remember this day and so will all of us who were here cheering you on. Best of luck to you always!”
•  “¡Muchas felicidades! Es un privilegio poder acompañarte en tu graduación.”

When You Will Not Make It  

Even when you can’t make it to the commencement ceremony or reception, you can still make your presence felt by letting the graduate know you’re with them in spirit.

• “Congratulations on your high school graduation, Tyler! Wish we could be there to see it.”
• “I wish I could be at your graduation to give you a hug and tell you in person how proud I am of you.”
• “Even though we’ll miss seeing you in your cap and gown, we would never miss this chance to tell you we’re proud of you.”
• “I feel a shout coming on! You can probably hear me from all the way over here. Congrats, Grad!”
• “Sending warm thoughts and big congratulations to a graduate we’re so very proud of.”
• “Thinking of you with love and pride on your graduation day.”
• “Our warmest thoughts and highest hopes are with you as you celebrate your graduation.”
• “Ojalá pudiera estar en tu graduación para decirte en persona que mi corazón está lleno de un orgullo inmenso por ti.”

Writing tip: When you can’t be there in person, you don’t have to include an apology in your personal message. Just the act of sending the card lets the graduate know you’re thinking of him or her.

Give Advice  

Graduation is a good time for the kind of advice that’s more about building people up than bossing them around. Keep your advice general, upbeat and encouraging, and it will be appreciated.

• “Always remember: There’s no limit to what you can do if you keep believing in yourself.”
• “Take pictures. Take your time celebrating. Take it easy for a while. Then get ready to take on the world!”
• “It took a lot of hard work to reach this goal. You had to show up every day, whether you felt like it or not. I hope you feel great about what you’ve accomplished, and I hope you’ll continue to be a person who shows up day in and day out for those things that are worthwhile and important in life.”
• “Graduation is like a bridge to the next part of your life, and everything that got you here—hard work, drive and confidence—is going to carry you across to the future you deserve.”
• “Para alguien como tú ningún sueño es imposible de cumplir. Eres muy especial y tu determinación te llevará muy lejos.”
• “May you always dare to do great things with your life.”
• “Keep on growing. Keep adding to the goodness and beauty in the world. Keep developing those unique dreams and talents that make you who you are!”
• “At my graduation, our commencement speaker challenged us to be lifelong learners, and that’s my advice for you as you graduate. Whatever you do, never stop learning, exploring, growing and challenging yourself to be your best.”
• “Sigue esforzándote para alcanzar todas tus metas. Tu graduación es solo el comienzo de un futuro lleno de posibilidades.”

Writing tip: What’s the best life advice you’ve ever received? Or, what’s the most important thing you’ve learned so far? Answering either of those questions might be the perfect lead-in to a meaningful graduation message.

For a Family Member  

When it’s a family member graduating—whether it’s your sibling, your child, your niece or nephew, your cousin or even your parent—you might want to add an extra measure of warmth and pride.

• “Your graduation day is a proud day for you and a dream come true for our family.”
• “Congrats on graduating summa cum laude! I’m beyond proud to be related to someone so smart.”
• “Know what makes your graduation extra special? It’s having watched you grow up, having so many good memories of you and knowing all the challenges you’ve worked through to get to this day.”
• “Tu graduación es un día de orgullo para toda la familia, ¡así que vamos a celebrar!”
• “Congratulations, with love for the grandson you are and with pride in the amazing person you are becoming.”
• “It seems like just yesterday you were just a kid starting high school…now you’re a confident young man about to receive your diploma. It’s been our joy to watch you grow and achieve so much these past four years. Hope you know how proud we are and how much we love you.”
• “It’s a beautiful thing, watching the daughter we’ve always loved growing up and getting one step closer to her dreams. Congratulations, with all our love,”
• “Es maravilloso verte crecer y alcanzar tus metas. Te queremos mucho y estamos muy orgullosos de ti.”

Helpful tip: It’s probably most natural to share a memory of the graduate, but you could also share a memory from your own life experiences or graduation—anything that would be relevant to the graduate and fun or meaningful for him or her to read.

Warm Closings  

A warm closing is like the bow on top! Choose one of ours, or create your own.

• Lots of love,
• Love always,
• Much love to you,
• Best wishes!
• Best wishes for your future,
• All life’s best to you,
• Congratulations!
• Congratulations and best wishes,
• Warmest congratulations,
• Gratefully,
• God bless you,
• God bless you now and always,
• ¡Felicidades!
• greeting card messages
• Additional contributions by Ellen Brenneman, Cindy Phillips and Melvina Young.

Keely Chace is a Hallmark Master Writer who loves reading, running and spending time with her husband and daughters. She shares writing tips in her "What to Write" series on Hallmark & Community.

Shop Graduation Cards

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How to Start a Letter (With Professional Greeting Examples)

Melissa Ling / The Balance

• Letters & Emails
• Skills & Keywords
• Salary & Benefits
• Job Listings
• Job Interviews
• Cover Letters
• Career Advice
• Work-From-Home Jobs
• Internships

Options for Starting a Letter

• Examples of Professional Greetings

Try to Find a Contact Person

• Greetings to Use When You Don't Have a Contact Person

Greetings to Avoid Using

Tips for writing and sending a letter.

What's the best way to start a letter? When writing a letter for professional purposes, an appropriate greeting is essential. Your greeting sets the tone for your letter or email, and is an indicator of your written communication skills.

Review information on options for starting a letter, including professional and personal greetings, examples of the best salutations, and what to do when you don't have a contact person.

When deciding  which salutation to use , you should consider whether, and how well, you know the person you're writing to. The answer will determine how you start your letter. It's important to use a formal and professional greeting when you don't know your letter or email recipient well.

Personal Greetings

When to use a person's first name: If you are writing to someone in a professional capacity that you have known personally for many years, it is appropriate to use only their first name.

Professional Greetings

When to use a professional greeting: If you don't know the person well, it is best to use  Mr., Ms., or Dr.  as an  appropriate business letter salutation . When you don't know the recipient's gender, you can use their first and last name. If you have any doubts about which greeting you should use, err on the side of caution and use the more formal style of address.

Use a Formal Salutation

Keep it formal: Try to avoid the temptation to begin your professional letter with informal salutations like "Hello," "Greetings," "Hi There," or "Good Morning" if you don't know the name of your contact person.

While those informal greetings are fine for casual emails to friends or even for more formal emails you might send to groups of people, in a professional letter you'll need to use a personal salutation with either a first and/or last name ("Dear Mr. Doe") or a job title ("Dear Hiring Manager").

Always be sure to double-check the spelling of the recipient's name. Otherwise, you'll be making a poor impression from the start of your letter.

Punctuation

Also remember to include the period after "Mr." and "Ms." and follow your salutation with a colon or comma (e.g., "Dear Ms. Doe:" or "Dear Jamie Chen,").

Examples of Professional Letter Greetings

These greetings are all suitable for professional communications.

When you know the person well:

When you know the person's name:

• Dear Mr./Ms. Lastname; e.g., Dear Mr. Dolan or Dear Ms. Butler
• Dear Mr./Ms. Firstname Lastname; e.g., Dear Mr. Martin Haynes or Dear Ms. Melissa Tandor
• Dear Firstname Lastname; e.g., Dear Michael Cairns

When you don't know the person's gender: When you have a name but are unsure of the gender of the person you are writing to, it is acceptable to leave out the honorific, and use the first and last names alone. For example:

• Dear Robin Miller
• Dear Jamieson Cavanaugh

If at all possible, use a contact name when you write. This makes your letter more personal, and it creates an immediate relationship with the reader. If you don't have a contact name, do some research to find out the  right person to address your letter to .

It doesn't take much extra time to make an attempt to find a name, and the sentiment it conveys is worth it. It's worth a try, even if you aren't successful.

Sometimes the name will be on the company website, or you may be able to find the right person on LinkedIn. Perhaps one of your colleagues or contacts knows who the appropriate person might be. You can also call the office of the unknown person you are writing to and ask the receptionist for the name by explaining your reason for calling.

For example:  "I am applying for a job with your company. Can you please tell me the name of your Hiring Manager so that I know to whom I should address my cover letter?"

Greetings to Use When You Don't Have a Contact Person

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, you just can't find a name to address your letter to. In that case, you have a variety of choices, all of which are professional and appropriate.

The more information you have about where you are sending the letter, the better. (For example, the human resources department of the company, or the manager of the department related to your inquiry.) This way, you can make a more targeted choice when selecting your greeting.

If you don't have a contact person, there are a variety of options to choose from:

• Dear Hiring Manager
• Dear Human Resources Manager
• Dear Recruiting Team
• Dear [Company Name] Recruiter; e.g., Dear ABC Company Recruiter
• Dear [Department Name] Recruiter; e.g., Dear IT Support Recruiter
• Dear [Department Name] Team; e.g., Dear Product Recruiter
• Dear Sir or Madam (this is outdated, so avoid if possible)
• To Whom It May Concern (use if you have no other workable options)

The following greetings aren't appropriate for formal letters or email messages:

• Good Morning or Afternoon (you don't know when they'll receive the letter or email message)

Start your letter with an appropriate greeting, as listed above.

First Paragraph

After your greeting, begin your first paragraph, which is usually an introduction that lets the reader know who you are and what you are writing about. If you have a mutual acquaintance who referred you to the reader, you should mention them at this time.

Body of Letter

The body of your letter normally consists of a paragraph or two of text. Here, you can elaborate on the theme of your letter and provide supporting details for the subject.

You'll want to keep it concise and pertinent to the person and the topic.

Be thorough but don't repeat yourself or go on and on about unimportant details.

Next, you'll need to sum up your letter. Your summary should include a thank you to the person for his or her time and consideration. If you plan to follow up later, you can also provide the details of when and how you will contact him or her.

Closing Options

Finish your  professional letter with a closing , such as "Sincerely" or "Regards." If you plan on sending the letter by postal service, your signature should be followed by your typed name.

If you're sending an email, your typed name should be followed by your contact information, which you can type in manually or have it done automatically for you. Here's  how to set up an automatic email signature .

Key Takeaways

• Choose a formal greeting. When you don't know the person you're writing to well, don't use a casual greeting.
• Try to find a contact person. If you can't find a contact person, it's fine to use a generic greeting.
• Proofread your letter or email. When you're sending professional correspondence, it's important to carefully proofread your document before you send it.

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Is it appropriate to use the sentence- " Greetings of the Day" in a formal email instead of Good morning?

I often receive e-mails which start with the sentence- 'Greetings of the day.' instead of Good morning or good afternoon. I am wondering whether it is correct to use this in formal emails and letters.

• expressions

• 2 It would be out of the ordinary in British English usage.That doesn't automatically mean it is not appropriate in the usage of other Englishes around the world. If you often see it, that might mean it is fine where you are, but if in doubt avoid it, especially in international communications. –  Spagirl Commented Oct 26, 2016 at 9:55
• This is probably a mashup of "greetings" and "top of the day". –  Cascabel_StandWithUkraine_ Commented Nov 10, 2020 at 18:53

4 Answers 4

If I receive an e-mail that begins with "Greetings of the day", I will assume that it is spam and automatically reach for the delete button. If I am e-mailing someone that I know (or have e-mailed before), I usually begin with "Hi, Fred" (you can more or less say whatever you like in e-mails - there are no rules). If I am e-mailing someone that I don't know, then I might treat it like writing a letter and begin with "Dear Mr. Jones".

If you want me to read your e-mails, always address me by name. However, if you are sending me spam, please do begin with "Greetings of the day" and I'll know not to read any further and press the delete button.

Having said all that, I do receive perfectly good e-mails (from British companies) that begin with "Good morning". There's nothing wrong with it. "Greetings of the day", however, sounds like Babu English and is probably best avoided.

• 1 I'm with Mick. The closest British English to "Greetings of the day" would be "Season's Greetings" or "The top of the morning". "Season's Greetings" is American. In Britain it’s generally heard as very lazy and it would only ever be used in a festival season lasting at least two or three days, ruling out anything “…of the day”. “Top of the morning” is used only with acknowledgement of both speaker and listener that it comes from Irish, whether a translation from Gaelic or originating in the English spoken in Ireland; so much so that it's usually spoken with a comic-opera accent. –  Robbie Goodwin Commented Nov 10, 2016 at 23:25
• 1 I tend to think that e-mails (from British companies) that begin with "Good morning" do that because the writers think e-mails don’t need to follow normal rules of writing… –  Robbie Goodwin Commented Nov 10, 2016 at 23:25
• 1 I can't see any mention of Babu English in your link, but there is a good description (with examples) here: bl.uk/learning/timeline/item126856.html –  user184130 Commented Aug 11, 2018 at 8:24

It definitely sounds like it is from someone from India to me. I got one today and they signed their name with a very Italian-sounding name, but they were not fooling me. I live in Italy and I know what a person who normally speaks Italian, trying to write in English sounds like, and even Google Translate would not say "Greetings of the Day!" No thanks, "Alvaro."

I'm not sure there's such a thing as a "formal" email. Email is informal, and generally doesn't follow the rules of formal correspondence.

If you're referring to an email message conveying information of a "serious" or formal nature (e.g., business correspondence rather than casual conversation), it is probably better to keep it concise and just get to the point, leaving out fluff like "Good morning" (which has no relevance, anyway, since you don't know when the message will be read).

But if you do put in some form of such opening text, "Greetings of the day" is such generic blather that people will associate it with spam, as Mick suggests.

There is no earthly reason to wish someone good day etc. in an email, formal, or informal, just as it has never been the practice (at least in the twentieth century) to do so in a written letter, at least in my experience in Britain.

An informal communication cuts out the superfluous politenesses, which in English are really only:

• The address (Dear Sir, Your Lordship, etc.)
• The parting phrase (Yours sincerely etc.)

For a formal email (e.g. to a business or someone you don’t know) I would retain them. For an informal email I would start “John” and sign off with “David”. If you are a young person “Hi John” might be more usual.

If I wrote “Hoping this finds you as it leaves me” I would be trying to be humorous.

But the French do it differently. It takes years of study to learn how to sign off a letter in French.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged expressions or ask your own question .

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How to Start an Email & 70 Email Greetings

Starting out an email with the right email greeting is crucial. It gives recipients their first impression of you, and it sets the tone for the rest of the message. It can mean the difference between your recipient closing the email right away (and condemning it to the trash folder), or reading on. In short, […]

Starting out an email with the right email greeting is crucial. It gives recipients their first impression of you, and it sets the tone for the rest of the message. It can mean the difference between your recipient closing the email right away (and condemning it to the trash folder), or reading on.

In short, you need that first impression to be a positive one.

Starting an Email the Right Way

There are no hard-and-fast rules about how to start an email. In the past, there were strict rules about using “Dear” followed by a surname in any formal letter or email. Under no circumstances would you reach out to a perfect stranger and say “Hey!”

Nowadays, the lines are more blurred. It all boils down to how well you know the recipient, the context of the message, and what you’re expecting to achieve as a result of your email. From a punctuation point of view, there are still some rules that are worth following. Start by putting a comma after the email greeting, and then capitalize the first letter of the opening sentence. For example:

“Dear Mrs. Smith,

I’m writing to you in response to …”

Upgrade Your Email Account with Right Inbox

With so much of our communications taking place over email, it can be challenging to keep our inboxes under control. That’s why we created Right Inbox – a simple plugin that can help you spend less time in your inbox and more time being productive.

For example, with our email reminders feature, you can snooze emails and ensure they’ll pop back up to the top of your inbox when you’re ready to reply, forever removing the risk of forgetting to follow up. In addition, our email tracking feature allows you to view exactly how many times your email has been viewed and by whom, so you can plan your follow-ups accordingly.

Cold Email Greetings

When you’re reaching out to a contact with whom you have no prior connection , it’s important to get the tone right. If you’re overly familiar, you’ll turn them off right away and probably end up in the junk folder. So, in those cases, whether or not you know their name, it’s always best to stay formal.

If you don’t know their name:

It’s tricky if you’re reaching out over email but don’t have a specific name. Do your best to find a contact name , even if it’s not the exact person you’re trying to get ahold of. However, if you really can’t find it, then the following are still broadly acceptable greetings:

1. “Dear sir/madam”

2. “To whom it may concern”

3. “To…” e.g. “To the Financial Director”

If you do know their name:

4. “Dear Mr./Mrs./Ms. [surname]”

5. Dear [first name]

Cold emails are always best if you’ve done some research beforehand. That way, you can add some personalized context immediately after your greeting. For example:

“Dear Mr. Smith,

I really enjoyed your last article about …”

Any form of personalization softens your cold email greeting, and makes it much more likely that the recipient will read on.

Informal Greetings

Informal email greetings are those we use every day: with our bosses, our families, and our friends and acquaintances. That said, relaxed email greetings are increasingly being used in traditionally formal contexts like the cold outreach emails we’ve just discussed. How and when you use them entirely depends on your brand style and voice:

6. “Dear [first name]”

10. “ I hope this email finds you well ”

11. “I hope you enjoyed your weekend”

12. “I hope you’re doing well”

13. “Hope you’re having a great week”

14. “How are you doing?”

15. “How’s it going?”

16. “I’d love to get your advice on …”

17. “Long time no see”

18. “It’s been a while”

Follow-up Greetings

Follow-up emails are easy to start, because you’ve got the perfect prompt to kick you off. They also allow you to get to the point quickly:

19. “As we discussed on our phone call …”

20. “As promised, here’s …”

21. “I’m checking in on …”

22. “Following up on our meeting …”

23. “Can you please provide me an update on …”

24. “Here’s more information on …”

25. “It was great to meet you at [event]”

Reply Emails

Replying to an email is similar to writing a follow-up email . It allows you to ping back a response with a straightforward greeting:

26. “Thanks for the quick response”

27 . “Thanks for getting back to me”

28. “Thanks for the update”

29. “Great to hear from you”

Time of Day

Using the time of day as a message opener is always a winner – it’s friendly, yet relatively formal:

30. “Good morning” (Before midday)

31. “Good afternoon” (Midday until 6 p.m.)

