If you haven’t seen someone for a while, it’s polite to wish them well. Though what’s the best phrase to use in that situation?
You might want to try “I hope everything is going well.” However, is there a more formal way to say it?
This article has gathered some alternatives to help you explore your options.
Is It Formal to Say “I Hope Everything Is Going Well”?
It is formal to say “I hope everything is going well.” It works well in a professional email when you haven’t seen someone for a while. It wishes them well before continuing to talk about something related to business.
We highly recommend this if you want to be polite after not seeing someone for a while. Most recipients will be very happy to receive a message like this.
Here’s an example to show you how to use it:
I hope everything is going well with you, Darren! Do you have any updates for me?
Pros
- It’s polite and caring.
- It works well in formal settings when you haven’t seen someone for a while.
Cons
- It’s a bit generic and overused.
- There are more personal and friendly phrases.
“I hope everything is going well” is a decent option in formal letters and emails. However, other synonyms are just as effective.
Keep reading to learn how to say “I hope everything is going well” professionally. We’ve covered all the best alternatives out there.
What to Say Instead of “I Hope Everything Is Going Well”
- I hope things are good with you
- I hope you’re doing well
- How are things with you?
- How are you doing on your side?
- How are things in your life?
- Are you doing well?
- I hope things are excellent for you
- I trust you’re having a good time
- I trust you are well
1. I Hope Things Are Good With You
One of the most polite ways to check in with someone and see how they’re doing is “I hope things are good with you.”
It works really well because it shows that you’re interested in someone’s life before you start to talk about business-related situations.
Like “I hope everything is going well,” this synonym works best when you haven’t seen someone for a while. It shows you miss working closely with them, but you still need their help with a few things.
Here’s an email example if you’re still unsure:
Hi Chris,
I hope things are good with you. I’m wondering if you’d like to take on a new role at our company. I know it’s been a while.
All the best,
Sarah Dean
2. I Hope You’re Doing Well
“I hope you’re doing well” is another formal way to say “I hope everything is going well.” It works well because it shows you have a more personal connection with the email recipient.
It’s a great way to build a positive relationship with someone you work with. Of course, it’s quite a simple phrase, but it shows that you’re polite and caring before you begin talking about something else.
You may also refer to this email sample:
Dear Scott,
I hope you’re doing well. I would like to know if you’ve completed the tasks I set for you yet.
Yours,
Katie Hudson
3. How Are Things With You?
So far, we’ve only covered statements as alternatives. Did you know you can also use questions to replace “I hope everything is going well”?
A question like “how are things with you?” is a great way to check in with a coworker before changing the subject.
Asking a question is effective because it encourages the recipient to reply to you. They will be more inclined to answer a question and read through the rest of your email. So, if you have something important to talk about, start with “how are things with you?”
This email example will help you understand more about it:
Hello Hazel,
How are things with you? Are you free for lunch on Friday? We need to discuss the meeting content.
My best,
Frankie Paulson
4. How Are You Doing On Your Side?
Another great question alternative is “how are you doing on your side?” It’s a great way to learn about a colleague you haven’t seen for a while.
You’ll find that many recipients will be happy to answer a question like this before continuing their conversation with you.
Generally, including “on your side” in the question implies that someone no longer works with you. They might have gotten a new job, and this email might be the first time you’ve contacted them in a few months.
You should also check out this sample email:
Dear Juliet,
How are you doing on your side? Have you heard anything about any openings at your new workplace?
All the best,
Suzanne Parish
5. How Are Things in Your Life?
If you haven’t seen someone for a while, you could always ask “how are things in your life?”
It’s a great question that shows a genuine interest in someone’s life. It’s also a great way to segue into a more professional conversation.
It works well when connecting with old coworkers. You can use it to find out how they’re getting on with the new changes in their life. Also, if you have something important to share with them, it’s always good to introduce a polite question before talking about business.
This email sample will also help you understand it:
Dear Stewart,
How are things in your life? I still haven’t received the invoice from your company and was wondering if you knew anything.
Kind regards,
Joseph Stopper
6. Are You Doing Well?
We recommend using “are you doing well?” to introduce a question before talking more professionally. Of course, it works in formal emails, but you should only use it when you have a friendly relationship with the recipient.
Therefore, it’s better to use it with colleagues rather than employers or clients. It shows you have a good connection with them and want to see how they’re getting on. After that, you can talk about projects or tasks that you might be working on together.
Here’s a useful example if you’re still unsure:
Dear Trudy,
Are you doing well? I hope you’ve begun working on the project, as I’ve just found out that it needs to be done by Tuesday.
Yours,
Kim Anne
7. I Hope Things Are Excellent For You
There’s nothing wrong with emphasizing how well someone is doing with positive adjectives. You can use “excellent,” “great,” “fantastic,” or anything in between to show an interest in someone’s life.
“I hope things are excellent for you” is one such example of this. It’s a positive and professional way to email someone. From there, you can start talking about more professional things, depending on why you’re reaching out to someone in the first place.
You can also refer to this email example:
Dear Milo,
I hope things are excellent for you. Do you have any information that might help us with the new products?
Yours,
Billie Bryant
8. I Trust You’re Having a Good Time
“I trust you’re having a good time” is a great example of how to start a formal email.
Using a word like “trust” shows you believe someone is enjoying themselves, though you do not have to ask them a question like “how are you?” to find out.
It’s quite a professional alternative to “I hope everything is going well.” Therefore, it works best when emailing employees. You will find it most useful if you were their boss, as the language sounds much more formal than some of the other synonyms.
Perhaps this example will help you as well:
Dear Connor,
I trust you’re having a good time. However, could you please send me the final draft of the documents before tomorrow?
Thank you so much,
Sophie Brown
9. I Trust You Are Well
Another great professional alternative to “I hope everything is going well” is “I trust you are well.” It’s a very clear and confident phrase that shows you are polite enough to introduce yourself before talking about professional issues.
Generally, “I trust you are well” works best when emailing employees. It’s a confident phrase, which often works best if you are the boss. We highly recommend it to show an interest in someone before turning their attention to more important matters.
You should refer to this example if you’re still stumped:
Dear Zoe,
I trust you are well. I would like to discuss the changes to the system with you as soon as you get the chance.
Kind regards,
Kyle Rutherford