I'm 48 and start most of my emails with Hello.

Anonymous wrote:OP here -- sounds like this is my problem and I need to calm down. Okay, I will try to recalibrate over here.

Yes, glad you see that. I am a Gen Xer, so maybe older than you as well, and I always start with: Dear, Hello, or Hi. Also, twenty-somethings aren't millennials.

On a first email I always do this:

Hi [Name],

[What I need]

Thanks,
[My Name]

Replies I am more direct. Most people do this at my workplace too, including people who are very much non-millennials. It's email etiquette at our office.

OP is blown away by people writing hello? Seriously? WTF? I'm almost 50 and start all my emails with hello or good morning. So do my bosses.

I am pretty sure I always include some sort of brief greeting .... hey guys, good morning, hello Fran, hi Dave..... unless I’m emailing my husband with a specific question and even then I probably say “hey-“ first

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP again. I'm really regretting making this post because it sounds like not only am I off the charts on my reaction to these cordial greetings but that I also now need to change my own behavior to start including these greetings in the first email on a subject.

Damn.

On the contrary, it’s a good thing that you posted because you seem to be open and willing to learn and change. That is always a good Thing.

Dear OP,

I'm glad you posted, it sounds like you are not too old to learn new tricks. Now you will not sound like a crabby old beeyotch to everyone else.

Regards,
old Gen Xer

I am highly offended by emails that begin with "hello" as I much prefer the style of Your Royal Highness.

Hello,

I hope you are staying safe. I'm a Generation X. I see nothing wrong with some basic courtesies in an email.

Thanks,
Me

OP,

I spent part of my childhood in the UK. “Hello” is a perfectly acceptable email or in-person greeting over there, followed by Mr. Z or Mrs. Y. Here it might become “Hello Bill”, depending on your organization’s culture. I have used it in the US both as a junior and senior person.

Anonymous wrote:OP again. I'm really regretting making this post because it sounds like not only am I off the charts on my reaction to these cordial greetings but that I also now need to change my own behavior to start including these greetings in the first email on a subject.

Damn.

On the contrary, it’s a good thing that you posted because you seem to be open and willing to learn and change. That is always a good Thing.

Anonymous wrote:"email message" not "email"

An "email message" is the thing that is sent. "Email" is the mechanism by which it is sent.

Do you still use a facsimile machine?

Oh my god I would LOVE to know what you do in life. Please tell me, what would you do with all the time you could save in the quarter-second it takes to read "hello" and process it.

Mine’s Good Morning!!

Gen X here- I always start with hello or good morning.

It's rude otherwise. I know you try to sound important and official by addressing the email to just my name without any greeting, but I just think you're rude and that you're mamma never taught you pleasantries.

I find it rude to get an email without a greeting.

--Xennial