At some point in our lives, we have mailed someone or received an email with the subject line “I hope this email finds you well.” This is an appropriate way to write a formal or business email. However, this is quite outdated and overused.
Like writing, “To whom it may concern” is not entirely wrong, but outdated. Emails are an important part of business communication and are one of the most common ways of communicating with colleagues, shareholders, and clients.
You need to know all the email etiquette, which is an important part of formal writing. Using the formulaic opening sentences is common, but you do not necessarily have to follow them.
I Hope This Email Finds You Well: Definition & Meaning
“I hope this email finds you well” is a formal way of wishing the recipient well. It means you expect them to be in good health. This opening originated from “I hope this letter finds you well.”
Letters were the only form of correspondence back in the day. They took a long time to reach the recipient, and situations often changed during this phase. The phrase was used to express genuine concern about the person’s well-being.
After the transition from letters to emails, “I hope this email finds you well” has become a generic form of greeting and an overused one. However, it is important to know how to start a professional email.
Why Is It Not Ideal Anymore?
The phrase “I hope this email finds you well ” is not technically wrong. It is considered a formal way of greeting. Even though it is grammatically correct, there are some better alternatives.
Whether you ask someone a favor, simply check in with a colleague, or share some assignments, you must ensure the email feels genuine. But this phrase has been overused as an opening line.
Now, it often seems superficial and old-fashioned. A business email can be more formal, but you can use a personalized opener to build trust and rapport with the recipient.
7 Best Alternatives of “I hope This Email Finds You Well”
Well, there are various alternatives to this phrase that you can use in an email. Here are 7 of the best ones mentioned, and in which context you can use them.
I Hope You Are Doing Well
We mostly associate email with something formal. But it does not always have to be. You can write “I hope you are doing well” as an informal and modern version of the phrase. This is a casual and nonspecific opener, but it still sounds personal and sincere.
Hope You Had a Great Weekend
This is a relevant opening phrase if you are mailing at the beginning of the working week. Even though it is a generic form of greeting, it portrays your care for the individual’s life outside of work.
This opens doors for small talk and communication beyond work. If the receiver previously mentioned that they had some weekend plans, you can add specific details to show that you remember what they mentioned.
It Was Great Seeing You At (Name Of The Place)
This kind of greeting is suitable when you have met the person and had a face-to-face conversation with them, and would like to continue the conversation or discuss something else.
If you have a brief interaction, you can add details of the event to the correspondence to revive their memory. Whether they remember the conversation or not, reminding them will help you build rapport.
Congratulations On (Accomplishment)
Congratulating the receiver on an achievement or a recent career move is an amazing way to establish a personal connection in the introduction of the email. This is genuine and thoughtful, but it also shows that you have kept up with the recent industry news.
However, you need to do some good research about this approach. However, the rewards will be worth it if you want to build a meaningful business relationship.
I Would Love an Update on (Task Assigned)
This is one of the best opening lines if you check in on your colleagues. This is a direct opening, but the tone is encouraging and personal.
To ensure you have all the details you are looking for, you can follow up by specifying how you want to measure the progress and what you want the report to include.
It’s a Pleasure Connecting With You Again
You can use this kind of opening for people you have met before, or you have emailed before. This is a friendly way of starting the email and reminding them that you have met previously.
Moreover, if you have engaged with them before, you can write, “It is great to connect with you again,” or “I am glad that we got a chance to meet again.”
(Mutual Contact) Said I Should Reach Out
When you start an email with the name of a mutual contact, you establish a connection from the beginning. This builds a common ground between the two of you, even though you have not met the person before.
Moreover, if this is about a career opportunity, mentioning someone with a mutual connection can endorse your business or skills. Below is a sample.
Hi Anne,
Philip mentioned that I should reach out to you if you are looking for new prospects for the content writer role. I have work as a senior content writer for two years and would love to be considered for the specific job role.
Thanks,
Lili Jones
Which One Will You Prefer?
Even though “I hope this email finds you well” is mostly used, it is not the strongest one. You can use any of these examples while writing an email, not the generic one.
This way, your emails will not seem repetitive, and you will add a personal touch to your email, no matter who the recipient is. This will help you make a connection with the concerned person.
LEARN MORE:
- How To Improve Your Writing Skills
- Debate Writing Class 11: Format, Tips & Popular Topics
- Speech Writing Format Class 11: Tips to Make Your Speech Shine
