Are you worried that you’re using “I hope” too much in your formal emails?
It can come up quite a lot, and repeating it too often might take away from the professionalism of your emails!
Fear not! We’re here to help.
This article will teach you what to say instead of “I hope” to help you mix things up.
Is It Professional to Say “I Hope”?
It is professional to say “I hope” at the start of an email or sentence. It’s one of the most common ways to write an email, and it allows you to keep things formal.
For instance, you can use “I hope” in the following situations:
- I hope this email finds you well.
- I hope you are doing well.
- I hope to hear from you soon.
Of course, there are plenty of other situations where “I hope” also works. However, we wanted to touch on some of the most common.
There’s nothing wrong with using it in a business email. It’s one of the most common phrases for a reason, after all!
Here’s a great email sample to show you more about how it works:
Dear Mr. Scott,
I hope you had a nice weekend. Please let me know as soon as you’re able to review the documents I sent you earlier this week.
All the best,
Joe Saunders
Pros
- It’s a simple yet effective way to start a sentence.
- It’s professional and sincere.
Cons
- It’s very repetitive.
- It’s generic and sounds samey.
So, “I hope” is one of the best phrases to use in formal emails. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t other ways to say “I hope” to help you spice things up.
Keep reading to learn how to say “I hope” in a formal way. We’ve touched on some of the best alternatives to help you keep your writing as fresh and interesting as possible.
What to Say Instead of “I Hope”
- I trust
- I anticipate
- I’m confident
- I wish
- I believe
- I’m positive
- I’m counting on
- I have every expectation
- I have no doubt
- I’m hopeful
1. I Trust
To keep things simple, we’ll start with “I trust.” “I trust” is one of the best examples of how to say “I hope” professionally.
Most of the time, the two can switch without problems. For instance:
- I hope you are doing well.
- I trust you are doing well.
As you can see, they are interchangeable and polite. That’s what makes “I trust” such a great option that’s certainly worth using in your formal emails.
You can also refer to this email sample:
Dear Mr. Kitsch,
I trust to hear from you soon. Let me know as soon as you’ve considered my idea and what you’d like to do with it.
Yours,
Craig Pillage
2. I Anticipate
You can try using “I anticipate” as another way to say “I hope.” This one is a little less common, but it’s still excellent to include.
Try using it when contacting a client. It lets them know that you expect something from them without sounding too bossy or demanding.
Generally, this phrase helps to keep things more formal and respectful. You’ll often have a lot of luck using this if you’re trying to figure out what a client thinks about something you mentioned previously.
Here’s a great email example to also show you more about how it works:
Dear Miss Storm,
I anticipate you are well. Have you thought any more about the proposal we spoke about during our meeting last week?
Thank you so much,
Dean Scott
3. I’m Confident
For something more direct and intense, you can use “I’m confident.” This is a great way to start a sentence while replacing “I hope.”
It’s a more confident phrase, which goes a long way in most professional emails.
Generally, the recipient will be shocked to see how confident you are about something.
So, we recommend using it when contacting an important client. It shows that you are confident that something is the case, and you’d like to check in to see if it’s true.
Feel free to also review this email sample to learn more about:
Dear Mr. Kingston,
I’m confident you had a nice weekend. I saw a lot about it online and would like to check in with you to see how it went.
Yours,
Madison Copley
4. I Wish
For something a bit more friendly and casual, you can replace “I hope” with “I wish.”
Now, this one doesn’t work well in every context. So, we recommend limiting its usage to contacting colleagues or people you have a more friendly connection with.
That way, you won’t accidentally sound too informal or insincere when writing an email to someone who expects more formal language.
You can also review this sample email:
Dear Hugh,
I wish this email finds you well. Please let me know when you’re available to meet to discuss this further.
Best regards,
Pam Hunt
5. I Believe
You can also try “I believe” as a slightly more hopeful and friendly alternative to “I hope.”
It shows that you believe something to be the case. You can use it in phrases like “I believe that this will find you well.”
It’s light-hearted and engaging. Also, it’s not the most common choice, so it’s a pretty good way to entertain the reader and show them that you care.
If you still need help with it, feel free to review this example:
Dear Mr. Stork,
I believe that this email will find you well. Have you thought any more about the things we spoke about in the meeting?
Kind regards,
Max Bradwell
6. I’m Positive
For something really powerful and unique, you can try “I’m positive.”
This is a great way to start a sentence in an email. It shows that you’re certain something will be the case, and you want to give off positive energy when you say it.
Generally, this works best when contacting an employee. It shows that you’re willing to keep things more light-hearted and friendly when talking to them, which is a great way to manage a team.
Also, check out this email sample to learn more about it:
Dear Paula,
I’m positive you are well. Please tell me if there’s anything I can do to help you move forward with this project.
Kind regards,
Samantha Kingston
7. I’m Counting On
You can also go for something more conversational if it suits you.
That’s where “I’m counting on” comes in. It’s a great phrase that uses a more friendly and informal tone.
It works wonders when contacting a coworker. It’s a good choice here because it shows that you care about them and would like to start a sentence with this phrase in an email.
Most of the time, starting a sentence like this will keep things more light-hearted and engaging. So, coworkers will be happier to receive a phrase like this.
Also, you can review this example if you need help with it:
Dear Craig,
I’m counting on you to feel better. I’ve heard that you’re not so well and would like to extend my thoughts.
All the best,
Josie Clark
8. I Have Every Expectation
Feel free to write “I have every expectation” instead of “I hope” in your emails as well.
This is a great way to promote confidence and sincerity in your writing. It’s formal and respectful, but it also shows that you want something to go as planned.
Try using it when writing to a client. It shows that you’re confident something was good for them, and you want to check in to see if you’re correct.
If you still need help, review this example:
Dear Ms. Smart,
I have every expectation you had a nice weekend. Feel free to let me know what you got up to if you’d like to discuss it.
Kind regards,
Paul Moss
9. I Have No Doubt
It’s also worth using “I have no doubt” instead of “I hope.”
This is another confident phrase that shows you fully understand a situation.
We recommend using it to let your boss know something. It’s an effective tool for opening an email that allows you to be as polite and formal as possible.
Here’s an email sample to help you understand more about it if you still don’t know how it works:
Dear Miss Adams,
I have no doubt you are well. Please let me know as soon as you are back in the office to discuss things further.
Yours,
Daniel Craig
10. I’m Hopeful
Finally, you can use “I’m hopeful” instead of “I hope.” This is a great way to help you stay formal and polite in an email.
It’s worth using this to help you sound respectful.
Try using it when emailing a client. It’s a great way to let them know what you’re hoping will happen.
Generally, this will fill the client with confidence and show them that you’ve thought things through.
Feel free to review this sample email if you still need help with it:
Dear Mr. Parker,
I’m hopeful this email finds you well. I’d like to discuss some things with you as soon as you’re able to talk.
Thank you so much,
Barry Moore