32. “Good evening” (6 p.m. onwards)

33. “G’day” (used in Australia)

A Response to a Trigger

When something has triggered you to write an email, you can often get away with not using a salutation like “Dear” or even “Hi.” It’s perfectly acceptable to make the thing you’re writing about form the greeting itself. For example, if your contact has just won a prize, it would be odd to write:

“Dear Sarah,

Congratulations on winning the top prize at …”

Instead, this would seem more natural:

“Congratulations on winning the top prize, Sarah! I knew you could do it!”

So, if you’re about to start about an email, think about the context in which you’re writing it, and consider using that contextual trigger as your opener:

34. “Congratulations on …”

35. “I hope you enjoyed your [vacation/event]”

36. “I love your recent [article/social post/photo/video]”

37. “I was just thinking about you”

38. “This reminded me of you”

39 . “[Mutual friend/contact] reminded me to get in touch with you”

Writing to Several People

You have a few choices when writing to more than one recipient at a time. Try starting your message with “Hi everyone,” or:

40 . “Hi [first name 1], [first name 2], and [first name 3],”

When someone sees their name in a list, they’re more likely to open the email and read it.

Slang Greetings

These greetings should be reserved for people you know well and with whom you share a more colloquial lingo. Often these greetings are the domain of younger generations, but not necessarily:

42. “Alright”

43 . “Howdy”

44. “ ‘Sup ”

Humorous Greetings

Reaching out with humor can be a useful way of breaking the ice. This style is often used in promotional sales emails to increase open and read rates.

But you should be sure of your audience, or it could make things awkward. Best to use a lightness of tone, rather than a full-blown joke:

45. “Happy Hump Day”

46. “Only x days til Friday”

47. “Happy Fri-YAY!”

48. “Hope you’re surviving”

49. “Had your coffee?”

50. “Me again …”

If you want to be timely:

51. I was shocked.

52. Do not do these three things if you want to make money online

53. Last chance, John.

54. Are you making these three mistakes in your business?

55. Yesterday’s training was intense.

56. Did you see the New York Times yesterday?

57. Everything is about to change.

58. Last night’s announcement has huge consequences for our industry.

If you haven’t heard back from them:

59. Is [topic] still a priority for you?

60. I haven’t heard back from you yet.

61. I’m hoping I have the right email address.

62. I know things can fall through the cracks sometimes.

If you’re reaching out via cold email:

63. I hope I’m speaking with the right person.

64. Is this account receivable?

65. Hi, you don’t know me, but…

66. I know this might seem random, however…

67. I would love to get right to the point.

68. I want to be respectful of your time.

69. Is there any chance you could connect me with [name]?

70. Is this the email for John Smith?

It might also be worth getting creative with your greetings, using emojis ✋ or gifs to add something extra.

5 Best Practices on How to Start an Email in 2024

1. Find the Right Contact

When sending a cold email, it’s important to make an effort to personalize your message – it’s no secret that a personalized email is more likely to be opened, read, and acted upon than a generic mailshot.

Whenever possible, do your research and find out exactly who you need to be sending your email to. For starters, try to find a direct email address rather than a generic help desk email. Then, do your best to find the most relevant person to reach out to. If you’re hoping to promote email marketing software but reach out to the head of public relations, you’re reducing your chances of success.

2. Determine the Goal/Purpose of Your Email

Whether you’re carrying out a mass email marketing campaign or writing a bespoke email to a known recipient, it’s always useful to keep the purpose of your email in mind.

Your goal might be to introduce yourself or your business for the first time (cold outreach); recover a lost lead or dormant customer; or simply to send out your monthly newsletter. If you are sending out a monthly or weekly newsletter via Gmail it’s important your sending it out the right way. You want to get the most opens and engagement so make sure you follow the best method. Whatever it is, knowing the purpose of your email and its context will help you to start it in the most appropriate way.

3. If in Doubt, Err Towards Being More Formal

A personalized email is generally more engaging than a formal one, but sometimes being too relaxed can rub people up the wrong way. If you’re not sure what tone to take, your safest bet is to be a bit more formal rather than overly friendly. Then, you can adjust your tone based on the response you receive, if necessary.

4. Watch Your Grammar

A surefire way of giving your recipient a bad first impression is to mess up on your grammar. When it comes to starting your email, the main punctuation you need to worry about is the comma after the recipient’s name.

Whether or not you choose to include a comma is not important. Consistency is. As a rule of thumb, if you use a comma after the salutation, then use one at the end of your letter when you sign off.

5. Consider the Context of the Message

Lastly, for your email to make sense (and therefore make an impact), the greeting should be in keeping with the rest of your message. The tone, purpose, and style of your email must be reflected in the way you address the recipient. If there’s a mismatch, then you risk causing confusion.

Say you’re sending a message to a loyal customer to announce they’ve been carefully selected to benefit from an exciting new promotion. The context of the message would suggest you’d address the email in a personalized and friendly manner, such as “Hey [first name]!” To start it with “Dear sir/madam” would be incongruous and confusing.

Additional Reading: 5 Introduction Email Templates That Work in 2024

How NOT to Start an Email

Just as important as understanding how to start an email is understanding how not to start an email. You don’t want to come across as inauthentic, stodgy, or careless. Therefore, here are a few ways to avoid crafting a great email.

To whom it may concern – This might seem professional, but it’s been overused in past years. It seems too general.

Misspelled name – Always double-check your typing before you send an email. You don’t want to misspell someone’s name and offend them.

Hi [enter name here] – The age of email automation makes it very easy to perform outreach and communicate with people. However, don’t make the mistake of forgetting to put the person’s specific name into the name field in case it’s not already filled out. Proofreading can help you avoid this.

Can you do me a favor? – Asking if someone can do you a favor is a little abrupt to start out with an email. It’s better to ease into it first.

Let me introduce myself – You don’t want to talk in the first person too much. When you’re sending emails, especially to prospects, you should focus on speaking about them and really try to live within their world.

I know you’re busy, but – If you do this, you’re basically discounting the fact that their time is valuable. Just avoid saying that and get to the point if you truly respect their time.

ADD_THIS_TEXT

When you’re kicking off an email, you need to be conscious of who you’re writing to and the context of the message. Both will determine how you craft those all-important opening words.

A well-written salutation will determine how well the rest of your message will be received, regardless of whether you’re contacting a potential client or your best friend. Hopefully, this list will help you pick the right words to fit the right circumstances, so feel free to use these ideas in your day-to-day correspondence.

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How to Ask for Something in an Email (With Examples)

How to RSVP via Email

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101 birthday wishes to celebrate friends and family

Birthdays come but once a year, which makes them extra special.

Celebrate someone near and dear to you on their big day with a thoughtful gift , Instagram post or greeting card filled with sweet birthday wishes to let them know that they're in your thoughts.

Not sure what to write? Not to worry, we've gathered up a collection of birthday wishes that's bound to cover anything you'd like to say to a friend, family member or anyone else in your life you're recognizing on this momentous occasion.

From short messages to funny quips, this compilation of birthday wishes includes birthday quotes from the likes of Shakespeare and Bob Hope, sentiments inspired by song lyrics and a variety of other wishes to give the birthday king or queen a sincere shout-out.

Because, as the old saying goes, it's the thought that counts and whoever is celebrating their birthday will surely be happy to know that you've gone the extra mile to let them know that you're thinking of them.

So, jot one of these wishes down or use these sentiments to help craft your own, one-of-a-kind birthday greeting. Either way, we've got you covered word-wise , which means all that's left for you to do is get the date right.

Best birthday wishes

• Celebrating you and the year ahead! Happy birthday.
• It's your birthday, it's your birthday, celebrate like it's your birthday.
• Wishing you all the best, today and every day.
• Blow out the candles and may all your wishes come true on this special day.
• It's your day to shine, so shine on!
• Keep calm and birthday on.

• I hope this birthday brings you joy, laughter and love — all the things you deserve.
• If I had only one wish for your birthday, I’d wish to be everything to you that you are to me.
• Happy birthday to the person who makes my life better just by being in it.
• Birthdays are like holidays — only better. There’s no awkward small talk with relatives and you’re the only one who gets presents.
• In honor of your birthday, I bought a bottle of wine for every year you’ve been around. I’ll let you know when I’m done.

• You probably think I forgot your birthday. I did. Good think Facebook reminded me. Here’s hoping it’s wonderful.
• If birthday wishes were ponies … you still wouldn’t get one. Sorry.
• Wishing you a birthday that’s as wonderful and special as you are.
• Thanks for always reminding me that the good things in life aren’t things, they’re people just like you. Happy birthday.
• Sending warm wishes for a happy birthday and a wonderful year ahead.
• Happy birthday from the most amazing, talented, incredible, stupendous, awesome, fabulous person you know. Oh, and I guess you’re OK too.

• Family, friends and birthday cake. What more could you ask for? Wishing you plenty of all three this year.
• It’s your birthday, so go a little crazy and take the biggest slice of cake for once.
• Birthdays are special ... just like you!
• Today, celebrate the amazing person you are and the promise of the year to come.
• Into every life, a little birthday must fall. Wishing you the sweetest of birthdays.
• I’d tell you to make a wish when you blow out the candles, but I'm already here.

• Happy birthday! Happy you! Happy everything!
• Let’s celebrate your birthday with a toast! Cinnamon or avocado — your call.
• There are only 364 more days to go before I can forgot your birthday again.
• For your birthday, I wanted to make a list of all the things I love about you ... then I realized we’d be here until your next birthday.
• For your birthday, I’ve decided to give you as many hugs as there are candles on your cake. We’d better get started.

Birthday wishes inspired by popular quotes

• “Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again.” — C.S. Lewis
• “I am not young enough to know everything.” — Oscar Wilde
• “Wrinkles should merely indicate where the smiles have been.” — Mark Twain
• “The great thing about getting older is that you don’t lose all the other ages you’ve been.” — Madeleine L’Engle

• “I don’t believe in aging. I believe in forever altering one’s aspect to the sun.” — Virginia Woolf
• “In my dreams, I never have an age.” — Madeleine L’Engle
• “Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.” — Mark Twain
• “Just ‘cause there’s snow on the roof doesn’t mean there’s not a fire inside.” — Bonnie Hunt
• “One crowded hour of glorious life is worth an age without a name.” — Thomas Osbert Mordaunt

• “Age is of no importance unless you’re a cheese.” — Billie Burke
• “Celebrate who you are in your deepest heart.” — Amy Leigh Mercree
• “Age should not have its face lifted, but it should rather teach the world to admire wrinkles as the etchings of experience and the firm line of character.” — Clarence Day
• “With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come.” — William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”
• “Having a birthday is like reaching a higher peak on a mountain. Pause to admire the view; reflect on how far you have come.” — Richelle Goodrich, “Being Bold”

• “Let us never know what old age is. Let us know the happiness time brings, not count the years.” — Ausonius
• “Let us celebrate the occasion with wine and sweet words.” — Plautus
• “Let us be grateful to the people who makes us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” — Marcel Proust
• “You know you’re getting old when the candles cost more than the cake.” — Bob Hope
• “God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well.” — Voltaire

Birthday wishes inspired by song lyrics

• “They say it’s your birthday, we’re gonna have a good time, I’m glad it’s your birthday, Happy Birthday to you!” — The Beatles, “Birthday”
• “Is it your birthday, girl? ‘Cause you lookin’ like a present.” — Lizzo, “Birthday Girl”
• “May your heart always be joyful, may your song always be sung, and may you stay forever young.” — Bob Dylan, “Forever Young”
• “There ought to be a time, that we can set aside, to show just how much we love you. And I’m sure you would agree, what could fit more perfectly, than to have a world party on the day you came to be.” — Stevie Wonder, “Happy Birthday”

• “Everybody spread the word, we’re gonna have a celebration, all across the world, in every nation.” — Madonna, “Holiday”
• “Celebrate good times, come on!” — Kool & The Gang, “Celebration”
• “I’m comin’ up so you better get this party started!” — Pink, “Get the Party Started”
• “Somebody turn on the lights, we’re gonna have a party, it’s starting tonight.” — Lionel Richie, “Dancing on the Ceiling”
• “I got a feeling, that tonight’s gonna be a good night, that tonight’s gonna be a good, good night.” — Black Eyed Peas, “I Gotta Feeling”
• “May you build a ladder to the stars, climb on every rung, and may you stay forever young.” — Bob Dylan, “Forever Young”

Birthday wishes for your best friend

• Remember that time we drank too much wine on your birthday? Me neither. Let’s do it again.
• I was going to get you a cake for your birthday, but then I remembered you like ice cream, so I bought two spoons instead. Happy birthday.
• Our friendship is built on TikToks, watching bad movies and drinking too much wine. I wouldn’t want it any other way.
• Our friendship doesn't mean something to me. It means everything. Thanks for always being there.

• I went shopping for your birthday gift, but ended up buying myself something instead. As always, it's all about me. (Kidding, of course!)
• Happy birthday from the person that hopes other people remember to buy you presents.
• Friends are the family we choose, and I'd choose you again in a heartbeat.
• When I think of who or what I'm thankful for, you're always at the top of the list.

• We’re loud. We’re crazy. Let’s be both on your birthday.
• Birthdays come and go, but friends are forever.
• On your birthday I wanted to let you know that I have other friends besides you. I just like you best.
• Let’s celebrate your birthday like we always do: with a few margaritas each.
• We’ve been friends for so long that I don’t remember all the details of life’s biggest moments anymore. I just know that you were there for all of them. Happy birthday.
• We may have met by chance, but our friendship was fate. I’m thankful every single day.

• I’m so happy it's your birthday. I needed a slice of cake.
• Friends like you only come along once in a lifetime. How did I get so lucky?
• The best gift of all is you.
• I may not say it as often as I should, but on your birthday, I want you to know that you’re my whole world. And then some.
• I couldn’t be happier or more grateful to have you in my life. I hope you know how much you mean to me.

Birthday wishes for your mom and dad

• Happy birthday to the person who gave me everything and asked for nothing in return. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
• When people ask me what I’m grateful for, I tell them it’s you.
• I wouldn’t be half the person I am today if it weren’t for you. I’m blessed and thankful to celebrate all the miracles that led you to me.

• On your birthday, I want you to know that if I had my pick of all the dads in the world, I’d still choose you.
• Of all the dads I couldn’t have asked for a better one than you. Happy birthday.
• With age comes wisdom, and there's no one I'd rather learn from.

Birthday wishes for your brother and sister

• To my sister on her birthday: Thanks for never telling mom about that time I snuck out, especially since I told her when you did. Hope you didn’t get into too much trouble.
• Remember all those times you were there for me? I do. And I’m so thankful. Sending you all my love on your birthday.
• Birthdays are like brothers: annoying, but you love them anyway.

• When you were little, I knew you’d grow up to be amazing. I just didn’t know how much. I’m so proud of you today and every day.
• Happy birthday to a brother who never lets me forget the stupid stuff I did as a kid. Thanks for keeping it real.

Birthday wishes for your son and daughter

• Every candle on the cake is a year we cherish having you as a son. We love you so much.
• I admire the young man you've become, and can't wait to see where you go from here.
• Happy birthday to a daughter whose warm heart and kind spirit fill us with pride today and always.

• There's no question that you're the best thing that ever happened to me.
• You stole our hearts all those years ago, and continue to do so every single day.

Birthday wishes for long-distance friends and family

• I’m sad that we aren’t spending your birthday together, but so lucky that what we have is special enough to miss you this much.
• Since we can’t celebrate your birthday together, I thought I’d let you know that I wish we were. I miss and love you.

• Far away doesn’t mean far apart. It’s just going to take a little longer to help blow the candles out from here.
• Hey, it’s your birthday and this is crazy, but here’s my number, so FaceTime me, maybe?
• When I look up at the stars, I remember that we share the same view. Wishing you a happy birthday from across the galaxy.
• We’ve shared so many special birthdays together through the years. I’m remembering all of them today and hoping we can be together for the next one.  

• Remember that special dinner we always had on your birthday? Me too. Wish you were here.
• Even though we aren’t together for your birthday, please know that you’re never far from my heart. Thinking of you and hoping it’s a wonderful day.
• It’s probably for the best that we’re far apart on your birthday because that means there's one less person to sing “Happy Birthday” in the wrong key.

Sarah is a lifestyle and entertainment reporter for TODAY who covers holidays, celebrities and everything in between.

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51 Email Greetings & Ways to Start an Email That Are Perfect for any Occasion

by Jayson DeMers | 7 comments

Starting an email seems like no big deal, but your choice of words can have a massive impact on how the rest of your message is received.

In this guide, we’ll analyze the importance of email greetings, and give you more than 50 examples of how to start an email.

You’re sure to find a suitable email greeting or opening for just about any occasion.

Table of Contents

1. Hi / Hey (name)

2. hello (name), 3. dear (name), 4. greetings, 6. all / everyone, how to start an email greeting: comma, colon, or exclamation point, 7. i hope this email finds you well., 8. good morning/afternoon/evening., 9. allow me to introduce myself…, 10. how are you, 11. how was your vacation/weekend/etc., 12. i hope your week is going smoothly., 13. i’m emailing you to…, 14. i’m hoping to get your input on…, 15. it’s my pleasure to inform you…, 16. it’s great to hear from you., 17. thanks for your email., 18. thank you for the quick response., 19. thanks for getting in touch., 20. i appreciate the update., 21. i apologize for the delay., 22. just checking in…, 23. i wanted to follow up with you., 24. as we discussed in our last meeting., 25. as promised…, 26. could you provide me with an update, 27. i wanted to get back to you about…, 28. thank you for your time., 29. are you still interested, 30. congratulations on (accomplishment), 31. how are the kids, 32. i saw your post on (social media)., 33. how was the trip, 34. i was just thinking about you., 35. it was great to see you at (event)., 36. i saw this (media) and thought of you., 37. (contact) suggested i get in touch with you, 38. sorry it took me a while to get back to you., 39. yep, it’s me again., 40. x days until friday., 41. don’t worry, i’ll keep this brief., 42. yet another message to bog down your inbox., 43. hopefully, you’ve had your coffee this morning., 44. are you surviving yet another workweek, 45. i hope you’re sitting down., 46. [any inside joke]., 47. [anything that’s misspelled]., 48. hey (nickname), 49. to whom it may concern., 50. dear sir or madam., 51. happy monday, why email greetings matter, how do you address a professional email, how do you start a professional email to a stranger, should i use 'dear' in my formal email greeting, related posts:, how to start an email professionally (how to start a business email).

