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Most common Business English greetings

Most common Business English greetings

Greetings set the tone for workplace interactions, whether in person, over email, or on a call. The right phrase can make you sound polished, approachable, or collaborative—depending on the situation. Below are the most common professional greetings, their differences, and real-life examples.

1. Formal Greetings (Clients, Executives, First-Time Meetings)

When to use: With senior leaders, clients, or people you don’t know well.
  • "Good morning/afternoon/evening, [Title + Last Name]."
Example: "Good morning, Mr. Patel. Thank you for joining us today."
Why? Shows respect and professionalism. Best for emails and in-person meetings.

  • "It’s a pleasure to meet you."
Example: "It’s a pleasure to meet you, Dr. Lee. I’ve heard great things about your work."
Why? Ideal for networking events or introductions.

  • "How do you do?" (Very formal, mostly in British English or high-level corporate settings.)
Example: "How do you do, Madam Chairperson?"

  • "Greetings. " (Formal and “fancy”, a bit old-fashioned. Often used in public speeches or when addressing multiple individuals)
Example: "Greetings to all our shareholders and partners, …"

2. Semi-Formal Greetings (Colleagues, Regular Work Interactions)

When to use: With coworkers you know but aren’t extremely close to.
  • "Hi [First Name], how are you?"
Example: "Hi Maria, how are you? Ready for the 3 PM meeting?"
Why? Friendly but still professional. Common in offices.

  • "Good to see you!"
Example: "Good to see you, James! How was your weekend?"
Why? Warmer than "Hi" but still work-appropriate.

  • "Hope you’re doing well!" (Email/Teams opener)
Example: "Hi Alex, hope you’re doing well! Just checking in on the project timeline."

3. Casual Greetings (Team Members, Close Coworkers)

When to use: With teammates you interact with daily.
  • "Hey [Name]! What’s up?"
Example: "Hey Sam! What’s up? Got a sec to review these slides?"
Why? Relaxed but still professional enough for most workplaces.

  • "Morning! How’s it going?"
Example: "Morning! How’s it going? Need help with the report?"
Why? Common in startups and creative fields.

  • "Yo [Name], quick question—" (Very informal, best for Slack/chat.)
Example: "Yo Dev, quick question—did the bug fix deploy?"

4. Email-Specific Greetings

When to use: Depends on formality and recipient.

Very Formal

"Dear [Title + Last Name],"
"Dear Professor Chen,"
Clients, academia, legal

Standard Professional:

"Hi [First Name],"
"Hi Daniel,"
Most work emails

Friendly Professional

"Hello [Team/Name],"
"Hello Marketing Team,"
Group emails

Casual/Internal

"Hey [Name],"
"Hey Priya,"
Close coworkers

5. Virtual Meeting Greetings (Zoom/Teams Calls)

  • "Thanks for joining, everyone!" (Group calls)
  • "Hi [Name], can you hear me okay?" (One-on-ones)
  • "Sorry I’m late—technical issues!" (If delayed)

*Note that you don't need to say "Hi / Hello / ..." in these cases.

Final Tip:

  • When in doubt, match the other person’s tone. If they say "Hey!", you can too. If they say "Good morning, Mr. Lee," keep it formal.
  • Culture matters: Some industries (law, finance) prefer formality, while tech and startups are more relaxed.
Match your greeting to the setting—more formal for clients, relaxed for teammates. A warm, professional tone builds rapport!
2025-04-08 09:53