List of Email Greetings and Closings and Their Importance

Email greetings and closing suggestions.

Don’t Neglect Your Email Closings and Greetings

I struggle with email closings, as well as greetings. You addressed the need for a Hi, Hello, etc., in one of your posts. Are there other appropriate salutations? I would also appreciate a list of closures to choose from. Also, is my concern about this legit, or should I not care so much?

NetM@nners Site Visitor

I have an article on my website for your review titled Email Sign-Off Considerations that you may find helpful. The article includes a healthy list of suggestions you can use.

Regarding greetings, Hi, Hello, Howdy, G’Day, and Dear, cover it all. Just be sure to use what matches your personality, intent, tone, and formality of the email. By including a greeting, you don’t appear bossy or terse.

Just like you, many wonder why how you choose to open or close your emails is worth consideration. That answer is easy — because it makes a huge difference.

Email Greetings and Closings Matter

Email greetings and closings are essential to your communication because they are crucial in setting the tone, establishing rapport, and maintaining appropriate etiquette in email exchanges.

Here are some reasons why these components are significant:

Establishing the appropriate tone: An email’s greeting and closing help set the desired tone right from the beginning. Proper salutations and closings convey respect, which is essential when interacting with colleagues, clients, or those you may not know very well.
Building rapport and personal connection: Starting an email with a warm and friendly greeting helps to establish a positive rapport with the recipient. It sets a friendly and approachable tone, fostering better communication and building stronger relationships.
Demonstrating professionalism and courtesy: Using appropriate greetings and closings in emails showcases your attention to detail. It displays that you take your correspondence seriously and respect the recipient’s time and communication preferences.
Conveying the right level of formality: Different contexts require different levels of formality in email communication. The choice of greeting and closing can help you strike the right balance between being too formal and being too casual. For example, a more formal greeting and closing may be appropriate when communicating with a client or a senior executive. In contrast, a less formal one could work well with colleagues or acquaintances.
Signaling the end of the communication: A closing in an email clearly indicates that your message has concluded. It helps avoid confusion and ensures the recipient knows the email has reached its intended conclusion. A closing can also express appreciation or offer further assistance if needed.
Enhancing clarity and context: Using greetings and closings in emails adds clarity and context to your message. They help structure the email and provide a smooth transition from the introduction to the main body of the message, making it more readable and improving overall comprehension.
Cultural considerations: Greetings and closings become even more critical in international or multicultural settings. Different cultures have distinct norms and expectations regarding formalities and politeness. Being mindful of these cultural differences and using appropriate greetings and closings can help avoid misunderstandings and demonstrate cultural sensitivity.

Be Sure to Be You

Email greetings and closings serve essential functions in our email communications. By paying attention to these elements, you can make a positive impression and effectively engage with others in your email exchanges.

Over the years, I’ve encountered many creative greetings and sign-offs—too many to track or list—so stick with the basics, and you’ll never go wrong.

If you use something unique or different, it should be unique or different to you alone. For example, using another person’s unique sign-off or greeting that reflects their personality may not have the same reaction if you do the same.

Your choice of email greetings and closings should reflect the tone and formality of your email and your personality.