Let’s start with some of the tried-and-true business email greetings—the snippets of text you include at the beginning of every email. These are some of the most commonly used email greetings, and for good reason—they’re some of the simplest and most reliable ways to start a business or professional email.

Short, sweet, and simple, it doesn’t get much easier than this. “Hi” is innocuous and friendly, without sacrificing formality, and the addition of a person’s name makes it personal. Depending on the setting, you may wish to use a person’s first name or title and surname; this is true for any instances of “name” in this list.

This email greeting serves the same purpose, but the additional length of the word “hello’ makes it a bit more formal.

A vestigial greeting from the days of handwritten letters, “dear” is useful if your email has a letter-like structure. It can also be used to distinguish your emails from those of other professionals, or to appeal to customers with a friendly opening .

For me, “greetings” feels a little too Martian-like, but it’s an acceptable and common email opening. It’s best when introducing yourself for the first time or reaching out to someone for the first time in a while.

Even simpler, you can simply start with the person’s name. It might read as a bit cold, and it’s not the most creative email greeting, but it’s widely used.

If you’re emailing multiple people at once, you won’t have the opportunity to call out a specific name. Instead, you can greet the entire group with something like “Hello all,” or “Hi everyone.” It’s a simple modification to accommodate your needs.

There are some other examples of basic professional email greetings you can use, but unless you’re being cheeky, or you’re eager to stand out in some distinct way, it’s best to stick with one of these.

Whether you’re using one of the above greetings in email or one of your own, you’ll be left with a critical punctuation decision: should you use a comma, a colon, or an exclamation point to end your greeting?

From a pure etiquette standpoint , there’s no taboo punctuation mark. You aren’t going to offend someone by adding an exclamation point to the end of your greeting. However, there are some subtle connotations to each punctuation mark you’ll want to consider.

The colon is very formal, but almost overly so. A colon might be good for starting something especially serious, or for emailing with a person or organization you know is old-fashioned. However, for most other people, it might feel a little cold and impersonal.

At the other end of the spectrum is the exclamation point. An exclamation point conveys excitement, and can be used to indicate enthusiasm. For personal contacts and informal conversations, this can work, but in a professional setting, it can make you seem overeager or immature. Use it wisely.

The best standby, and the perfect choice if you’re not sure what to do, is the comma. It’s formal without being cold, and is so commonly used you can guarantee nobody’s going to scrutinize it.

Ways to Start a Formal Email

Now that your greeting is out of the way, you can work on creating an introduction. These introductory sentences an email starters are ideal ways to start an email for formal occasions—which should be your default if you don’t know the person with whom you’re engaging. They’re a good segue from your generic greeting to the core content of your message:

This is a simple gesture of well-wishes that can instantly make the rest of your message seem warmer. It’s also vague enough that you don’t need to be personally involved in your recipient’s life, or sacrifice formality for friendliness.

Shorter openings are generally better, especially when one of your priorities is preserving formality. A “good morning” (substituted with the appropriate time of day) is all it takes to make your greeting warm.

This only works if you’re actually introducing yourself in a greeting email ; your boss of 10 years probably won’t find this funny. It’s also a way to soften whatever your request is. Be sure to see our complete guide on how to introduce yourself in an email .

You probably won’t get an answer, but that’s not really the point.

Be careful with this one; you don’t want to seem intrusive. But if this person made it clear they were going on vacation, it’s fine (and compliant with the rules of formality) to ask about it. Feel free to ask about their weekend too—again, as long as it isn’t intrusive.

Questions can be intrusive, but statements can’t. A safer bet may be to say something like, “I hope your week is going well!”

This is great if you’re trying to cut to the chase. Most professionals appreciate conciseness, so use this introduction to get to your main point.

This is also a way to get to the point, especially if you’re making a request or an inquiry.

Somewhat situational, this works great if you’re informing someone that they’ve won a bid, or that they’ve been selected for a job.

Formal Ways to Start an Email Response

If you’re responding to someone else’s email, you’ll need to modify your opening slightly. These formal email greetings are well-suited for a response:

You can tinker with this opening to get it just right, so long as you’re conveying the same idea; you’re glad this person emailed you.

This offers something similar (and you’ll see it coming up again and again). Expressing gratitude can help you with everything from landing a better impression to getting more sales .

Situationally, this can help you acknowledge the person’s efforts in responding to you or reacting to a new prompt.

Another variant on the “thank you” theme that might suit your needs perfectly.

If someone provides you with raw information and you don’t know what to say, this can help you fill in the gap.

If you didn’t respond to the message right away, this short response could help you clear the air.

How to Start a Follow-up Email

There are many situations that necessitate or invite an email follow-up. These can be tricky, since they often demand a balance between outreach and restraint. Generally, you’ll stick to being formal in this situation, with an email opening like one of these:

You’ll need to add a bit more to this to make it work, but it’s a fairly unassuming opening that can help you establish your main priority in reaching out.

Similarly, this phrase establishes your main goal. Assuming your original message is clear, there shouldn’t be any miscommunication.

In case you aren’t sure the person remembers your last meeting, or if you want to recap your last discussion, this is a good lead-in.

If you have something deliver, or some new information to share, the simple “as promised” phrase gives you a good segue.

If you’re making a simple request, you may not need much more than this in the body of your message.

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This is ideal if you have something to add, or if you’ve learned new information you didn’t have in the past.

Remember, expressing gratitude can have a massive impact on how well you’re received. Thanking someone for their time, whether it was spent in a meeting, phone call, or just an email exchange, can make your follow-up seem warmer.

If you’re not sure this person wants to continue the conversation, a simple “are you still interested?” can give them an easy out. It also works well as a sales email subject line—but you can read more about sales email subject lines in our comprehensive guide .

If you’re interested in a fuller guide on sales-related follow-up emails, be sure to read our article on sales email follow-up templates , as well as our article on sales email templates you can use.

Informal Ways to Start an Email

If you know the person you’re emailing, or if your company culture is relatively relaxed, you can get away with some of these informal and creative email greetings:

You might not want to get involved in the details of someone’s personal life or professional successes unless you know them. But in an informal setting, it can work wonders. Congratulate someone, and they’ll likely read the rest of your message with a smile on their face.

Again, asking someone about their personal life is dangerous territory if you don’t know them. But if you’ve had friendly conversations in the past, this can be a good thing.

This works if there’s a contextual link between the post and your message. For example, if they recently posted an article about the importance of time management, you can tell them about a new tool you’ve found to analyze the amount of time they’re spending each day .

If you know the person well enough to know they went on a trip, you can ask about it.

Assuming you have a good reason to reach out other than this, this message can be a near-perfect opening.

Hypothetically, event follow-ups like this can work in a formal setting. However, it’s included here because it’s often done in a casual way.

You might think of including an attachment, gif, or YouTube link—especially if you have a good reason for bringing it up.

As a networking email in an informal setting, this opening line is awesome. If you need help polishing the rest of your approach, you can read more tips in this guide on subject lines for networking emails .

A less formal version of the “delay apology,” this opening can help you acknowledge a lengthy passage of time between your last message and this one.

Funny Email Greetings and Personal Ways to Start an Email

If you’re friends with the person you’re emailing, or if you’re trying to come across as friendly and sociable, you can use one of these funny or highly personal ways of starting an email. Just make sure you’re not using these with someone you don’t know very well, and entirely avoid them in situations that demand seriousness or formality.

If you’re emailing someone in high volume, this can make light of the situation.

Yes, we all love Friday and count down to it. You might as well acknowledge it (even if it’s a bit trite).

A fun way to insist you won’t be wasting this person’s time, it’s a good introduction to a short email.

We all wrestle with overflowing inboxes , but this message lets the recipient know that you understand their plight.

I can’t say I’m a big fan of this joke, but if this person is the type to describe themselves in terms of pre-caffeine and post-caffeine personalities, it might work well.

If work seems like a drudgery some days, this opening can make things a little lighter.

This is a common phrase used before revealing some surprising or exciting news. If you have something important to share, this may be a good way to lead into it. Just make sure you’re not using email for gossiping purposes.

Do you have an inside joke with a close colleague or a friendly boss? Feel free to use it as a way to lead into an email—so long as that email isn’t very serious or important. A joke can make a light message easier to receive, but can turn a serious email into an object of ridicule.

Bonus: Email Greetings and Openers to Avoid at All Costs

These may technically break the rules I laid out, but I feel they’re vital to discuss in this context. In the first section, I wrote about the importance of email greetings, and in the second, I gave examples of some tried-and-true greetings.

On the dark side, there are some email greetings and openers you should avoid at all costs. These email salutations are worse than neutral; they could do active harm to your reputation, or jeopardize the reception of your message.

God help you if you misspell your prospect’s name . Seeing your own name misspelled gives you that cold-and-prickly feeling, and instantly sets a bad tone for the conversation. On top of that, it shows that you don’t pay attention to details, or that you’re not proofreading. Spelling errors in the body of your message might be more easily forgiven, but to leave one in the introduction is practically unforgivable.

In general, the “Hey (name)!” formula isn’t a great look. It’s okay for use with people you know well, or if you want to establish a casual, friendly relationship, but otherwise, it’s best tabled in favor of a tried-and-true greeting. It’s made even worse if you include a nickname for someone (unless you’ve personally verified that this nickname is their exclusive preference). In general, you shouldn’t give someone a nickname or shorten their name unless they tell you to; Nicole doesn’t automatically become Nicki, and Michael doesn’t automatically become Mike. If you’re not sure what this person prefers, watch their email signature, and err on the side of full names and formality.

A phrase of choice for mass messages and anonymous complaint letters, “to whom it may concern” is in most situations, a cold and lazy choice. If you can, find the name of the person you’re emailing. If this name is unavailable, a term like “everyone” or “all” will provide a better fit.

Again, this is kind of a cop-out. Do your research to find the name of the person you’re emailing, or substitute a better phrase if you’re talking to multiple people. Otherwise, you’re better off with something vague, like “Hello.”

Just don’t. Trust me on this one.

Do email greetings really matter that much? Why does this subject warrant a comprehensive, multi-thousand-word article?

• Making a first impression. Whether you’re marketing to your target audience or just reaching out to a new contact, it’s important to make a good first impression . Technically, your subject line is going to be the first thing they read, but assuming you’ve mastered that and they’ve opened your email, your greeting and opening few lines will set them with an immediate impression of who you are and how you operate.
• Setting a tone. Your email greeting is also an opportunity to set the tone for the rest of your conversation. Depending on the circumstances, you may wish to set a formal, serious tone, or something informal to the point of being lighthearted. This can shape how the rest of your message is taken.
• Building a personal brand. Choosing email greetings and openings can also help you shape and refine your own personal brand. As you communicate with people regularly, they’ll pick up on the common greetings you like to use, and will roll those into their understanding of your personality, goals, and values. It’s a subtle effect, but one worth considering.

Yet despite these important effects, email greetings and salutations remain an area that’s commonly neglected. Many modern workers write emails without giving their openings so much as a second thought.

But not you! Because now you’re equipped with this list of top-notch email greetings 😃

Now that you know all about how to start an email with tried-and-true email greetings and salutations, are you interested in learning more about the power of your email?

Do you yearn to understand how, why, and when people respond to your messages? Sign up for a free trial of EmailAnalytics , and start your journey today.

Quick Email Greetings FAQ

This depends on your relationship with the recipient. If your recipient is a co-worker but not your boss, then 'Hi' or 'Hey' is usually appropriate. If you're addressing someone of higher status, such as your boss, then 'Hi Mr./Mrs./Ms. (name)' is a safer bet.

When writing a professional email greeting to a stranger, I recommend using 'Hi' or 'Hello' followed by 'Mr./Mrs./Ms. (name)' if your recipient is a higher status than you (in which case it's safe to err on the side of respect). Otherwise, 'Hi' or 'Hey' (first name) should be appropriate.

It can be, but there are generally better options. 'Dear' feels like an old-school way of addressing someone, such as in a hand-written letter. It may come across as out-of-touch with your recipient, unless they are from an era where it was more widely used.

Jayson is a long-time columnist for Forbes, Entrepreneur, BusinessInsider, Inc.com, and various other major media publications, where he has authored over 1,000 articles since 2012, covering technology, marketing, and entrepreneurship. He keynoted the 2013 MarketingProfs University, and won the “Entrepreneur Blogger of the Year” award in 2015 from the Oxford Center for Entrepreneurs. In 2010, he founded a marketing agency that appeared on the Inc. 5000 before selling it in January of 2019, and he is now the CEO of EmailAnalytics.

Nice article! I’ve found lots of good ideas. I’m a Virtual Assistant and needing these email greetings. Thank you!

Can we use a period in a salutation? Like, Hi, Gemma. Does this work?

Fab quick Ideas to start differently every time thanks. Layout Professional and quick to read and use. Thanks

I am very enlightened with a proper way of communicating professionally through email..thank you.

Thank you for these great ideas

Good afternoon Jayson, This article is delightful, just what I need. It provides so many usable options for one of the most important parts of your communication, setting the tone of the correspondence and expressing your viewpoint, your attitude, your personality. Not only is the material thorough and instrumental in creating well-written correspondence, the formatting is expertly chosen, and your writing is exemplary. I am so glad that I came across this article.

However, I was searching for some ways to close my emails. Have you addressed this in a similar article?

Happy Monday – that made me laugh 🙂 I often see Dear sir/madam variations, and To whom it may concern. Probably, it’s a mark of an age – as far as I remember, people who wrote such emails were at least 50 y.o. so probably it’s ok for them.

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71 Best Email Greetings For Work to Start an Email

Are you having trouble starting an email? The greeting sets the tone for the rest of the correspondence. Here are some ideas for your next email greeting.

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The first line of an email is your first impression—it can be stressful to figure out what to write that sets the tone you want for the rest of the email. 

Luckily, there are many options for getting an email started. Here is a list of the best email greetings organized by various situations you might find yourself in. But first, watch our video to learn tips for better emails:

What is an Email Greeting?

An email greeting is the opening line of an email. It sets the tone for the rest of the correspondence. Depending on what opener you use, it can convey a combination of professionalism, friendliness, warmth, or set a casual tone. 

It’sAvoiding more professional email openers when writing a professional contact is typically safest. You’ll rarely have someone get upset because you were “too formal,” however, depending on the situation, you can offend by being overly casual. 

Tried and True Greetings for ( Almost ) Any Occasion

Classics are classic for a reason. While not super unique or memorable, these email greetings are safe for most occasions. 

Hi [name], 

This is a to-the-point option for starting an email. Addressing it to the person’s name makes it personal and warm without feeling overly casual. 

Pro Tip: Here are some general guidelines for using the recipient’s first name, last name, or both! 

Use “Hi [first name]” when : 

• You know the person well and would address them by their first name in person
• You’re emailing someone you don’t know well, but they introduced themselves using their first name

Opt for “Hi Mr./Ms./Dr./Professor [last name]” when: 

• You haven’t yet met the person you’re writing to
• They introduced themselves to you with their last name

Stick with “Hi [first name] [last name]” when: 

• You’re not sure if it would be more appropriate to address them by their first or last name
• You’re not sure of the gender of the person you’re writing to

Pay attention to how they sign off in their response and use that moving forward. 

Happy [day of the week]!

A simple and positive email greeting is wishing someone a happy Monday… Tuesday, or Thursday. You can also ask about their previous weekend, how their week is going, or any exciting weekend plans.

I hope this email finds you well,

When you start by wishing the recipient well, you’re setting the tone of the conversation as pleasant without requiring them to give you too much personal information. That makes it a great option for someone you haven’t written to in a while (and you don’t know how they’re doing). 

I hope you’re having a pleasant day,

Similar to “I hope this email finds you well,” but the well wish is a little more immediate. It’s a good option for someone you’ve written with more recently. 

Good morning/afternoon/evening,

This works well as a warm, to-the-point way to start an email. You can send it to an individual or a larger group of people. 

Dear [Name],

This greeting is a timeless and universally accepted way to begin an email. It’s formal and personal, making it an excellent choice for almost any situation. Whether you’re writing to a colleague, a new acquaintance, or even a long-time friend in a more formal context, “Dear [Name]” sets a respectful and professional tone from the get-go.

Warm greetings,

This opening is versatile and conveys a sense of cordiality right from the start. It’s suitable for formal and informal emails, depending on the context. The word “warm” adds some  personal affection, too.

Professional Email Greetings

When writing a professional email greeting, err on being more formal—but that doesn’t mean it has to be “stuffy.” Here are some professional, formal ways to start an email! 

I’m contacting you about…

Lots of professionals appreciate getting straight to the point—it shows that you respect their time and have a concrete reason for reaching out to them. 

I’m writing you to…

Similar to the last one, this lets you jump straight to the message’s main point with no fuss.

[Insert name] suggested I reach out to you,

This is a great professional introduction email if you’ve never personally talked to the person you’re contacting. It gives them context for why you’re writing them and who your mutual acquaintance is. 

I’d appreciate your input on…

This greeting invites a conversation and shows that you respect their opinion and expertise. 

I wanted to touch base with you about…

“Touch base” is a broad term used in many professional settings. This opener helps you dive right into the main purpose of your correspondence. 

Regarding our ongoing collaboration,

This greeting sets a professional and focused tone for emails that pertain to ongoing projects or partnerships. It’s a polished way to start a message when you collaborate, signaling the recipient that the email will discuss aspects of your joint work.

As we continue to explore new opportunities,

This professional email greeting is perfect for conversations that involve ongoing discussions, negotiations, or the exploration of new projects. It suggests a forward-thinking approach and a readiness to engage in further discussions or actions. 

