{"id":16871,"date":"2019-08-22T13:11:28","date_gmt":"2019-08-22T13:11:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.customerservicemanager.com\/?p=16871"},"modified":"2019-08-22T13:12:25","modified_gmt":"2019-08-22T13:12:25","slug":"the-state-of-the-email-salutation-hi-hello-or-dear","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.customerservicemanager.com\/the-state-of-the-email-salutation-hi-hello-or-dear\/","title":{"rendered":"The State of the Email Salutation: Hi, Hello or Dear?"},"content":{"rendered":"\"Man\n

It\u2019s possible that you are not aware of a raging debate online and in print regarding the proper email salutation. The controversy is not quite on the same level as the\u00a0political debates, thank goodness;\u00a0 but like those hurricanes some of us dread all summer long, it is growing in intensity and covering an ever-widening area.<\/p>\n

A while ago I was contacted by the Wall Street Journal for an article titled \u201cHey, Folks: Here\u2019s a Digital Requiem for a Dearly Departed Salutation\u201d. That was followed by a call from a reporter at Forbes.com seeking my opinion on the use of \u201chi\u201d vs. \u201cdear\u201d as an email salutation or greeting. From the comments and responses in those articles, this topic stirred up quite a controversy. And it continues.<\/p>\n

Opinions on the proper email salutation:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Those who were either interviewed or quoted in were adamant about their stance.\u00a0 Some felt the word \u201cdear\u201d was old-fashioned and out-of-date.\u00a0 One person said it was too \u201cgirlie\u201d while another stated that it was extremely intimate. Yet another replied that using any\u00a0salutation at all\u00a0takes too much time to\u00a0type. I\u2019m no speed typist, but really? How long does it take to type two letters?<\/p>\n

Opinions were all over the map. Many people who preferred \u201chello\u201d over \u201chi.\u201d\u00a0 \u201cHey\u201d did not seem to get any votes.\u00a0 Maybe all those interviewed had a mother like mine who\u00a0drilled into\u00a0me that \u201chey\u201d was not an appropriate greeting in any situation. \u201cHay is for horses\u201d was her\u00a0response to anyone\u00a0saying \u201chey\u201d.\u00a0 As a Southerner, I have to admit that I use the word frequently as a verbal greeting with friends.\u00a0 It\u2019s as common as grits here in the Georgia.<\/p>\n

My stance on the email salutation:<\/b><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. One size does not fit all.<\/strong>\u00a0Use the email salutation\u00a0appropriate\u00a0to\u00a0the situation and the person to whom you are addressing your email. Context and familiarity dictate the salutation.<\/li>\n
  2. Use \u201cdear\u201d in your initial correspondence with someone whom you have never met<\/strong>\u00a0and with whom\u00a0you are trying to establish a professional relationship.\u00a0<\/strong>When in doubt, \u201cdear\u201d is always safe and should be the default greeting for any first communication<\/li>\n
  3. Use \u201chi\u201d or \u201chello\u201d once you have established a comfortable relationship<\/strong>. \u201cHi\u201d is viewed as relaxing and welcoming.<\/li>\n
  4. Follow the lead of your client or customer.<\/strong>\u00a0If the other person always uses \u201cdear\u201d, then so do you. If they begin their correspondence with you by saying \u201chi,\u201d follow suit. As in all business situations, mimic your client.<\/li>\n
  5. Use a salutation of some form.<\/strong>\u00a0There is always enough time to be courteous. Launching your conversation without a greeting is the same online as it is in person. It\u2019s abrupt.<\/li>\n
  6. Along with your chose email salutation include the person\u2019s name.<\/strong>\u00a0However, never use\u00a0anyone\u2019s first name in business until and unless they give you permission. When people sign their email reply to you using their first name, that is a signal that you no longer need to use \u201cMr.\u201d or Ms.\u201d<\/li>\n
  7. With friends you may be as informal as you like.\u00a0<\/strong>If you frequently exchange email with certain friends and colleagues, there is no need to be formal. Nevertheless, I am a fan of a greeting of some sort even if it is simply starting off with your friend\u2019s or co-worker\u2019s first name.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Still confused? Let me summarize:<\/strong><\/p>\n