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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

Same for me too. “Thanks!” is more warm or enthusiastic, depending on recipient and context. “Thanks,” is neutral. And if I write “Thanks.” I am highly annoyed with you. It’s up there with “Best,” lol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

It’s called context!

[Anonymous]

You all think about yourselves a bit too much.

[Anonymous]

At my work they use “Hey”. As a 60 something I cannot bring myself to do this. I do use ! quite a bit but secretly cringe when I do!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Depends on who I am writing to. A PhD or senior employee? It's Hi Dr. Larla, Thanks, Larla. If it's a younger person, it's Hi Larla, Thanks! Larla

Actually it's

Hi, Dr. Laura.

And

Hi, Larla.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

Please explain how exclamation points are “counterproductive in the long run.”

[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.

If someone finds “hi” to be unclear, they must really be on the struggle bus in life.

[Anonymous]

I'm sure this changes as you get older. I am 50, and generally very bubbly and effusive. I use a lot of exclamation points. I'm a high level health care practitioner, and if I'm writing to a colleague, I want it to sound like me. I'm extremely respected at my job.

[Anonymous]

Lawyer who has survived the corporate world for 20 years. Women must use hello and hi and thanks with exclamation points (but no other place) and phrase things more often as questions rather than directives.

Men can say things like
Bob, get me the blah blah
Or
Do this
Or
Do that


Women can’t.

Sucks but it just is

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends on who I am writing to. A PhD or senior employee? It's Hi Dr. Larla, Thanks, Larla. If it's a younger person, it's Hi Larla, Thanks! Larla

Actually it's

Hi, Dr. Laura.

And

Hi, Larla.

Technically but you then come off as stuff and a bit weird. Like you have ten cats and do the crossword alone on Sundays.
Hi Larla,
is fine

[Anonymous]

^ stiff

[Anonymous]

i only read your question and no answers but yes you are normal and anyone who thinks that's not normal is weird or old.

[Anonymous]

It’s nice

[Anonymous]

This is one of the reasons we all need to be in the office more (notice I didn't say every day). We don't know our coworkers, and we overthink everything.

[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.

Similar here! I tried to make my writing more "masculine" for a long time and eventually--two things happened: 1) I got senior enough that I'm the one setting the tone more often, and 2) I realized that a friendly and "feminine" way of writing is perfectly legitimate and happens to come more naturally to me.