Email Greetings to Send Someone You Just Met

Have you ever talked with someone, gotten their business card, but did not know how to start the follow-up email? It can be stressful. You don’t want to assume that they remember you, but you also don’t want to imply that you think they don’t. 

Give them a few context cues right off the bat. Things like the name of the event or place you met or the name of the person who introduced you can be really helpful. 

Great meeting you at [event/place],

By giving the recipient context for where they know you from, you’ll help jog their memory. You’ll also bring back memories of when you last met—hopefully you made a good impression !

Following up on our conversation at [event/place],

This is a great opener if you had a great conversation with someone at a networking event that got cut short when one of you needed to leave, but you managed to swap business cards or personal contact information. This opener gives a little context for where they know you from and lets you dive back into the conversation.

Carrying forward the spark from our conversation at [event/place],

This opener takes a creative leap by framing your initial meeting as a moment where a conversational “spark” was ignited, suggesting enthusiasm and a keen interest to explore where this newfound connection could lead. 

Reconnecting after our meeting at [event/place],

This opener is excellent when you’ve had a brief yet memorable encounter with someone and wish to extend the conversation beyond the initial meeting. It’s also straightforward and succinct.

Hello from [your name], I enjoyed talking with you about [topic] at [place you met],

Although this email greeting is quite long, it gives the person all the context cues they need to remember you. Try this out if you met them at an event with many people, and you’re not sure they will remember meeting you. 

In light of our recent meeting at [event/place],

This is the most formal option in this section—use it wisely and it can serve you well! A more formal option like this can be good for someone you hope will become a professional mentor. 

It was nice meeting you at [event/place],

If you’re looking for a nice, pleasant way to establish an initial connection, look no further! With this opener, you don’t need a long email correspondence, but you can solidify the meeting and ensure they have your contact information for the future. 

Gratitude Email Openers

Expressing gratitude at the start of an email sets a warm, appreciative tone for your message. Here are five distinctive ways to artfully weave thanks into your email openers!

I appreciate your help!

Simple, yet relatable. It’s perfect for conveying gratitude in a personal and meaningful way.

I’m incredibly thankful for our collaboration

This phrase celebrates the success of working together when aiming to thank a partner or colleague for their efforts. It acknowledges the value of teamwork and sets a positive tone for future interactions.

Grateful for your insights on [specific topic]

Specifying the advice or feedback you’re thankful for shows you value and have thought deeply about their input.

Thank you for lighting the way forward

Ideal for thanking someone who has guided during challenging times, this phrase appreciates their role in helping you deal with uncertainty with a positive influence.

Your support has been instrumental in our growth

This opener is excellent for expressing appreciation to someone who has significantly contributed to your personal or professional growth. It recognizes their crucial role in a heartfelt manner, reinforcing the value of their support.

Email Greetings for Various Stages of the Job Search Process

There’s so much more to getting the job you want than a resume. Throughout the job application process, there are many different people you’ll likely end up corresponding with. A professional and warm email can help you make a great first impression or be more memorable. 

We haven’t had the privilege of meeting, but I saw we both attended [name of school]! 

Oftentimes, alumni will help one another out. If you’re applying for a job, it can be a good idea to find out if any alumni from your school already work there. You can often find this information on LinkedIn. Then, ask them if they’d be willing to answer some questions about company culture or the job. 

Thank you for your time today, 

After a phone call with a mutual connection or person from the same alma mater, send a thank-you note! This will help you continue to build a positive relationship from that first conversation. 

Reflecting on our engaging discussion about [position title],

This greeting is suitable for follow-up emails after an interview or an informal conversation about the role. It emphasizes the quality of the discussion and your thoughtful consideration of the position’s responsibilities and how they align with your skills and experiences.

It was a pleasure talking with you,

This is a great way to start an interview follow-up email. Let the interviewer know that you appreciate their time and reiterate from the interview why you believe you would be a good fit for the position. 

I’m grateful to be considered for this position, 

When sending a post-interview email, you want to find the right balance between expressing gratitude and confidence. Since this email leans more towards gratitude, follow up with aspects of your expertise and experience that you’re confident would benefit the company and make you the right fit for the job. 

I enjoyed learning more about the specifics of [position title],

Throughout the process, remember that not only is the company deciding whether they feel you’ll be the right fit for them, but you’re also deciding if they’re the right fit for you professionally. 

Sometimes, you’ll realize the position isn’t the right fit. If that’s the case, try this email greeting, and then kindly let them know that you won’t be continuing in the interview process.

Eager to contribute and grow within [Company Name],

This greeting is particularly effective when reaching out to a potential employer after submitting your application or after an initial screening call.

Starters for Meeting Follow-up Emails

If you’re sending a follow-up email from a meeting, help the recipient know what to expect from the rest of the correspondence by getting straight to the point. Keep it short and sweet—after all, you know how busy your team members are after a meeting! 

Per our phone call,

There are often action points coming out of a meeting. This is a direct, to-the-point way of sending any materials or follow-up points from the meeting. 

Per our conversation, 

Use this when your email is following up on a conversation you already had with the recipient. 

Following up on our recent meeting,

This works well for any type of follow-up, whether you’re providing additional information, summarizing key points discussed, or outlining next steps. 

Sending the [documents/follow-up email/task list…] as promised,

It’s not uncommon that in a meeting, you’ll be asked to send out some information to everyone present. These could be meeting notes, various documents you have, or research you’ve compiled on a topic just to name a few. Getting straight to the point’ll help people remember why your email is relevant and why they should keep reading! 

Here is the [research/article] I mentioned, 

If an article was mentioned during the meeting, send the meeting attendees a follow-up note with the resource you mentioned. 

I’m glad we got to touch base on [topic of meeting],

This is a warm way to start a post-meeting email. Generally speaking, if you meet with someone regularly, you don’t need to send a note unless there’s some further information you promised you’d send them. However, if you rarely meet someone, you might want to send a pleasant “It was nice talking with you today!” note. 

Just sending a recap of what we talked about today,

It’s a good idea to have important discussion points in writing. Towards the end of a meeting, let the other person know that you’ll send an email with the main points you discussed and any decisions you came to. Despite being less formal than meeting minutes , it’s a good idea to have a “paper trail” of any important decisions you and the person you met with came to. 

To continue our discussion from [date/meeting],

This email starter is a direct bridge from a previous encounter, neatly tying the past conversation to the present follow-up. It’s an efficient way to remind the recipient of the specific context and timing of your last meeting, making it easier for them to recall the details and relevance of your email.

Email Greetings for Cold Outreach

A captivating opener in a cold outreach email grabs attention and demonstrates your genuine interest in forming a connection. Here’s how to craft unique and compelling email greetings that stand out!

[Recipient’s Name], I’ve got something for you!

Personalize your cold outreach by directly mentioning the recipient’s name, showing that your email isn’t just another generic message.

“Your insights on [topic] inspired me to reach out”

Acknowledging a specific piece of work, talk, or publication by the recipient shows that your interest is sincere and well-informed. This personalization shows that you’re reaching out based on their expertise.

My team + yours = success! (here’s what I’m thinking)

This opener suggests a dynamic and forward-thinking approach to potential collaboration. It’s especially effective if you’re in a tech or creative industry, signaling that you value innovation and see a unique opportunity for synergy between your respective projects or companies.

Let’s help each other towards [common goal]

Identifying a shared goal or vision in your opening line immediately creates a sense of camaraderie and purpose. It’s an excellent way to show that you’ve researched their business and understand and align with their broader mission.

After seeing your results on [achievement], I’m impressed!

Starting your email with a statement acknowledging the recipient’s influence or achievements in their field demonstrates respect and genuine interest. It’s a compelling way to introduce yourself, making it clear that you’re reaching out because you value what they bring to the table and you see potential in connecting further.

Group Email Greetings

Sending a group email can be tricky. If it’s going to more than two or three people, you probably won’t want to list out each recipient’s name. Instead, opt for something more general. 

Here are some ideas for when you’re feeling stuck on how to start writing a large group email. 

Greetings, 

This can be a good option for a group email where you’re trying to balance professional and pleasant. It’s relatively formal, short enough to respect everyone’s time, and a warm way to start. 

Hello all, 

“All” can be a good alternative to listing everyone’s name. It acknowledges that it’s a group email while staying short and sweet. 

Hi team, 

This is a more casual option than “Hello all.” Use this with groups you talk with regularly, like a team you work closely with. 

Hope this finds you well,

This greeting is versatile and considerate, suitable for various group email contexts, from formal updates to more casual team communications. 

I saw this [blog post/article/research] and thought you might find it interesting, 

Try sending this email greeting when you find an article relevant to your team. It gets straight to the point, hopefully encouraging people to read the article. 

I’m glad to announce…

They say, “teamwork makes the dreamwork.” Use this email to inform your whole team of goals you’ve reached or positive customer feedback you want to encourage your team. 

Formal Responses to Emails

Let’s say you’re on the receiving end of an email. How do you respond? Here are a few pleasant, formal options for responding to an email from a professional connection. 

Your message is greatly appreciated,

Whether the email contains information, a request, or an update, this opening is a nice way to keep it polite and professional.

Great to hear from you, 

This is a great option if it’s been a while since you’ve talked with the person who emailed you. They may have been nervous to reach out, so you can put their nerves at ease from the very first sentence by letting them know you’re happy to hear from them. 

Thank you for following up, 

Use this if someone has taken the time to send you an email after a meeting. 

Thank you for the email, 

Opt for this option if you met someone at an event or through a mutual friend and they’ve emailed you first. 

I’m glad you reached out,

This is a pleasant and warm way to let someone know you’re glad they took the time to contact you. 

I apologize for the delay,

Ideally, you should respond to emails within one or two business days, but sometimes, for one reason or another, an email response gets delayed. By apologizing quickly, you can help disperse any frustration the other person may feel about waiting for your response. 

If you want, you can follow this up by giving a reason for the delay. For example, “I just got back from vacation,” or, “I had to connect with someone else before I could respond to you.” 

Thank you for your quick response, 

It’s nice to hear back from someone quickly! Express your gratitude by thanking them. 

Email Greetings to Send a Potential Client

When emailing a potential new client, you want to make a good first impression (and write an email that doesn’t look like spam). Keep it professional and warm while letting them know who you are, how you can help them, or where you met. Here are a few email greetings to help you do everything! 

Hi from [your name] at [your company name],

If you met a potential client, this can be a good way to help them place you right from the introduction. This will help give them a framework for who you are and where they know you from. 

In response to your inquiry,

If a potential client has reached out with a question, you can start the response email by letting them know that you’re getting back to them with an answer. 

[Mutual friend’s name] suggested I reach out to you,

Referencing a mutual acquaintance can increase your credibility.

Let me introduce myself, 

While this isn’t the best email opener, it works well as a cold email introduction to someone you’re hoping to work with. Use this if you don’t have a mutual connection you can reference. It’s a straight-to-the-point, easygoing way of starting an introduction email. 

Following up on my previous email, 

You may need to send a follow-up email when cold pitching to a prospective client. Since they don’t already know you, a follow-up email can help assure them that your email was meant for them and keep you on their radar. 

Casual Email Greetings for Your Work Bestie

Depending on your industry, you might get away with less-than-formal openers when emailing coworkers. When emailing a boss or a new client, opt for more formal options. However, formality can sometimes feel out of place when writing to a colleague you work closely with. If you’re looking for a friendly greeting for a coworker you work with closely, consider using one of these! 

Hi there! 

This is a less formal alternative to “Hi [their name].” It works well when sent to a teammate, followed by, “I just had a quick question about XYZ” or, “Just wanted to check in about XYZ.” It conveys friendliness and warmth while also diving right into business.

Howdy, 

This is VERY informal, so only use it if you have established rapport with the coworker you’re sending this email to. But if you have a coworker you email on a multiple-times-per-day basis, this old western classic might bring a smile to their face. 

Bonus : If you are in Hawaii or are feeling adventurous, you can also try Aloha!

Hey hey, 

Another casual one to use when emailing your work friends. Avoid sending this to your boss or someone you don’t have an established relationship with. 

Me again! 

This works best for the second or third email of the day to the same person. Even then, only use it if you know the person receiving the email is okay with super casual greetings. 

How are you? 

In this instance, you may or may not get an answer to the question, but don’t worry about that. “How are you?” is a pleasant and casual way to start an email to someone you have an established relationship with. 

Quick question for you, 

This can help you and your coworker both stay in work mode. Use this when you need their help on a project, but don’t anticipate it taking long. For example, maybe you need the email of someone they know or are wondering if they can help you use a certain feature on a company software. 

It’s almost Friday! 

It’s good to celebrate the small joys of the week. 

Email Greetings to Steer Clear Of (And What to Write Instead!)

Steer clear of options that are on the end of overly formal or overly casual. Here are a few examples that aren’t usually the best option with a few ideas of what to use instead. If you can make “Hey girl,” or “To whom it may concern,” work for you, go for it! 

Hey girl! 

Feel free to send this to your best friend, but steer clear of this in almost every other context. It has such a casual option that it fits better in a text message than an email greeting. Instead try, “Hi there!” for a casual work friend, or, “Hi [recipient’s name]” for a slightly more personal feel. 

To whom it may concern,

This is way too formal. While it’s good to be respectful, stick with an option that feels less like you took it from the pages of a Victorian-era novel. Try swapping this one out for, “I thought this article might be of interest,” or, “Hello everyone,” depending on where the email is going. 

Hola! [or “hello” in a language different than the body of the text]

If you can follow “Hola” by (truthfully) saying, “writing to you from Mexico City,” or “Bonjour from Paris,” then you can maybe get away with it. For the most part, steer clear of greeting the recipient in a different language from the body of the email. It can feel culturally insensitive. 

If you want to let someone know you’re traveling, try, “Greetings from [insert country name],” or, “Writing to you from [country name].” 

What’s good? 

Does anyone know how to answer this? Not only is it a bit awkward, but it’s also more fitting as a text message than in an email. Instead of “What’s good?” try, “I hope this email finds you well,” or, “How are you?” 

Salutation, 

This email greeting falls more on the side of stuffy rather than formal. Instead of this, try “Greetings,” it can be used in similar formal group email situations but has more warmth. 

I’d like to pick your brain about…

As a general rule, steer clear of “picking brains.” Instead, try something like, “I had a few questions I believe are within your scope of expertise.” This sounds more formal in a good way and also helps the recipient know why you reached out to them specifically with your questions. If they don’t have the answers, it will be easy for them to redirect you to the appropriate person. 

Bonus: Avoid Common Email Etiquette Mistakes

The unwritten rules of email can be tricky. Avoiding certain mistakes ensures your emails reflect well on you… and also ensure your emails get read!

Here are key guidelines to keep in mind:

Key Takeaway: Set the Tone With an Intentional Email Greeting

Remember that the first few lines of your email help set the tone of the entire correspondence. Here are a few rule-of-thumb tips to keep in mind when you’re sending emails: 

• It’s generally better to be more formal, especially when emailing with a boss, hiring manager, professor, mentor, or someone else you want to communicate respect to.
• If you don’t have a strongly established relationship, help the recipient of your email remember who you are—mention what you talked about, where you met, or who you both know. 
• You can usually ease up on the formality for colleagues you work closely with and go for some more friendly email greetings. 
• If in doubt, “Hi/Hello [name]” is almost always a safe option—it’s neither super formal nor overly casual. 

If you need more help writing professional emails, look no further! Check out these 18 Professional Email Tips to Craft Your Next Email . 

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Work Wizardry

500+ ways to say hello formally and informally for different situations with examples, synonyms, phrases, alternative words and terms.

Updated on: July 16, 2023

Effective communication begins with a thoughtful greeting.

In personal or professional communication, the power of a simple “hello” should never be underestimated.

From formal to informal settings, finding how to say hello can set the tone for a successful interaction.

In this blog post, we explore an extensive list of over 500 formal ways to say hello, covering various contexts and styles.

Whether you’re aiming for a professional tone, a touch of humor, or a creative twist, in the workplace or any other personal or professional setting we’ve got you covered.

Let’s dive into this ultimate guide for enhancing your greeting repertoire!

Table of Contents

How to say hello in different ways ?

Saying hello in different ways allows you to add variety and personal touch to your greetings. Here are some tips to help you effectively express hello in different ways:

1. Consider the context:

Tailor your greeting based on the situation, whether it’s formal, informal, professional, or casual. Adjust your language accordingly to maintain appropriateness.

Example: In a formal setting, such as a business meeting, use a more professional greeting like “Good morning esteemed colleagues” rather than a casual “Hey, guys.”

2. Use alternative words:

Replace the word “hello” with synonyms or similar expressions to add variety and creativity to your greetings.

Example: Instead of saying “hello,” you can say “hi,” “hey,” “greetings,” “howdy,” “salutations,” or “good day.”

3. Infuse personality:

Let your own personality shine through in your greetings. Consider using words or phrases that reflect your unique style or interests.

Example: If you’re a fan of a particular hobby or interest, you can incorporate it into your greeting. For instance, “Greetings, fellow bookworm!” or “Hey there, gaming guru!”

4. Explore cultural greetings:

Discover greetings from different cultures and languages. It shows respect and an interest in diverse customs.

Example: Use greetings like “Namaste” (Indian), “Bonjour” (French), or “Kon’nichiwa” (Japanese) to add a multicultural touch to your greetings.

5. Add humor or creativity:

Incorporate humor or creative elements to make your greetings more memorable and engaging.

Example: “Ahoy, matey! Ready to set sail on this day of adventures?” or “Well, well, well… Look who decided to grace us with their presence. Greetings, oh great one!”

6. Consider the recipient:

Tailor your greeting to the person you’re addressing. Think about their personality, relationship, and preferences.

Example: If your friend loves a specific TV show, you can greet them with a reference to it, like “Hey, fellow Game of Thrones fanatic!”

7. Embrace technology:

Utilize the features and tools available through digital communication platforms to enhance your greetings. Include emojis, gifs, or stickers to add visual elements.

Example: Sending a waving hand emoji or a GIF of an animated character saying hello can make your greetings more animated and fun.

