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

[Anonymous]

If you’re not supposed to start an email with “Hello Larlo,” or “Hi Larlo,” what are you supposed to do? I’ll be honest, every person I’ve worked for/with who just starts emails with “Larlo,” is an older man, very brusque to the point of coming across abrasive in person, or foreign.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you’re not supposed to start an email with “Hello Larlo,” or “Hi Larlo,” what are you supposed to do? I’ll be honest, every person I’ve worked for/with who just starts emails with “Larlo,” is an older man, very brusque to the point of coming across abrasive in person, or foreign.

I see nothing wrong with "Larlo,". In fact, I'd say it's probably the safest bet in a professional setting or when emailing someone you don't know personally.
I tend to vary my greeting and sign off depending on my relationship with the person.

[Anonymous]

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

+1

[Anonymous]

I always use "Hi [First Name]" especially when I want someone to do something for me. The worst is people who don't even start an email with my [First name], these in particular never work out well. I get about 250+ emails a day many of which are informational and don't even directly concern me, so your email gets very low priority.

The overuse of cc: and group email accounts has killed the efficiency of email IMO.

So formal or informal I tell people if you want me to do something open the email with at a minimum my name, if you don't I'm probably not going to read your email until much much later in the day if at all.

And worst of all don't embed instructions for me at the bottom of an email, especially not if it's addressed to someone else, zero chance I'm even opening that one.

Better yet if it's really important and requires immediate attention call me and then send an email with details. It may be old fashioned but it works.

[Anonymous]

At my workplace, it’s customary to write ‘good morning’ or ‘good afternoon’

No one writes hello or hi for some reason!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I’m also a lawyer in my 50s. I do use things Thanks! and other annoying cutesy things probably because if you don’t, please assume the worst, just like you did. Why can’t we just write business emails in a business tone?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I started using Hi [Name] and Thanks! in order to not come across as "aggressive." I'll also say that I am a female and I've been told my tone is "too aggressive" so I've intentionally tried to soften it. I work in a heavily male dominated industry so I think it's all thinly veiled sexism, but it's easy to do and if it makes people more likely to do what I ask them to do, then so be it.

This is exactly what pisses me off with Thanks!

Just do the thing, I’ve asked you to do. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

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

Agree. Also, there are many different greetings and salutations other than "Hi" to choose from. Also, what works best can depend on context (how often do you email with this person, is it a quick follow up or a new and significant topic, etc). Exclamation points add warmth, but can start to feel casual and juvenile if overused. There are ways to convey warmth, collaboration, or trust without using exclamation points.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Check out nohello.net and be aware there is a movement towards reducing inefficiencies in digital comms, that some people subscribe to. A lot of my coworkers are part of the No hello camp. Make sure you’re not committing any faux pads outlined on that site. It’s less about saying hello and more about not wasting peoples time. IMO it’s perfectly fine (and human) to say hello, please, thanks! etc. But if someone doesn’t, it may be they are thinking they’re being efficient.

I checked out the webpage and it is addressing IM type communications (Slack, TEAMS, etc.). The point of the website is not to send someone a message with "Hi" and then wait for a response before asking the question that started the communication. E-mail is different since presumably you are not just saying "Hi [Name]" and then waiting for a response back before asking your questions/sharing information. Instant Messaging and E-mailing are two different methods of communication with very different rules. You wouldn't apply basketball rules to baseball even though they are both played with a ball.

That’s all correct. Your op says you’re more comfortable with people who communicate the way you do, so I am just making you aware that there is a diversity of opinion on digital etiquette and what one person considers brusque, another may consider to be clear and concise.

Ok but the OP specifically asked about email. You responded with a link to someone’s opinion on DMs. Not the same thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.)

lol same

[Anonymous]

Just don't thank in advance. In biz school they say it's rude.

Hi Larla - Can you get me those TPS reports? Thaaanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just don't thank in advance. In biz school they say it's rude.

Hi Larla - Can you get me those TPS reports? Thaaanks!

TIA!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just don't thank in advance. In biz school they say it's rude.

Hi Larla - Can you get me those TPS reports? Thaaanks!

TIA!

No!

[Anonymous]

I am 47 and mid/sr level. I use exclamation points regularly in internal messages, ones with members and other people k know to convey friendliness and align with how my voice tone would be. I don’t use them with unknown people I am contacting or those I don’t know well.

[Anonymous]

Hi is annoying is hello too much effort for you?