7 Alternatives to ‘I Hope This Email Finds You Well’
I hope this email finds you well is an expression commonly used to start a formal email by expressing interest in the recipient’s well-being.
This expression is polite and establishes a professional tone. However, it’s frequently used and might be perceived by some people as formulaic, insincere, or old-fashioned.
Below, we provide seven useful alternatives that can help you vary your language to create polite and engaging introductions that will stand out.
Table of contents
1. It’s a pleasure connecting with you again
This friendly opening line can be used in emails or letters to people with whom you have previously corresponded. It’s particularly helpful if the email or letter builds on a specific point of your previous exchange.
It’s a pleasure connecting with you again. The articles you suggested have been very informative and helped me refine my research question.
I was wondering if you would be available to meet next week to discuss this further.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Iain
2. I hope you are doing well
This opening line can be used in both professional and casual contexts as a less formal alternative to ‘I hope this email finds you well’. To make the tone even more familiar or natural, you can use a contraction (e.g., ‘you’re’ instead of ‘you are’) or the alternative phrase ‘hope all is well‘.
I hope you are doing well. Can you please confirm your attendance at the upcoming board meeting?
Jonah
3. I hope you are having a productive week
This introductory line is used to wish the recipient well in a professional manner. It’s best used in emails to coworkers or to people you are collaborating with. You can also use the less specific alternative ‘I hope you’re having a good week‘.
I hope you are having a productive week. Can you keep me updated on the latest sales forecast?
Thanks!
Matt
4. I know you’re busy, so I’ll be brief
This shows that you are respectful of the recipient’s time. When using this line, it’s important to keep the rest of the email short and to the point. If you want the conversation to continue, you can ask questions or suggest a meeting or call.
I know you’re busy, so I’ll be brief. I am writing a book on current marketing strategies and I was hoping you would be available for an interview.
If you are interested, please let me know.
Many thanks,
Tori
5. We met at …
This introduction helps to remind the recipient who you are (and how/where you previously met them). Additionally, mentioning or briefly summarising the previous topic of conversation can act as a jumping off point for further discussion. It can be useful if you’re contacting someone you don’t know well.
We met at last month’s faculty meeting and talked briefly about upcoming funding opportunities.
As the graduate student representative, I was wondering if I could ask you a few questions on behalf of the other students.
Warm regards,
Prita
6. Congratulations …
Congratulating the recipient of the email on a recent achievement can be flattering and allow you to show that you keep up to date with industry news or trends. However, to avoid embarrassment, it’s important to adequately research the recipient’s recent achievements before congratulating them.
Congratulations on the recent publication of your book.
I am organising a conference and am hoping you would be willing to join as a speaker. Please let me know if you are interested!
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Dr Eve Shaw
7. [A mutual connection] said I should reach out to you
Beginning an email by mentioning a mutual connection you and the recipient share is a good way to introduce yourself. If the mutual connection is a close friend of the recipient, or a respected associate or colleague, this kind of opening can act as an endorsement of your professional skills or personal character.
It’s important not to be presumptuous: ensure that you have the permission of the shared mutual connection before including their name in the email, especially if you are making a request.
Your colleague, John, said I should reach out to you to inquire about the job vacancy. I’m interested in the position and would love to discuss this further.
Can you let me know whether the position is still available?
Many thanks,
Darren Smith
Other variants on the phrase
You can adapt the expression I hope this email finds you well and use it for numerous forms of communication other than email.
I hope this letter finds you well.
I hope this message finds you well.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a synonym for ‘I hope this email finds you well’?
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Some synonyms and phrases related to I hope this email finds you well include:
- It is a pleasure connecting with you again
- I hope you are doing well
- I hope you are having a productive week
- What is a synonym for ‘I hope you’re doing well’?
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Some synonyms and near synonyms for I hope you’re doing well include:
- I hope all is well
- I hope this email finds you well
- I hope you are having a good week
Our Paraphraser can help you find even more alternatives for ‘I hope you’re doing well’.
- How do you start a professional email greeting?
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You should start a professional email with a greeting and the name and title of the recipient (e.g., ‘Dear Mr Walken’). Then, you should include an introductory line like I hope this email finds you well, followed by the body of the email.
For less formal emails, you can use a more casual introductory line like I hope you’re doing well.
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Ryan, E. (2023, September 11). 7 Alternatives to ‘I Hope This Email Finds You Well’. Scribbr. Retrieved 9 December 2024, from https://www.scribbr.co.uk/strong-communication/hope-finds-you-well/