Remember, the key is to be genuine, respectful, and considerate when greeting others. Adapt your approach based on the situation and the person you’re addressing to create a warm and memorable greeting.

Also read: 100 Classy way to tell someone off

500+ Ways to say hello

The following is a huge list of ways to say hello for any situation:

1. Good morning!

2. Good day to you!

3. Greetings!

4. Salutations!

5. How do you do?

6. Nice to meet you.

7. Pleased to make your acquaintance.

8. Hello and welcome.

9. I hope this message finds you well.

10. Warmest greetings.

11. May I extend my regards?

12. I trust you are having a splendid day.

13. I bid you a good day.

14. I hope you are enjoying a fine morning/afternoon/evening.

15. Allow me to offer my respectful greetings.

16. I send my best wishes.

17. I am delighted to make your acquaintance.

18. How are you on this fine day?

19. I trust you are in good health and spirits.

20. It is a pleasure to see you.

Also read: What is the professional way to say stay in your lane? (30+ responses, meaning, and workplace communication tips)

Formal ways to say hello

If you are looking for formal ways to say hello, Here is a good list of polite and Formal way of saying hello:

1. Hoping this message finds you in good health and happiness.

2. I bid you a cheerful hello.

3. Sending my heartfelt greetings to you.

4. Wishing you a day filled with success and fulfillment.

5. I offer you my sincere salutations and best wishes.

6. May your day be blessed with abundance and positivity.

7. I send you my warmest regards and a friendly hello.

8. Hoping you are having a splendid day so far.

9. I extend my greetings and well wishes to you.

10. May your day be graced with happiness and prosperity.

11. Hoping this message finds you in good health and happiness.

12. I bid you a cheerful hello.

13. Sending my heartfelt greetings to you.

14. Wishing you a day filled with success and fulfillment.

15. I offer you my sincere salutations and best wishes.

16. May your day be blessed with abundance and positivity.

17. I send you my warmest regards and a friendly hello.

18. Hoping you are having a splendid day so far.

19. I extend my greetings and well wishes to you.

20. May your day be graced with happiness and prosperity.

Also read: How to professionally say that sounds like a you problem? (30 polite responses)

Professional synonyms for hello

These are some professional synonyms for hello:

1. Greetings

2. Salutations

3. Good day

4. Good morning

5. Good afternoon

6. Good evening

8. How do you do?

9. Pleased to meet you

10. Nice to see you

11. Good to see you

13. Blessings

14. Peace be with you

16. Respectful regards

17. Honorable salutations

18. Esteemed greetings

19. Well wishes

20. Cordial hello

Also read: How to say none of your business politely? 60+ professional and sarcastic responses

Other words for hello to say professionally

Here are a few other words for hello to say in a professional way:

1. Good day to you!

2. Greetings, sir/madam.

3. How do you do?

4. Good morrow!

5. Well met, kind soul.

6. I bid you a pleasant day.

7. Salutations, esteemed friend.

8. Pray, allow me to extend my greetings.

9. Hail, fair sir/madam!

10. I offer my respectful hello.

11. Good tidings to you!

12. Welcome, noble acquaintance.

13. I hope this missive finds you well.

14. I send my warm regards and salutations.

15. A hearty hello to you, good sir/madam.

16. I wish you a jolly good day!

17. I trust this message finds you in good spirits.

18. A polite hello to you, dear friend.

19. I extend my greetings and best wishes to you.

20. I humbly greet you with great respect.

Also read: How to professionally say that’s not my job, this is your job or do your job? (100+ example phrases)

Professional ways to say hello

Here are some professional ways to say hello:

1. Please allow me to offer my most sincere greetings and salutations. It is an honor to address you in a professional setting.

2. Esteemed colleague, I bid you good day and extend my most formal regards to you.

3. My greetings to you, and I must begin by acknowledging the immense respect and admiration I hold for your great personality.

4. May I humbly offer my greetings to you, and express my deep reverence for your esteemed reputation in the industry.

5. Greetings to you, esteemed business partner. May I convey my heartfelt respects to you in this formal setting.

6. It is an honor meeting you. Please allow me to convey my sincerest greetings to you. “Good Morning.”

7. Greetings and salutations. It is with utmost pleasure that I extend my formal regards to you.

8. With great reverence, I extend my formal greetings to you, esteemed colleague. Your reputation precedes you, and it is a privilege to address you in this professional setting.

9. Please accept my sincere greetings and formal regards, as I address you with the utmost respect and admiration for your professional accomplishments. It is an honor to correspond with such an esteemed colleague.

10. With the highest esteem and profound respect, I offer my formal greetings to you, esteemed business partner. Your reputation in the industry precedes you, and it is an honor to address you on this Occasion.

11. It is my privilege to extend my most formal greetings to you. May this message find you in good health and spirits, as I offer my sincere regards in this formal setting.

12. With the deepest respect and admiration, I convey my formal greetings to you. Your accomplishments and contributions to the industry are commendable, and it is a privilege to correspond with you in this professional manner.

13. I humbly offer my most formal greetings to you. May this message find you well, as I extend my sincere respect and admiration for your work.

14. It is with great respect and admiration that I extend my formal greetings to you. Your reputation in the industry precedes you, and it is an honor to address you in this professional setting.

15. With the highest regard and utmost respect, I offer my formal greetings to you, esteemed business partner. Your professionalism and expertise are widely recognized, and it is a privilege to correspond with you in this formal capacity.

Also read: How to professionally say I’m too busy for this? (50+ Example responses)

Better ways to say hello

These are a few better ways to say hello:

1. May I offer you my salutations?

2. Allow me to extend my warmest greetings.

3. I hope this message finds you in good spirits.

4. Wishing you a pleasant day ahead.

5. I send my regards and best wishes your way.

6. Hoping this message finds you well and thriving.

7. Sending a friendly nod your direction.

8. I trust you are having a delightful day.

9. May your day be filled with joy and positivity.

10. I bid you a cheerful and gracious welcome.

11. Sending a polite and respectful greeting your way.

12. Wishing you a wonderful day filled with success.

13. Hoping this message brings a smile to your face.

14. Sending my warmest thoughts and greetings to you.

15. May the day greet you with open arms and blessings.

16. I hope you’re enjoying a pleasant and productive day.

17. Sending good vibes and a friendly hello your way.

18. Wishing you a day filled with happiness and serenity.

19. Hoping this message finds you in good health and happiness.

20. I extend my warmest regards and a polite hello to you.

Also read: 275+ Examples on how to disagree politely phrases in a respectful way

Interesting ways of saying hello

Here is a list of interesting and respectful ways to say Hello:

1. Greetings, esteemed individual!

2. A warm and respectful welcome to you!

3. Wishing you a pleasant and dignified day!

4. I extend my sincere regards and best wishes to you.

5. May your presence be met with utmost reverence and honor.

6. Allow me to offer my respectful salutations.

7. I greet you with the highest esteem and admiration.

8. In the spirit of utmost respect, I acknowledge your presence.

9. I humbly offer my regards and extend a courteous greeting.

10. May I express my deep respect and extend a formal welcome.

11. I acknowledge your esteemed presence with utmost deference.

12. With great admiration, I extend my respectful greetings to you.

13. In a spirit of reverence, I greet you with utmost courtesy.

14. I hold you in high regard and offer my sincere salutations.

15. Permit me to express my utmost respect and offer my greetings.

16. With sincere esteem, I extend my warm regards to you.

17. I pay my respects and greet you with the highest regard.

18. May your day be filled with honor and dignity, as I offer my greetings.

19. I recognize your importance and extend my respectful greetings.

20. In a spirit of reverence and courtesy, I extend my heartfelt salutations.

Also read: How to say I don’t agree professionally and say no politely? (100+ Examples)

Creative ways to say hello

These are some creative ways to say hello:

1. Eureka! Salutations!

2. Greetings, fellow Earthling!

3. Ahoy, matey! Prepare for a jolly hello!

4. Hola, amigo! Ready for some fiesta of greetings?

5. G’day, sunshine! Let’s start this day with a cheerful hello!

6. Rise and shine, world! Allow me to greet you with creativity!

7. Abracadabra! Voilà, a magical hello just for you!

8. Hail, wanderer of the virtual realm! Welcome to my linguistic sanctuary!

9. Ah, the sweet sound of greetings fills the air! Hello, my imaginative companion!

10. Hear ye, hear ye! Let the echoes of an extraordinary hello resonate!

11. Greetings, celestial being! I hope the cosmos aligns for a stellar hello.

12. Alohomora! Unlocking the door to a realm of inventive greetings.

13. Bonjour, maestro of brilliance! May your day be filled with wishes that come true.

14. Greetings, seeker of inspiration! Allow me to ignite your imagination with a hello.

15. Salve, master of ideas! Let our greetings spark a symphony of this day.

16. Hello, artistic soul! May your day be painted with vibrant hues of imagination.

17. Greetings, time traveler! I bring you a hello from the future of inventiveness.

18. Ah, the scent of creativity fills the air! Let’s embark on a hello-filled adventure.

19. Namaste, mindful spirit! Let our greetings merge with the flow of artistic energy.

20. Behold, a hello like no other! Brace yourself for a splash of unconventional time.

Also read: How to say I don’t know professionally? 300 Examples and tips for different situations

Fancy ways to say hello

Here are some Fancy ways of saying hello:

1. Salutations, esteemed individual!

2. Good day, fine sir/madam!

3. Greetings and felicitations to you!

4. Well met, distinguished colleague!

5. How do you do, noble sir/madam?

6. Ah, I bid you a most pleasant hello!

7. Hail and welcome, dear interlocutor!

8. Pleased to make your acquaintance, esteemed guest!

9. Allow me to extend my cordial salutations!

10. I hope this message finds you in the best of spirits.

11. I offer you my respectful greetings and salutations.

12. Pray, accept my formal hello on this fine day.

13. May I present my regards and a formal hello to you.

14. I trust you are enjoying a splendid day, worthy sir/madam.

15. I extend a gracious hello to you, with utmost respect.

16. Kindly accept my formal greetings, dear sir/madam.

17. I humbly greet you with utmost reverence and formality.

18. I hope this missive finds you well, noble interlocutor.

19. I present my compliments and a formal hello to you.

20. I bid you a most distinguished and elegant hello.

Also read: How to professionally say Are you Stupid? (50+ Examples)

Different ways to say hello

The following is a list of Different ways of saying hello for different professional settings and situations:

1. In a formal business meeting: “Good morning esteemed colleagues, clients, and distinguished guests. I extend my warm greetings and welcome you all to this auspicious gathering.”

2. At a professional conference: “Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished speakers, industry experts, and esteemed attendees, it is my honor to address you today and extend my heartfelt greetings.”

3. In a formal email to a client: “Dear valued client, I hope this message finds you in good health and high spirits. I would like to take a moment to extend my cordial greetings and express my sincere appreciation for your continued partnership.”

4. In a professional phone conversation: “Hello and a pleasant day to you. I trust this call finds you well. Allow me to introduce myself and extend my warmest greetings as we engage in this meaningful conversation.”

5. At a networking event: “Hello, esteemed professionals and fellow industry enthusiasts. It is with great pleasure that I extend my warm greetings and embrace this opportunity to connect and forge new professional relationships.”

6. During a formal presentation: “Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, esteemed guests, and distinguished members of the audience. I stand before you today to deliver my presentation and offer my respectful salutations.”

7. In a formal letter to a business partner: “Dear esteemed business partner, I hope this letter finds you in the best of spirits. I take this opportunity to extend my respectful greetings and express my gratitude for our ongoing collaboration.”

8. In a professional webinar or workshop: “Greetings and a warm welcome to all the participants, distinguished speakers, and industry experts joining us today. I am thrilled to be part of this engaging session and extend my heartfelt greetings.”

9. In a formal job interview: “Good day, esteemed interview panel and valued members of the hiring team. I am grateful for the opportunity to be here today and extend my respectful greetings as we embark on this interview process.”

10. At a formal company event: “Hello, esteemed executives, dedicated employees, and valued guests. On behalf of the organization, I extend my warm greetings and gratitude for your presence at this momentous occasion.”

11. In a formal presentation to stakeholders: “Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished stakeholders, board members, and esteemed guests, I extend my sincere greetings as I present to you today the progress and future prospects of our organization.”

12. In a professional training session: “Hello, esteemed participants, eager learners, and dedicated professionals. It is my pleasure to welcome you to this training session and extend my warm greetings as we embark on this journey of knowledge.”

13. At a formal company meeting: “Good morning, esteemed colleagues, valued team members, and respected leaders. I extend my warm greetings and gratitude for your presence in this important meeting.”

14. In a formal press conference: “Greetings, esteemed members of the press, journalists, and media professionals. I stand before you today to address important matters and extend my sincere greetings as we engage in this exchange of information.”

15. In a formal negotiation session: “Hello, esteemed counterparts, respected negotiators, and esteemed representatives. I extend my formal greetings and appreciation for your presence as we navigate this crucial negotiation process.”

16. In a formal training program for employees: “Greetings, valued employees, dedicated participants, and eager learners. I extend my warm greetings and appreciation for your commitment to professional growth as we commence this training program.”

17. At a formal industry awards ceremony: “Good evening, esteemed guests, honored nominees, and distinguished award recipients. On behalf of the organizing committee, I extend my heartfelt greetings and congratulations for your exceptional achievements.”

18. In a formal meeting with international delegates: “Hello, esteemed international delegates, respected ambassadors, and esteemed guests from around the world. I extend my warm greetings and sincere gratitude

Also read: How to say I forgot professionally? at workplace or in email (80+ Examples and tips)

Clever ways to say hello

Here are some Clever ways of saying hello:

1. Well, look who’s here!

2. Ah, we meet at last!

3. Fancy meeting you in this corner of the universe!

4. Oh, the cosmos aligned for our paths to cross!

5. What a pleasant surprise to encounter you!

6. Greetings, fellow explorer of existence!

7. Ah, the universe conspires to introduce us!

8. How delightful to make your acquaintance in this moment!

9. Well, aren’t you a serendipitous addition to my day!

10. Ahoy, fellow adventurer in the realm of possibilities!

11. Here we stand, at the crossroads of destiny!

12. Bonjour! The world presents us with an opportune introduction.

13. Curiosity has brought us together in this remarkable encounter!

14. By chance or fate, our paths intertwine at this precise juncture!

15. Salutations, fellow seeker of new horizons!

16. Look what the cosmic winds have brought to our rendezvous!

17. Ah, a new chapter begins with our fortuitous meeting!

18. Well met, curious soul who has caught my attention!

19. How lovely to stumble upon a kindred spirit in this vast expanse!

20. Greetings, fellow traveler of life’s intriguing tapestry!

Also read: How to professionally say as soon as possible? (50 Examples and tips)

Cool ways to say hello

Here is a list of cool ways to say hello:

1. Hey there, rockstar!

2. What’s kickin’, cool cat?

3. Yo, wassup?

4. Well, look who just walked in!

5. Ahoy, matey! Ready for some fun?

6. ‘Sup, champ?

7. G’day, legend!

8. Hello, hipster extraordinaire!

9. Howdy, partner in crime!

10. Aloha, beach bum! Catch any waves lately?

11. Hey, trendsetter! What’s the latest scoop?

12. Hola, amigo/a! Listo/a para la aventura?

13. Hiya, superhero! Saving the day as usual?

14. Hey, fashionista! Any new styles to flaunt?

15. Bonjour, mon ami(e)! Ready for a fabulous day?

16. What’s crackin’, party animal?

17. Well, hello there, maverick!

18. Greetings, free spirit! Where’s your next adventure?

19. Hey, guru of awesomeness! Share some wisdom, won’t you?

20. How’s it hangin’, coolio? Ready to rock and roll?

Also read: How to professionally say don’t talk to me like that and don’t be rude? (35+ Examples and tips)

Unique ways of saying hello

These are some Unique ways to say hello:

1. Salutations, fellow traveler of life!

2. Hail and well met, kindred spirit!

3. Top of the morning to you!

4. Bonjour, maestro of adventures!

5. Greetings, bearer of extraordinary stories!

6. Ah, there you are, my ray of sunshine!

7. Rise and shine, delightful soul!

8. Howdy-do, bringer of joy and wonder!

9. A hearty hello to you, purveyor of dreams!

10. Aloha, keeper of the extraordinary!

11. Well, hello there, seeker of marvelous moments!

12. Ahoy, captain of serendipity!

13. Hola, harbinger of endless possibilities!

14. Salve, curator of fantastical realms!

15. Good morrow, bringer of enchantment!

16. G’day, conductor of magnificent journeys!

17. How’s the magic today, my dear friend?

18. Ah, greetings to the extraordinary being before me!

19. Well met, bearer of infinite potential!

20. Hello, fellow traveler in the realm of endless wonders!

Also read: How to say no worries professionally? (no worries meaning, tips, 100+ professional ways to say no worries)

Funny ways to say hello

Here are some of the humorous and funny ways to say hello:

1. Howdy-doodle!

2. Heyo, banana nose!

3. G’day, grinning goofball!

4. Yo, butterfingers! Sup?

5. Aloha, pineapple enthusiast!

6. Hey there, gigglesaurus!

7. Hola, my cheesy amigo!

8. Well, well, well… Look who it is!

9. Ahoy, captain of silliness!

10. Greetings, mighty munchkin!

11. Hiya, giggling gummy bear!

12. Howdy, human-shaped giggle machine!

13. Hey, disco-loving unicorn!

14. Salutations, master of puns!

15. Yo, high-five enthusiast!

16. Well, hello, laughter maestro!

17. G’day, smiley McSmileface!

18. Hey there, hilarious human!

19. Hola, captain chuckles!

20. Greetings, funny bone tickler!

Also read: How to say no problem professionally? (160 Examples, synonyms, meaning, tips)

Fun ways to say hello

These are some fun ways to say hello:

