Addressing people with "Hi" and using exclamation marks in emails at work

[Anonymous]

When I email people, I always write "Hi [Name]". I also often write "Thanks!" Or "Thank you!" at the end if I want to show appreciation (or i just sign it "Thanks, [my name]"). I find addressing people as just "Name" and then writing "Thanks." just comes across as...kind of gruff? Irritated? Am I way overthinking this? When people write the way I do, I tend to feel more at ease with them and able to email more casually with them.

[Anonymous]

You are totally overthinking things. Just assume the best of everyone.

[Anonymous]

OP, I agree with you. Tone is very hard to judge in email and I’d rather err on the side of approachability.

[Anonymous]

I totally agree and do the same. It is probably overthinking but I still do it.

[Anonymous]

I was told to never use exclamation points in business correspondence. So I didn't for years. Then I worked for a brilliant woman in leadership who did, and I saw how they can work well in the right circumstances (for industry context -- I'm a lawyer). I occasionally use "Hi" but only in email conversations with people I know well that are relatively casual in subject matter.

[Anonymous]

A couple of years ago I (thought I) noticed a (new) trend of youngish people at work starting all their emails with "Hello" and honestly it really annoyed me. I even posted a question about it here and everyone roundly told me I was wrong and I should get over myself. But getting 20 emails a day from the same people starting with "Hello." made me feel I was working with AI chatbots fwiw.

That said, when I'm asking someone for something or have received something good from someone, I always have "Thanks!" from me once or twice in the emails, and I probably overuse exclamation marks generally.

I have even started (when I remember) beginning my emails with "Hello" when it's my first email to the person of the day. I can't promise I keep it up by email #4 to that same person, though.

Pet peeve of mine is people ending their emails with "Best, [name]." No, thanks. I have seen that used too many times when what the person really means is "FU" so that's how it comes across to me now, oh well.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for addressing this.

[Anonymous]

This was my post about how much I hated people starting their emails to me with "Hello" fwiw (summary: mostly everyone disagreed with me): https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/884143.page

The world is strange and people in it are strange.

[Anonymous]

I vary it depending on the person.

Some people I’m also good friends with and I’ll be much more casual.

With people who are more likely to not respect boundaries or my time, I take a direct tone.

[Anonymous]

I use both Thanks! and Thanks, and I have totally different meanings/tone in mind when I use them.

(And if you get a Thanks. from me, you're in trouble.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was told to never use exclamation points in business correspondence. So I didn't for years. Then I worked for a brilliant woman in leadership who did, and I saw how they can work well in the right circumstances (for industry context -- I'm a lawyer). I occasionally use "Hi" but only in email conversations with people I know well that are relatively casual in subject matter.

OP here - also a lawyer here. I'm in my mid 30s and kind of in the middle ranks at my company...I definitely notice that the level of formality and use of exclamation marks changes with age/seniority.

I don't tend to use exclamation marks outside of "Thanks!" For whatever reason, thanks with a period just rubs me the wrong way. Kind of like "thanks...but not really". So I never bring myself to subject other people to that. Ha, again with the overthinking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This was my post about how much I hated people starting their emails to me with "Hello" fwiw (summary: mostly everyone disagreed with me): https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/884143.page

The world is strange and people in it are strange.

OP here - this is hilarious! I kind of get what you mean though. "Hello" is a bit weird to me...like it's a bit sarcastic or has a slightly weird tone to it. But I don't mind it. At least they're being friendly vs. the meanies who just write your name! As if they would call you on the phone and just say your name without a hi or hey.

[Anonymous]

I find there is an exclamation creep. Never did it but as more and more people use exclamations I start feeling like a cold hearted grinch for not using them. So I started using them. I've dialed back on them however as I find them counterproductive in the long run.

[Anonymous]

I’ve worked at three different Big Law firms. Two were “Hi [First Name,]” places, and one was a “[First Name,]” place. The first two were much friendlier workplaces. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Anonymous]

Always start an email with:

Yo yo yo my man !!! What up !!!???