1. A hearty welcome to you!

3. Hey there!

4. Good to see you!

5. Well met!

7. Top of the morning/afternoon/evening to you!

8. G’day!

9. Salutations and felicitations!

10. Greetings and salutations!

11. Hey, what’s happening?

14. How’s it going?

15. What’s the good word?

16. Bonjour!

18. Shalom!

19. Namaste!

20. Welcome aboard!

Also read: 400 Other ways to say no problem (professional and informal)

Other ways to say hello

Here are some Other ways of saying hello:

1. Hey there, how’s it going?

2. Hi, nice to see you!

3. Well, well, look who’s here!

4. Hey, long time no see!

5. Hiya, what’s the scoop?

6. Hey, what’s the word on the street?

7. Oh hey, fancy meeting you here!

8. Well, hello stranger!

9. Hey, it’s good to catch up with you.

10. Hi, how have you been keeping?

11. Hey, what’s new and exciting?

12. Well, fancy running into you!

13. Hi, it’s great to have you around.

14. Hey, it’s been a while, hasn’t it?

15. Oh hey, glad you could make it!

16. Hi, hope you’re having a fantastic day!

17. Hey, how’s life treating you?

18. Well, well, aren’t you a sight for sore eyes!

19. Hi there, what’s the latest and greatest?

20. Hey, good to see your friendly face!

Also read: How to professionally say go to hell? (75+ Examples and tips)

Weird ways to say hello

Here is a list of weird ways to say hello:

1. Salutations, fellow earthling entity.

2. Greetings, dimensional being.

3. Good day, sentient colleague.

4. Ahoy, unconventional acquaintance.

5. Well met, peculiar interlocutor.

6. Hail, enigmatic collaborator.

7. Howdy, eccentric associate.

8. G’day, singular conversationalist.

9. Hello, curiously intriguing counterpart.

10. Welcome, wonderfully odd presence.

11. Hi there, wonderfully peculiar mind.

12. Bonjour, admirably unconventional individual.

13. Salve, uniquely extraordinary colleague.

14. Greetings, pleasantly eccentric persona.

15. Well, well, well… Uniquely interesting acquaintance.

16. Ah, greetings, delightfully unconventional ally.

17. Hola, beautifully strange cooperator.

18. Good day, wonderfully peculiar soul.

19. Well met, remarkably unconventional companion.

20. G’day, wonderfully weird counterpart.

Also read: How to tell someone off in a professional way? (125 Example phrases for different situations)

Old ways to say hello

Here are a fewOld-fashioned ways to say hello:

1. Greetings, kind sir/madam.

2. Good morrow!

3. Well met, good fellow.

4. Hail and well met, fair maiden.

5. Pray, accept my salutations.

6. How dost thou fare this fine day?

7. God save thee! I bid thee good day.

8. I doff my hat and bid thee a good morrow.

9. Greetings and felicitations, noble sir/madam.

10. I extend my humble greetings unto thee.

11. Hark! I greet thee with great respect and reverence.

12. I beseech thee, accept my heartfelt salutations.

13. I greet thee with all the courtesy and decorum befitting our station.

14. I humbly offer my greetings and wishes for a pleasant day.

15. I bid thee good day and may Providence smile upon thee.

16. Greetings and salutations to thee, esteemed individual.

17. I do bid thee a most cordial welcome and a goodly day.

18. I give thee my warmest greetings and best wishes.

19. I beseech thee, may this missive find thee in good health and spirits.

20. I do humbly greet thee with utmost respect and deference.

Also read: How to say waste of time professionally? (375+ Examples with meaning, synonyms, terms, other words for different situations)

Creative ways of saying hello in a text message

Some notable ways to say hello in a text message:

2. What’s kickin’, chicken?

4. Ahoy, matey!

5. Hola, amigo/amiga!

6. G’day, sunshine!

7. Well, well, well, look who it is!

8. Howdy, partner!

9. ‘Sup, buttercup?

10. Hey there, rockstar!

11. Aloha, beach babe!

12. Hiya, superstar!

13. Hey, smarty pants!

14. What’s crackin’, bacon?

15. Greetings, earthling!

16. Yo, legend in the making!

17. Hail, magnificent human!

18. Bonjour, fabulous friend!

19. Wassup, awesome sauce?

20. Hey, emoji master!

Alternative ways to say hello

These are some alternative ways to say hello:

1. A bright and cheery hello to start the day with a smile.

2. Hey, long time no see! It’s great to reconnect with you.

3. Hail, fellow adventurer! Ready to embark on a thrilling journey?

4. Ahoy there, matey! Set sail for a day filled with excitement and treasure.

5. Hi, my dear friend. Your presence brings warmth and joy to my heart.

6. Well, well, well, who do we have here? Hello, stranger. Care to introduce yourself?

7. Greetings, esteemed guest. Your arrival brings an air of elegance to this place.

8. Yo! What’s the word on the street? Thought I’d drop by and say hello.

9. Good day, sir/madam. May I assist you with anything? Your wish is my command.

10. Salutations, kind soul. Your presence is like a breath of fresh air.

11. Ah, greetings, my fellow connoisseur of life’s pleasures. Care for a taste of something delightful?

12. Hello, dear neighbor. How about a friendly chat over a cup of tea?

13. Top of the morning to you! Ready to seize the day and make it extraordinary?

14. Well, hello there, mischief-maker. What thrilling escapades do you have planned today?

15. Hi, darling! Just wanted to drop in and remind you how incredible you are.

Another way to say hello

Here is a list of another way to say hello:

16. Greetings, wise one. Your wisdom and guidance are always appreciated.

17. Hey, adventurer! Time to gear up and face the challenges that lie ahead.

18. Good evening, fine sir/madam. Allow me to serenade you with a symphony of greetings.

19. Oh, hello, little one. Your innocent laughter fills the room with pure joy.

20. Hola, amigo/a! ¿Cómo estás? ¿Listo para vivir la vida al máximo?

21. Ah, greetings, noble scholar. What knowledge have you discovered today?

22. Well, hello, inspiration personified. Your mere presence sparks creativity within me.

23. Hi there, nature enthusiast. Let’s explore the great outdoors and discover its wonders.

24. Good afternoon, distinguished guest. Your presence elevates any gathering to grandeur.

25. Salutations, fellow dreamer. May your aspirations take flight and lead you to success.

26. Oh, hello, maestro of mischief. What delightful pranks do you have up your sleeve?

27. Hey, fellow foodie! Any gastronomic adventures on the menu today?

28. Good to see you, my trusted confidant. Your friendship is a precious gem in my life.

29. Well, well, well, what do we have here? Hello, intriguing stranger. Care to share your story?

30. Greetings, star of the show. Your talents shine brightly, illuminating the world around you.

Also read: How to politely tell someone to shut up? (135 Examples with professional tips)

Most common ways to say hello

Here are some of the most common ways to say hello:

8. Greetings

9. Salutations

10. Hey there

11. What’s up

12. How’s it going

13. Nice to meet you

14. How are you

15. What’s happening

18. How do you do

19. How’s everything

20. What’s going on

Goofy ways to say hello

Here is a list of goofy ways to say hello:

1. Ahoy, wacky friend!

2. Howdy-doodle-do!

3. Greetings, silly goose!

4. Yo, happy camper!

5. Hiya, giggling buddy!

6. Salutations, goofy pal!

7. Hey there, jolly soul!

8. Well, hello, cheerful chum!

9. G’day, whimsical amigo!

10. Aloha, laughter lover!

11. Bonjour, goofball genius!

12. Hola, funny sidekick!

13. Hey, smiley superhero!

14. Howdy, chuckling buddy!

15. Ah, greetings, comic genius!

16. Hi there, giggling guru!

17. Yo, laughter connoisseur!

18. Well met, playful prankster!

19. G’day, cheerful jester!

20. Aloha, mirthful companion!

Also read: How to professionally say don’t waste my time? (120+ Examples with professional communication tips)

Quirky ways to say hello

These are a few quirky ways to say hello:

1. Ahoy, fellow adventurer of life!

2. Hola, sunshine wrapped in human form!

3. Well, well, well, look who’s here!

4. Greetings, purveyor of delightful weirdness!

5. Hey, spark of eccentricity and charm!

6. Howdy, delightful creature of quirkiness!

7. Salutations, fellow lover of peculiarities!

8. Oh, hello, whimsical wonder of existence!

9. G’day, extraordinary being of oddities!

10. Bonjour, unconventional ray of awesomeness!

11. Hiya, embodiment of delightful oddity!

12. Ah, greetings, keeper of delightful peculiarities!

13. Hey there, whimsical soul of enchantment!

14. Well met, charming disruptor of the ordinary!

15. Hola, bringer of contagious quirkiness and joy!

16. Greetings, unique specimen of delightful eccentricity!

17. Oh, hello, keeper of wonderful weirdness!

18. Howdy, magical concoction of oddity and charm!

19. Salutations, curious creature of delightful peculiarities!

20. Well, well, well, welcome, fellow beautiful weirdo!

Also read: How to say I don’t want to waste your time politely? (135 Examples with tips, strategies for professional communication)

Slang ways to say hello

The following are some slang ways to say hello:

3. Hey, what’s crackin’?

4. What’s up, fam?

5. Howdy, partner!

7. Hey there, homie!

8. ‘Sup, dude?

9. Wassup, my peeps?

10. Yo, my G!

11. Hey, my dude!

12. What’s the haps?

13. Hey, beautiful people!

14. How’s it hangin’?

15. Hey, party people!

16. Yo, squad!

17. What’s poppin’?

18. Hey, cool cats!

19. How’s the vibe?

20. Hey, rockstars!

Another way to say hello in email

Here is a list of professional ways to say hello in email:

1. Sending a friendly email to say hello and touch base with you.

2. Wanted to drop a quick line to say hello and see how you’re doing.

3. Reaching out to extend my warm greetings and connect with you.

4. Hello there! Just wanted to check in and see how things are going.

5. Writing to say hi and catch up on any updates or news.

6. A quick email to say hello and see if you need any assistance.

7. Hello! Just wanted to reach out and say howdy from my end.

8. Taking a moment to say hi and see if there’s anything I can help with.

9. Wanted to send a friendly email to greet you and touch base on our previous conversation.

10. Hello! Just a brief message to keep in touch and see how you’re doing.

11. Writing to extend a warm hello and express my appreciation for your support.

12. Wanted to drop a line to say hello and share some exciting news with you.

13. Hello from [Your Company/Organization]! Just wanted to introduce ourselves and say hi.

14. Sending a friendly email to say hello and discuss a potential collaboration opportunity.

15. Hello, [Recipient’s Name]! Just wanted to reconnect and see if you’d be interested in grabbing coffee sometime.

Other ways to say hello in email

These are some other ways to say hello in email:

1. Dear [Recipient’s Name],

2. Hi [Recipient’s Name],

3. Hello [Recipient’s Name],

4. Good morning [Recipient’s Name],

5. Greetings [Recipient’s Name],

6. Hope this email finds you well,

7. Warmest greetings,

8. Salutations [Recipient’s Name],

9. Sending my regards,

10. Good day [Recipient’s Name],

11. A friendly hello,

12. Wishing you a pleasant day,

13. Hoping this message brightens your day,

14. Hello from [Your Name],

15. Trust this email finds you in good spirits,

16. Thought I’d drop you a line,

17. Sending a quick hello,

18. Just wanted to say hi,

19. Hello and best wishes,

20. Starting with a friendly greeting.

Longest way to say hello

Here is a list of long ways to say hello for different occasions:

1. In a formal business setting:

“Good morning, esteemed members of this distinguished gathering, and allow me to extend my sincere greetings to each and every one of you.”

2. In a professional email:

“Dear [Recipient’s Name], I hope this message finds you in excellent health and high spirits as I take a moment to extend my warmest salutations to you.”

3. In a formal speech:

“Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests, esteemed colleagues, and honored dignitaries, it is with the utmost pleasure that I stand before you today to offer my heartfelt greetings and sincere gratitude.”

4. In a diplomatic setting:

“Your Excellency, on behalf of my country and its people, I humbly extend my respectful salutations to you and express my sincere hope for fruitful discussions and strengthened relations.”

5. In a religious gathering:

“Brothers and sisters in faith, as we gather here today to celebrate and worship, I offer you my heartfelt blessings and greet you with the utmost reverence and devotion.”

6. In a wedding reception:

“Ladies and gentlemen, family and friends, on this joyous occasion of love and union, I extend my warmest greetings and congratulations to the newlyweds and their families.”

7. In a formal academic setting:

“Esteemed faculty members, distinguished guests, and aspiring scholars, it is with great pleasure that I extend my intellectual greetings to all those gathered here today.”

8. In a formal interview:

“Good day, esteemed members of the selection committee. I am honored to be here and would like to extend my sincere greetings and appreciation for considering my candidacy.”

9. In a conference or seminar:

“Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed speakers, and eager participants, as we embark on this enlightening journey of knowledge, I extend my warmest greetings and wish you a productive and insightful event.”

10. In a court proceeding:

“Your Honor, respected members of the court, legal counsel, and participants in this judicial process, I offer my respectful greetings and extend my utmost appreciation for the opportunity to address you.”

11. In a formal charity event:

“Honored guests, generous benefactors, and passionate advocates, as we gather here tonight to support a noble cause, I extend my heartfelt greetings and gratitude for your presence and contributions.”

12. In a political rally:

“Fellow citizens, esteemed leaders, and passionate supporters, I stand before you today to express my heartfelt greetings and to rally together for a brighter future.”

13. In a multicultural event:

“Namaste, bonjour, hola, salaam, and greetings in the myriad languages of our diverse gathering. I extend my warmest salutations to all and celebrate the richness of our collective heritage.”

14. In a graduation ceremony:

“Distinguished faculty, proud parents, and graduating class, as we gather here to celebrate academic achievements, I offer my heartfelt greetings and congratulations to the graduates.”

15. In a formal networking event:

“Good evening, esteemed professionals, industry leaders, and aspiring individuals. I extend my warmest greetings and welcome you to this valuable networking opportunity.”

16. In a scientific conference:

“Esteemed researchers, distinguished experts, and curious minds, I greet you with scientific fervor and extend my warmest salutations as we embark on this enlightening journey of discovery.”

17. In a cultural festival:

“Greetings, dear attendees, performers, and culture enthusiasts. On this vibrant occasion of cultural celebration, I extend my warmest salutations and invite you to immerse yourselves in the magic of our traditions.”

18. In a formal charity gala:

“Ladies and gentlemen, philanthropists, and supporters of noble causes, I offer my sincere greetings and appreciation for your presence and dedication to making a positive impact in our community.”

19. In a formal government event:

“Honorable ministers, esteemed officials, and distinguished guests, on behalf of our government, I extend my respectful greetings and express our commitment to serving the needs of our citizens.”

20. In a formal reception for international guests:

“Welcome, esteemed delegates, diplomats, and ambassadors from around the world. I extend my warmest greetings and gratitude for your presence, fostering understanding and collaboration among nations.”

Conclusion:

Effective communication begins with a thoughtful greeting. With this comprehensive guide of over 500 ways to say hello , you’re equipped to navigate various situations professionally, creatively, and even with a touch of humor.

Experiment with different styles and tailor your greetings to leave a lasting positive impression.

Remember, the right hello can set the stage for meaningful connections and successful interactions. So go forth and greet the world with confidence and charisma!

Stephen is a passionate professional with expertise in communication skills. He is dedicated to helping businesses excel through effective workplace communication. Join him for insights on professional development, productivity, and business success. Do follow him on Twitter.

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Greeting College Essays Samples For Students

24 samples of this type

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Dear Process Engineering Team: Sontarian Enterprises will be hosting an international delegation in a few weeks. Our business partners from Germany will be attending. In order to prepare you for the cultural nuances and custom differences between the US and Germany I have drafted this memorandum. Their culture is relatively different from ours, hence to avoid any possible embarrassment it is important that you review and the important information below. Greetings, gifting and behavior in German culture is different from our own, and to be gracious guests we should do what we can to make them feel comfortable.

Write By Example Of This Understanding Different National Cultures Essay

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Designed relatively in the same period, “Holy Trinity”, a fresco signed by the Early Italian Renaissance painter Masaccio around 1425 – 1428 and “Strozzi Altarpiece”, signed by the Italian Gothic painter Gentile da Frozi and created in 1423, depict two biblical scenes with historical relevance, but they have different stylistic approaches.

Cultural Differences Essay Sample

International management, good essay on the importance of military courtesy.

The military is an organization usually authorized by its greater society to use lethal force in defending its nation state by fighting perceived or actual threats. Throughout the history of military services, there have been many established traditions that illustrate a high level of discipline and courtesy. Custom is described as a way of acting in a manner that has been continued constantly for a long period of time and the act has come to be accepted by the larger society as the norm. Courtesy on the other hand refers to a way of displaying good manners and politeness when interacting with other people. Discipline entails the training that soldiers undergo to develop character, self control and efficiency. The subjection to exerted control is usually for the good of the military unit. Military courtesy is one of the features among many other features that define a professional military force (Bailey, 28). The concept of military courtesy entails several forms that constitute a strict and in other cases an elaborate code of conduct. Examples of military courtesies include proper forms of address, the salute, proper wear of military headgear, related concepts of standing at attention and rules of behavior in various ceremonies.

Military courtesy has over the years been known to convey respect both down and up the chain of command. The most commonly recognized form of courtesy and custom is the military salute. This has been recognized as an exchange of greetings ever since the age of good manners. During this time in history, the knights were mounted with steel armor that completely covered their body. When two friendly knights met, it was custom for one to raise his visor and expose their face to another. Since the left hand was used to hold the reins, the salute gesture was always done with the right hand. Furthermore, since the right hand was also used as the sword hand, the salute gesture involved removing the right hand from the vicinity of the weapon hence creating a friendlier environment and act of confidence (Bailey, 32). In as much as the age of the steel body armor is long gone, the raising of the right hand is recognized as the proper form of greetings between soldiers. The military salute is usually presented in a manner of pride when recognizing a fellow military comrade in the honorable profession of artillery. Another historical account of the development of the salute greeting is that it begun in the late Roman times when assassinations were the order of the day. Therefore, any civilian who desired to see a public official had to approach while raising his right hand in order to indicate that he did not hold any weapon. In the contemporary society, it is established that soldiers should salute all civilians entitled by the custom to the salute, the national flag, and commissioned officers using a proper manner of saluting.

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Military courtesies and customs have proven essential in providing guidelines for all actions in which all military members are expected to follow. In practicing courteous communication for example, a military soldier addressing a higher ranking officer is usually expected to use the word ma’am or sir in a similar manner as any polite civilian would do when addressing someone they wish to show respect. The difference between the two however, is that the matter of who gets to say sir or madam is clearly defined in the military service as opposed to the civilian life whereby it becomes a matter of discretion. Still on the aspect of courteous communication, the military insists on clear communication and alignment. The language used by the soldiers such as “mission”, “tactics” and “vision” is important in reinforcing their mindset hence influence how they think. Their actions whatsoever are therefore directed towards achievement of certain outcomes. The military units are also known to create high performing teams that define the team’s goals, the member’s responsibilities and roles and their action plans (Snider et al, 41-15). This empowers the soldiers to be part of high performing team in their organizational setting. In as much as we may all desire leadership positions, successful outcomes are best realized when people are part of a team and are willing to be good followers. The military is also known for the strength of training the soldiers to evaluate a dynamic environment and make a move in the face of uncertainty. The military achieves this by having a clear vision accompanied by specific missions that enable the soldiers act in alignment with the organizational objectives. To further ensure that organization activities continue running such as in a combat system, the military ensures that junior officers are trained to assume the roles of their superior at the moment of notification. Last but not least, courteous communication entails asking for help when need be in order to get a certain job done to perfection. In a military unit, one maybe leading an efficient team but still requires resources from another division which triggers the need to ask for help.

It is important to note that military courtesy is not only accorded to senior officials but also to subordinates hence reinforcing the aspect of functioning as a unit. This concept is extremely important in achieving organizational success thus making the military an outstanding organization that can be emulated by other paramilitary organizations seeking to achieve success. Military courtesy is important since it is an expression of consideration for other soldiers. It promotes good relationship within the military unit (Snider et al, 38). It is through courteous greetings and communication that closer coordination and teamwork among the members of the military is realized. Military courtesy is also of vital importance in promoting and developing a proper spirit of togetherness among soldiers. It is intended to reinforce the chain of command and discipline hence defines how soldiers treat their superiors and how the superiors treat their juniors.

Military courtesy reflects self discipline and shows respect. Since the military operates as a unit, consistent and proper military courtesy is a clear indicator of unit discipline. Simple courtesy is an important indicator of an individual’s bearing, manners and discipline. Several psychological researches indicate that most people respond positively to genuine courtesy and politeness. The spirit of togetherness is important in exploring different avenues that would bring about the realization of organizational goals. It is no wonder when the military set out to combat perceived or actual threat they always come out successful and ensure the safety of the majority of the civilians. The same applies to soldiers whereby courteous greeting restate pride in the unit and make obvious the professionalism and discipline of a unit’s soldiers. It can be concluded that military courtesy is an extension and formalization of courtesies that characterize mankind’s culture in everyday life.

Bailey, Theodore L. Military Courtesy. New York: Review Publishing Co, 1919. Print. Snider, Don M, Don M. Snider, John A. Nagl, and Tony Pfaff. Army Professionalism, the Military Ethic, and Officer ship in the 21st Century. Carlisle Barracks, Pa.: Strategic Studies Institute, U.S. Army War College, 1999. Print.

Analyzing Richard Blancos Poem One Today Essay Sample

Example of non-verbal communication essay, greetings and goodbyes in a cafe, example of essay on doing business in another country, assignment 4, essay on church visit ashland first united methodist, church visit.

I visited the Ashland First United Methodist on Sunday 4th of November 2012. The church schedule indicated that the service would begin at 9.30 am. I arrived at 9.00am because I wanted to meet the pastor Dr. Dan Bilkert and make him aware of my presence. I had spoken to him the previous day and he had granted me the permission I needed to visit the church and observe the proceedings during worship.

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College Essay Format: Top Writing and Editing Tips for 2024

A good college essay format, with the right topic, goes beyond describing your academic accomplishments and extracurriculars. Learn how to make your college essay stand out with these tips.

You want to stand out in a crowd, particularly when you’re applying to the college of your choice. As part of the application process, many schools ask for an essay to accompany the standard academic and personal information they require.

At its core, your college application essay tells a story that offers admissions officers a glimpse into who you are, beyond your grades, extracurricular activities, and test scores. Your college essay, often called a "personal statement," is your opportunity to reveal your personality and give an idea about the kind of student you'll be in college.

So how should a college essay be formatted? This article covers formatting best practices, how to choose a compelling topic for your essay, and tips to help you craft an essay that captures your reader's attention, clearly communicates its message, and is free from errors.

College essay format best practices

Your personal statement should tell a compelling story that effectively demonstrates your unique values and personality. While the format of your college essay is largely up to you, consequently, it can be helpful to have a sense of how you might format your essay before composing it.

Consider the following college essay format to organize your writing and craft the most compelling story possible.

1. Think about using a title.

A title for your college essay isn't necessary. But, including one could make your essay intriguing to readers. That said, if you're low on word count, skip a title altogether and just jump into your narrative. You can also wait until after you write your essay to decide. It's often easier to come up with a fitting, compelling title after you've told your story.

2. Open with a hook.

Your opening sentence is one of the most important parts of your essay. It's what you'll use to capture the attention of the reader and compel them to continue reading. The start of your essay is your opportunity to make an impactful first impression, so make your opening a good one.

Here are two examples of how you might craft an interesting hook for your essay:

Start in the middle of your story: Call out the most interesting point of your story, and then backtrack from there. For example, "And there I found myself, surrounded by baby sea turtles on the hazy shores of Virginia Beach."

Make a specific generalization: This is a sentence that makes a general statement on what your essay will be about but gives a specific description. An example: "Each year on our family vacation out of the city, I contemplate the meaning of life as we cross the Golden Gate Bridge."

3. Use your introduction to set up your story.

While your hook will spark the reader's curiosity, the rest of your introduction should give them an idea of where you're going with your essay. Set your story up in four to five sentences, making sure to only include information that is absolutely necessary to understand your story.

4. Tell your story in the body of your essay.

The Common Application has a 650 word limit for personal statements. That means, if both your introduction and conclusion are roughly 100 words each, your body will most likely end up being about 450 words. Think of that as three to five paragraphs, with each paragraph having its own main idea or point. 

Write in a narrative style—closer to how you might write a short story than an instruction manual. Tell your story in a way that’s logical, clear, and makes sense for what you're trying to convey about yourself.

While you should pay strict attention to using proper grammar and sentence structure, you have the freedom to make your essay a reflection of your personality. If you're a humorous person, use humor. If you're an eternal optimist or love getting into the minute details of life, let that shine through. But, keep in mind that your essay is fundamentally about highlighting the qualities that you'd bring to a college community, so keep your anecdotes focused and on point.

5. Use the conclusion to clarify your essay's core idea. 

Finish your story with a conclusion paragraph, where you clarify the value or idea you're trying to convey. What is the main thing you want the college to know about you through this story? Is it what you've learned, a value that's important to you, or what you want to contribute to society? Finally, use the last line of your personal statement to reinforce this central idea, so that your reader leaves with a clear impression about who you are. After the "hook" of your personal statement, the concluding line is the most important of your essay.

How to develop your college essay story

Now that you know how to format your college essay, we'll explore how to develop the story you'll tell in it. Here are some steps to get started:

1. Explore past college essay prompts

Over 900 colleges use Common App essay prompts, which means you may be able to write one essay for several college applications. Some past Common App college essay prompts—which are announced publicly each year—include the following topics:

Share a story about your background, interest, identity, or talent that makes you complete as a person.

Describe a time when you faced a setback, failure, or challenge and what you learned from it.

Tell about a topic, concept, or idea that is so captivating to you that you lose all track of time.

Write about something that someone has done for you that you are grateful for, and how gratitude has motivated or affected you.

These are broad topics that give you the freedom to tell all kinds of different things about yourself. Explore these questions to start brainstorming ideas of stories you may be able to tell about yourself.

There are a lot of potential prompts out there. Some of the other college essay prompts you might encounter include:

Describe a person you admire and how that person has influenced your behavior and thinking.

Why do you want to attend this school?

Describe your creative side.

Name an extracurricular activity that is meaningful to you and how it has impacted your life.

Tell about what you have done to make your community or school a better place.

2. Pick a topic.

Choose a topic that allows you to best highlight what you want the college to know about you. A good start is to list three positive adjectives that describe you. Then, see if you can write two or three real-life examples of each trait that demonstrates that you possess that characteristic.

If you're having trouble coming up with ideas, think about the stories other people tell about you or the positive words they use to describe you. Consider asking people who know you well the following questions:

What do you think sets me apart from others? 

What are my strengths? 

How would you describe my personality? 

What are my quirks?

These ideas can become the inspiration to develop material for a good college essay. You don't have to write about a major life-changing event. It can be a mundane or ordinary situation—like a dinner table conversation, a day at school, or a conversation with a friend. Often, slightly unusual topics are better than typical ones because they hold a reader's attention.

Regardless of the topic you choose, remember that the true topic of your college essay is you, and the purpose of it is to show how you are unique. It highlights an important piece of who you are and where you want to head in life.

3. Consider length.

Consult your college application instructions to see how long your essay should be. Typically, personal statements are between 500 and 650 words long, while supplemental essays are often around 250 to 300 words. Use the required essay length to help you determine what you will share. You won't be able to tell your life story within these few paragraphs, so choose the most impactful examples as your content. 

4. Outline your essay.

An outline helps you plan your essay's key points, including its beginning, middle, and end. Use your outline to stay on topic and get the most out of your word count.

The most effective outlines are usually the simplest. For instance, a good story has a beginning, middle, and end. Likewise, your essay will have an introduction, body, and conclusion. Unless the college requests a specific admission essay format, use the format you've been using to write essays in high school that you're likely to be the most comfortable with.

If you're stuck on how to open your essay, write the middle of your story first. Then, go back and write a compelling introduction and a concise conclusion.

Tips for writing your college essay

Your college essay format and writing should be both compelling in clear. So, as you're writing your college essay, keep these tips in mind:  

1. Be authentic.

One of the most essential parts of how to format a college application essay is to be authentic. The college wants to know who you are, and they will be reading dozens of essays a day. The best way to make yours stand out is to just be yourself instead of focusing on what you think they want to hear. 

Imagine you’re speaking to an actual person as you write. Be honest and accurate, using words you normally use. Your essay is a personal statement, so it should sound natural to the reader—and to you too.

2. Show you can write .

While the most important part of your personal statement is showcasing who you are, you'll also be judged on your writing ability. That's because knowing the fundamental principles of writing is important to college success. Show that you understand the structure of an essay and proper use of the English language.

3. Stay on topic.

If you're using a specific question as your writing prompt, answer the question directly in the opening paragraph. Then, use the rest of the essay to elaborate on your answer. Make good use of your word count limit by being concise and coherent. Stay on topic and refrain from adding any information that doesn't add to the main idea of your essay. 

4. Use concrete details to make your story come to life.

Your essay should describe a real-life event that you've experienced. And, to make that experience as vivid as possible for your reader, you'll want to lean into concrete details that effectively convey it through the written word. This adds color and validity to your personal statement. Personal examples will show you embody the characteristics or values you claim to, rather than merely saying you do.

5. Follow directions.

Read and understand the specific instructions set by the college for your essay. Then, review them again before you submit your essay to make sure you've met all of the requirements. Only once you're confident that you've followed them correctly and that your essay is free from any errors should you submit your essay.

How to edit your college essay

Once you've written your essay, you'll want to edit it until you’re satisfied it conveys your message and is free of errors. Let your first draft be as messy or pristine as it comes out. Then, go back later—several times if needed—to clean it up. Ask yourself these questions as you edit your essay:

Is my essay free of grammar, spelling, capitalization, and punctuation errors?

Is it the proper word length assigned by the college?

Have I answered the question in the prompt?

Does the introduction make me want to read more?

Are there any vague statements I can replace with more specific details?

Do any parts drone on or feel boring?

Does it feel too formal?

Are any parts or words repetitive?

Have I misused any words (such as there, their, and they're)?

Are my sentences varied in length?

Have I shared with the college what I most want them to know about me? 

It can also be helpful to ask someone you trust to read your essay and give you constructive feedback. This might be a trusted teacher, parent, school counselor, or college student. It's best to choose someone who is familiar with the purpose of a college essay.

Ask them to give feedback about your essay using the same questions as above. But they should never try to rewrite your essay. And never let others edit out your voice. Ask them to focus on grammar and mechanics and to give suggestions on items to add in or leave out. 

Above all, ask your guest editor what point they think you were trying to make with your essay. If they get it right, you know you've crafted a college essay that reflects you and your intended message. 

PSA: Save your essay drafts!

Instead of writing your essay directly in the online application, draft and save your essay in a document like Google Docs or Word—or start out on paper and pen if that's what you're most comfortable with. That way you can make edits and use helpful online spelling and grammar checkers. And, you won't risk losing your essay if the application times out or you navigate away from it by mistake.

When you copy and paste your essay into the application, make sure your formatting, such as line spacing and bolding for headings, remains intact.

Enhance your writing skills on Coursera

Bring out your best in your college essay with a course in Writing a Personal Essay from Wesleyan University. Learn how to find your voice, structure your essay, choose relevant details, and write in a way that pulls in your readers.

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This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.

108 Best Love Messages to Let Them Know How You Feel

Short sayings, famous quotes and very romantic text to send.

Love Messages for Him

Super romantic love messages, cute love messages, love quotes.

If you’re feeling hesitant to become vulnerable and begin pouring out your feelings, just lean in to our curated list of the best love messages that are bound to bring a smile to your sweetheart’s face. You’ll find several flirty phrases and thoughtful expressions that will spark inspiration and help you to craft the perfect love letter . Several of them can also be sent as a loving good morning text , “goodnight” text or serve as the beginning of an epic love poem.

Share these with your one and only on their birthday, on your anniversary or on a random Wednesday, just because. No matter the occasion, these messages can help you say “I love you” in the most romantic way . Trust us, once they read these sentimental words they’ll instantly be reminded of why they fell in love with you in the first place.

Love Messages for Her

• Just thinking about you puts a smile on my face.
• I want to grow old with you.
• Every time our hands touch I feel a spark. Every time we embrace, I feel on top of the world. I love you.
• You are the most beautiful person, both inside and out. I am so lucky to have you as my girlfriend.
• You’re my true love and my soulmate.
• A million kisses to the most amazing woman I know.
• If someone were to ask me about my ideal woman, I wouldn't have had the words to describe you. You have surpassed all expectations, fantasies and dreams combined.
• Your beauty, intelligence and kindness make me fall in love with you every day! You are my everything.
• Sometimes it feels like I’m dreaming, but then I realize it’s all real. Thank you for being mine!
• I want to make you the happiest woman in the world.
• It only took one look to know you were going to be my wife. I thank God every day that I listened to my gut. The rest is history.
• The more years go by, the more I learn new things to love about you. You are the most amazing woman to me.
• "And she became his wife, and he loved her." – Genesis 24:67

• You are my everything, and I am so grateful for your love and support.
• You are the sunshine in my life, and I love you more than words can express.
• You’re my strength, my protector and my hero. You’re a man every woman would want by her side.
• Missing your handsome face already.
• I love the way you look at me. It makes me feel like I am the most important person in your life.
• You make me feel like the most special woman on Earth.
• You are everything I could want in a man.
• I would marry you all over again, just so you know.
• Every single morning I thank God for you.
• I love you. Whatever comes our way and whatever happens, we’re in this together.
• Marrying you has made me a better person. Thank you so much for that.
• I love you a little more every single day.
• You are my first and only love.
• I will forever be thankful to God for gifting me to you. You are not just my husband/lover; you are my best friend. I know I can always count on you. I love you so much.
• You’re the best spider-slaying, garbage tossing husband there is!

• To find love is to find joy, peace and happiness. All these have existed in my life ever since you became my partner.
• Your heart is so full of love, and I’m lucky enough to find a place there. Love you, honey.
• Loving you is the best thing I have ever done. And I will never regret it.
• Every day of ours feels just like the very first day because I cannot help falling in love with you over and over again. I love you!
• There are no words I could use to describe the love we share. I’m so incredibly thankful for you.
• No matter how dull my days go, your presence makes everything in my life colorful.
• I cannot be more blessed for having you in my life. I will cherish you in my heart forever and always.
• The day I met you, God fulfilled my prayers.
• Honestly, I adore you.
• You make every moment a memory that I will cherish forever.
• My love for you is indescribable.
• The sound of your voice is like music to me.
• I had given up on love but then you changed everything for me.
• I run towards you because you are my safe place.
• You’re not an option. You’re my priority.
• I love you to infinity.
• You are the only person I want to come home to.
• You are one in a million, baby.
• I am beyond lucky to have fallen in love with my best friend.
• When I see myself twenty years down the line, I see you sitting next to me.
• I love loving you.
• Treat yo’ self… to an evening with me!
• I’ve only got eyes for you.
• With each passing day I realize more and more how lucky I am to have you in my life.
• You. Me. Chocolate. The Perfect Love Triangle.
• Our story isn’t a high-tech thriller, but our little narrative has its charms.
• We drive each other crazy sometimes, but we always work our way back to each other.
• You changed my world the day I met you and I have never looked back since.
• "I’m a movement by myself, but I’m a force when we’re together."
• You make me better.
• We go together like peanut butter and jelly.

• Now I understand what all those love songs and sappy poems are about.
• Every moment I spend with you is my favorite.
• Being in love with you is the best feeling.
• I know no one is perfect, but you’re pretty close.
• I hope to spend all my tomorrows chasing your perfect smile.
• Just one message from you is enough to brighten my whole day.
• All you have to do is show up to make my day so much better.
• Good night, my love. Wishing you the sweetest dreams as you drift off to sleep.
• You and I are the same kind of strange.
• From the moment we met, I knew you would be mine and I would be yours for the rest of our days.
• You’re the first person I want to tell when things go wrong and when they go right.
• Knowing that you love me as much as I love you is the best feeling in the world.
• I love that you see all of me and love me anyway.
• There is nothing you could do that could stop me from loving you.
• Thank you for letting me be myself.
• I want the kind of relationship where people look at us and say, I want what they have.
• I feel so lucky to love you the way that I do.
• We are cute together.
• I am yours, today and always.
• When I met you, everything made sense.
• I love that you are my biggest cheerleader.
• Thinking of you and smiling.
• This is what they mean when they say, “meant to be.”

• "Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps, hurdles, leaps, fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope." — Maya Angelou
• "You are the music in me." — Jamie Houston
• "My heart is and always will be yours." — Jane Austen
• "In all the world, there is no heart for me like yours." — Maya Angelou
• "The minute I heard my first love story, I started looking for you, not knowing how blind that was. Lovers don't finally meet somewhere. They're in each other all along." — Rumi
• "I remember who I am when I'm with you." — Nicole Christie
• "I love you, not only for what you are but for what I am when I am with you." — Roy Croft
• "If I had a flower for every time I thought of you… I could walk through my garden forever." — Alfred Tennyson
• "I love you and that’s the beginning and end of everything." — F. Scott Fitzgerald
• "We love because it’s the only true adventure." — Nikki Giovanni
• "You are, and always have been, my dream." — Nicholas Sparks
• "When I saw you, I fell in love, and you smiled because you knew."— Arrigo Boito
• "When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible." — When Harry Met Sally
• "You had me at hello."— Jerry Maguire
• "Love makes your soul crawl out from its hiding place." — Zora Neale Hurston
• "Sexiness wears thin after a while and beauty fades, but to be married to a man who makes you laugh every day, ah, now that's a real treat."— Joanne Woodward
• "Love understands love; it needs no talk" — Frances Havergal
• "I swear I couldn’t love you more than I do right now, and yet I know I will tomorrow" — Leo Christopher
• "In a sea of people, my eyes will always be searching for you"— Unknown
• "The best thing to hold onto in life is each other "— Audrey Hepburn
• "Thinking of you keeps me awake. Dreaming of you keeps me asleep. Being with you keeps me alive." — Unknown
• "Love takes off the masks we fear we cannot live without and know we cannot live within." — James Baldwin, The Fire Next Time
• "To be fully seen by somebody and then be loved anyhow - this is a human offering that can border on miraculous." — Elizabeth Gilbert
• "You fill my heart with gladness, Take away all my sadness, Ease my trouble, that's what you do" — "Have I Told You Lately" by Rod Stewart
• "When a man loves a woman, can't keep his mind on nothing else" — "When A Man Loves A Woman" by Percy Sledge

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Hints from Heloise: When sending greeting cards to young grandchildren, print ... don’t use cursive

• Published: Jun. 19, 2024, 9:00 a.m.

Heloise shares a tip on writing to young grandchildren. Canva

WRITE IN PRINT FOR KIDS TO READ

Dear Heloise: I’m not sure if this idea has been printed before, but here it is in case it hasn’t: If you give greeting cards to your early-school-age grandchildren, remember to write in “print,” not cursive writing. Or better yet, when our two grandkids were smaller, we would cut our faces/heads out of photos and tape our “face photo” inside the card in place of a signature. They could easily tell who was sending them a card by recognizing our faces when they opened up the card. Years later, looking back on these cards, they could also see what Grandma and Grandpa looked like when they were younger.

Cursive writing is not taught in schools now, so it’s not easy for us grandparents to remember this when writing to young children. Some of Gen Z does not know how to read or write cursive writing. Thank you. -- Patricia, in Ohio

AFTER THE END

Dear Heloise: I’ve been a family and marriage counselor for nearly 20 years, and the majority of women I’ve seen have gone through a divorce or are in the middle of one. To help them through this difficult phase of their lives, I usually make a few suggestions:

• If you are not working, find a job. Or join a charity that needs help and volunteer.
• Keep moving. Walk or join a gym, or take up something that keeps your mind busy, such as a hobby. Stay active and stay in contact with friends and family.
• Take care of yourself. Eat healthy, get your rest, and get a checkup from your doctor. Whatever you’ve been putting off, do it now.

This not the end of your life; it’s the start of a new story that you will live and write. So, go ahead and make it exactly what you want it to be. -- Ann G., in California

SUGAR- AND DAIRY-FREE DESSERT

Dear Heloise: My sister-in-law showed me how to make a new dessert that requires no sugar or dairy:

Cut up 1 banana into thin slices. Cut up about 5-7 strawberries and freeze both of these until they are firm -- but not solid. Next, take these two items out of the refrigerator and using a handheld immersion blender to mix both the strawberries and the banana together in a bowl with deep sides.

Blend only until they are mixed, but not so much that they turn into liquid. Scoop this into a dessert dish and return it to the freezer until you are ready to eat it!

This is great for anyone who is on a diet or wants to keep their sugar intake low. -- Sandy F., Greenville, Ohio

FUR STORAGE

Dear Heloise: A fur coat or stole costs a large amount of money, so in the warmer months, it really needs to be stored properly to avoid collecting, mold, bugs, and possibly dry rot.

Some people believe that placing a plastic bag over their fur items will be enough if they store them in a basement. Even though the basement will be cooler, it’s also damp. (Think mold.) The plastic will not allow the garment to breath. An attic is just way too hot and will speed up the weakening of the fur.

So, you should store your beautiful furs in a storage locker that specializes in fur storage. Take proper care of your fur, and it will look beautiful for years. -- Marty S., in New York

SEND A GREAT HINT TO: [email protected]

(c) 2024 by King Features Syndicate Inc.

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Introducing Apple Intelligence, the personal intelligence system that puts powerful generative models at the core of iPhone, iPad, and Mac

New Capabilities for Understanding and Creating Language

Image Playground Makes Communication and Self‑Expression Even More Fun

Genmoji Creation to Fit Any Moment

New Features in Photos Give Users More Control

Siri Enters a New Era

A New Standard for Privacy in AI

ChatGPT Gets Integrated Across Apple Platforms

Text of this article

June 10, 2024

PRESS RELEASE

Setting a new standard for privacy in AI, Apple Intelligence understands personal context to deliver intelligence that is helpful and relevant

CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA Apple today introduced Apple Intelligence , the personal intelligence system for iPhone, iPad, and Mac that combines the power of generative models with personal context to deliver intelligence that’s incredibly useful and relevant. Apple Intelligence is deeply integrated into iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia. It harnesses the power of Apple silicon to understand and create language and images, take action across apps, and draw from personal context to simplify and accelerate everyday tasks. With Private Cloud Compute, Apple sets a new standard for privacy in AI, with the ability to flex and scale computational capacity between on-device processing and larger, server-based models that run on dedicated Apple silicon servers.

“We’re thrilled to introduce a new chapter in Apple innovation. Apple Intelligence will transform what users can do with our products — and what our products can do for our users,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “Our unique approach combines generative AI with a user’s personal context to deliver truly helpful intelligence. And it can access that information in a completely private and secure way to help users do the things that matter most to them. This is AI as only Apple can deliver it, and we can’t wait for users to experience what it can do.”

Apple Intelligence unlocks new ways for users to enhance their writing and communicate more effectively. With brand-new systemwide Writing Tools built into iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia, users can rewrite, proofread, and summarize text nearly everywhere they write, including Mail, Notes, Pages, and third-party apps.

Whether tidying up class notes, ensuring a blog post reads just right, or making sure an email is perfectly crafted, Writing Tools help users feel more confident in their writing. With Rewrite, Apple Intelligence allows users to choose from different versions of what they have written, adjusting the tone to suit the audience and task at hand. From finessing a cover letter, to adding humor and creativity to a party invitation, Rewrite helps deliver the right words to meet the occasion. Proofread checks grammar, word choice, and sentence structure while also suggesting edits — along with explanations of the edits — that users can review or quickly accept. With Summarize, users can select text and have it recapped in the form of a digestible paragraph, bulleted key points, a table, or a list.

In Mail, staying on top of emails has never been easier. With Priority Messages, a new section at the top of the inbox shows the most urgent emails, like a same-day dinner invitation or boarding pass. Across a user’s inbox, instead of previewing the first few lines of each email, they can see summaries without needing to open a message. For long threads, users can view pertinent details with just a tap. Smart Reply provides suggestions for a quick response, and will identify questions in an email to ensure everything is answered.

Deep understanding of language also extends to Notifications. Priority Notifications appear at the top of the stack to surface what’s most important, and summaries help users scan long or stacked notifications to show key details right on the Lock Screen, such as when a group chat is particularly active. And to help users stay present in what they’re doing, Reduce Interruptions is a new Focus that surfaces only the notifications that might need immediate attention, like a text about an early pickup from daycare.

In the Notes and Phone apps, users can now record, transcribe, and summarize audio. When a recording is initiated while on a call, participants are automatically notified, and once the call ends, Apple Intelligence generates a summary to help recall key points.

Apple Intelligence powers exciting image creation capabilities to help users communicate and express themselves in new ways. With Image Playground, users can create fun images in seconds, choosing from three styles: Animation, Illustration, or Sketch. Image Playground is easy to use and built right into apps including Messages. It’s also available in a dedicated app, perfect for experimenting with different concepts and styles. All images are created on device, giving users the freedom to experiment with as many images as they want.

With Image Playground, users can choose from a range of concepts from categories like themes, costumes, accessories, and places; type a description to define an image; choose someone from their personal photo library to include in their image; and pick their favorite style.

With the Image Playground experience in Messages, users can quickly create fun images for their friends, and even see personalized suggested concepts related to their conversations. For example, if a user is messaging a group about going hiking, they’ll see suggested concepts related to their friends, their destination, and their activity, making image creation even faster and more relevant.

In Notes, users can access Image Playground through the new Image Wand in the Apple Pencil tool palette, making notes more visually engaging. Rough sketches can be turned into delightful images, and users can even select empty space to create an image using context from the surrounding area. Image Playground is also available in apps like Keynote, Freeform, and Pages, as well as in third-party apps that adopt the new Image Playground API.

Taking emoji to an entirely new level, users can create an original Genmoji to express themselves. By simply typing a description, their Genmoji appears, along with additional options. Users can even create Genmoji of friends and family based on their photos. Just like emoji, Genmoji can be added inline to messages, or shared as a sticker or reaction in a Tapback.

Searching for photos and videos becomes even more convenient with Apple Intelligence. Natural language can be used to search for specific photos, such as “Maya skateboarding in a tie-dye shirt,” or “Katie with stickers on her face.” Search in videos also becomes more powerful with the ability to find specific moments in clips so users can go right to the relevant segment. Additionally, the new Clean Up tool can identify and remove distracting objects in the background of a photo — without accidentally altering the subject.

With Memories, users can create the story they want to see by simply typing a description. Using language and image understanding, Apple Intelligence will pick out the best photos and videos based on the description, craft a storyline with chapters based on themes identified from the photos, and arrange them into a movie with its own narrative arc. Users will even get song suggestions to match their memory from Apple Music. As with all Apple Intelligence features, user photos and videos are kept private on device and are not shared with Apple or anyone else.

Powered by Apple Intelligence, Siri becomes more deeply integrated into the system experience. With richer language-understanding capabilities, Siri is more natural, more contextually relevant, and more personal, with the ability to simplify and accelerate everyday tasks. It can follow along if users stumble over words and maintain context from one request to the next. Additionally, users can type to Siri, and switch between text and voice to communicate with Siri in whatever way feels right for the moment. Siri also has a brand-new design with an elegant glowing light that wraps around the edge of the screen when Siri is active.

Siri can now give users device support everywhere they go, and answer thousands of questions about how to do something on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Users can learn everything from how to schedule an email in the Mail app, to how to switch from Light to Dark Mode.

With onscreen awareness, Siri will be able to understand and take action with users’ content in more apps over time. For example, if a friend texts a user their new address in Messages, the receiver can say, “Add this address to his contact card.”

With Apple Intelligence, Siri will be able to take hundreds of new actions in and across Apple and third-party apps. For example, a user could say, “Bring up that article about cicadas from my Reading List,” or “Send the photos from the barbecue on Saturday to Malia,” and Siri will take care of it.

Siri will be able to deliver intelligence that’s tailored to the user and their on-device information. For example, a user can say, “Play that podcast that Jamie recommended,” and Siri will locate and play the episode, without the user having to remember whether it was mentioned in a text or an email. Or they could ask, “When is Mom’s flight landing?” and Siri will find the flight details and cross-reference them with real-time flight tracking to give an arrival time.

To be truly helpful, Apple Intelligence relies on understanding deep personal context while also protecting user privacy. A cornerstone of Apple Intelligence is on-device processing, and many of the models that power it run entirely on device. To run more complex requests that require more processing power, Private Cloud Compute extends the privacy and security of Apple devices into the cloud to unlock even more intelligence.

With Private Cloud Compute, Apple Intelligence can flex and scale its computational capacity and draw on larger, server-based models for more complex requests. These models run on servers powered by Apple silicon, providing a foundation that allows Apple to ensure that data is never retained or exposed.

Independent experts can inspect the code that runs on Apple silicon servers to verify privacy, and Private Cloud Compute cryptographically ensures that iPhone, iPad, and Mac do not talk to a server unless its software has been publicly logged for inspection. Apple Intelligence with Private Cloud Compute sets a new standard for privacy in AI, unlocking intelligence users can trust.

Apple is integrating ChatGPT access into experiences within iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia, allowing users to access its expertise — as well as its image- and document-understanding capabilities — without needing to jump between tools.

Siri can tap into ChatGPT’s expertise when helpful. Users are asked before any questions are sent to ChatGPT, along with any documents or photos, and Siri then presents the answer directly.

Additionally, ChatGPT will be available in Apple’s systemwide Writing Tools, which help users generate content for anything they are writing about. With Compose, users can also access ChatGPT image tools to generate images in a wide variety of styles to complement what they are writing.

Privacy protections are built in for users who access ChatGPT — their IP addresses are obscured, and OpenAI won’t store requests. ChatGPT’s data-use policies apply for users who choose to connect their account.

ChatGPT will come to iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia later this year, powered by GPT-4o. Users can access it for free without creating an account, and ChatGPT subscribers can connect their accounts and access paid features right from these experiences.

Availability

Apple Intelligence is free for users, and will be available in beta as part of iOS 18 , iPadOS 18 , and macOS Sequoia  this fall in U.S. English. Some features, software platforms, and additional languages will come over the course of the next year. Apple Intelligence will be available on iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and iPad and Mac with M1 and later, with Siri and device language set to U.S. English. For more information, visit apple.com/apple-intelligence .

Press Contacts

Cat Franklin

[email protected]

Jacqueline Roy

[email protected]

Apple Media Helpline

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Translator in Outlook for Windows

In Outlook, you can translate words, phrases, and full messages when you need them. You can also set Outlook to automatically translate messages you receive in other languages.

Select a tab option below for the version of Outlook you're using. What version of Outlook do I have?

Note:  If the steps under this New Outlook tab don't work, you may not be using new Outlook for Windows yet. Select Classic Outlook  and follow those steps instead.

In Outlook, you have the option to:

Translate an email message  |   Change translation settings  |   Troubleshoot Translator missing  |   Data & privacy

Translate an email message

When you receive an email message written in another language, a prompt will appear at the top of the message asking if you'd like Outlook to translate it into your default language.

Important:  If you don't have the option to translate the message from the top of your email, you may need to enable Connected experiences . Please go to Troubleshoot Translator missing for more information.

If you select Translate message , Outlook will replace the message text with translated text.

You can then select Show original message to see the message in the original language.

Change translation settings

To change your translation preferences and choose your translation language:

Select  Mail , then  Message handling .

Under Translation , select the options you prefer.

Important:  If you don't have Translation under Message handling, you may need to enable Connected experiences . Please go to Troubleshoot Translator missing for more information.

Troubleshoot Translator missing

Translator requires Connected experiences to be enabled in Outlook. If it is not, you won't have the option to translate a message or change translation settings. 

To enable Connected experiences for Translator:

Select General , then Privacy and data .

Scroll down to Privacy settings and select the Privacy settings button.

Under Connected experiences , turn the toggle On for Experiences that analyze your content .

Data use & privacy

Email translations provided by Translator for Outlook are powered by the online Microsoft Translator service. All data transmissions are secured via SSL, and are never stored, sampled, or shared with any first- or third-party entity. This means that all translation and processing happens on servers in-memory only. (This is also known as the "no-trace" option from Microsoft Translator.)

Translate an email message  |  Translate part of a message   |  Change translation settings  |   Data & privacy

When you receive an email message in another language, you'll see a prompt at the top of the message asking if you'd like Outlook to translate it into your preferred language.

When you receive an email in another language, you can respond in two different ways:

In the message, select Translate message . Outlook replaces the message text with translated text, and this translation is cached for 15 days—which means you don't need to translate the same message twice. 

After you've translated the message, you can select Show original to see the message in the original language or Turn on automatic translation to always translate messages to your preferred language.

In the message, select Never translate . Outlook won't ask you if you'd like to translate messages in that language in the future.

If, for some reason, Outlook doesn't offer these options, select the Translate button from the ribbon, or right-click on the message and select Translate , then Translate Message .

On the Home tab, select Translate > Translate Message .

Translate part of an email message

To translate just a bit of text from a message, select that text and right-click. Outlook will show you the translation right there in the context menu that appears.

You can also select text and right-click to translate to your preferred language when you're composing an email. When you click the translated text, you can insert it into the message you're writing.

To learn more, see Announcing new translation features in Outlook .

Note:  Automatic translation and intelligent translation suggestions are only available for Exchange Online mailboxes.

To change your translation preferences:

Translate an email message  |   Change translation settings  |   Data & privacy

Note:  Outlook doesn't translate messages that have fewer than 40 characters.

Related articles

Translator in Outlook for Mac

Change your translation settings in Outlook.com and Outlook on the web

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