Begin your day with emails neatly organized, replies crafted to match your tone and crisp notes from every meeting.
© Fyxer AI Limited. Company number 15189973. All rights reserved.
© Fyxer AI Limited. Company number 15189973. All rights reserved.
“Hope you are doing well” has become one of the most overused phrases in professional and personal emails. While it’s polite and friendly, it can sometimes feel stale, impersonal, or even filler. The good news? There are plenty of alternative ways to start an email that sound more authentic and engaging — without losing professionalism.
This guide will show you how to write a hope you are doing well email that feels authentic, plus alternatives, examples, and templates you can use right away. You’ll also learn how to reply when someone writes “I hope you are doing well,” so you’re never caught off guard.
Instead of defaulting to “Hope you’re doing well,” open with context. That could be appreciation for a recent conversation, a reference to the recipient’s work, or simply a clear reason for writing. Here are five adaptable templates:
Subject: Following Up on [Topic]
Hi [Recipient’s Name],
I wanted to follow up regarding [specific reason]. Thank you again for [previous interaction].
Looking forward to your response.
Best, [Your Name]
Subject: Great Speaking With You
Hi [Recipient’s Name],
It was great connecting with you [yesterday/last week]. I appreciated your insights on [topic]. As discussed, I’m sharing [document/link/next step].
Let me know your thoughts.
Best regards, [Your Name]
Subject: Application for [Role]
Dear [Hiring Manager’s Name],
Thank you again for the opportunity to interview for the [role]. I’m following up to ask about the next steps in the process.I appreciate your time and consideration.Sincerely, [Your Name]
© Fyxer AI Limited. Company number 15189973. All rights reserved.
Subject: Great Meeting You at [Event]
Hi [Recipient’s Name],
I enjoyed our conversation at [event]. Your work on [specific project/topic] was really interesting. I’d love to continue the discussion and explore ways we might collaborate.
Warm regards, [Your Name]
Subject: Quick Check-In
Hi [Recipient’s Name],
I wanted to check in to see if you’ve had a chance to review [proposal/project]. Let me know if you’d like to schedule a call to go through it together.
Best, [Your Name]
When you strip away the filler, what matters is clarity, respect, and relevance. Every line of your email should earn its place. Think about how the recipient will scan it: subject first, opening second, then the key point, then what you need them to do.
This structure works across the board — from interns writing to their first manager, to executives coordinating with senior stakeholders. It keeps your email professional, human, and focused, no matter the audience.
Formatting shapes how your message lands. A cluttered email feels overwhelming before the recipient even reads it.
The phrase isn’t wrong, but variation makes you sound more thoughtful. The right opening depends on your relationship with the recipient and the purpose of your message. Here are options you can use in different contexts:
The amount of detail you include should reflect how well you know the recipient and how much time they likely have.
The strongest openings reference something real. Use these after a meeting, a project milestone, or a shared experience.
You don’t need to overthink your hope you are doing well answer. Keep it polite and brief, then move to the main point.
For example:
If you’d rather skip repeating the phrase, acknowledge it with warmth:
This way, you acknowledge their greeting without getting stuck in repetitive wording.
The way you open an email sets the tone for everything that follows. A few simple choices — tone, relevance, and professionalism — can turn a generic greeting into a line that feels thoughtful and worth responding to.
Not at all. It’s a polite, professional way to open an email, and no one will judge you for using it. The only drawback is how common it’s become — it can read as automatic rather than intentional. If you want to stand out, switch it up with a more specific or context-driven line that shows you’re writing to them, not just anyone in your inbox.
Plenty. The key is to pick an opening that matches your relationship with the recipient and the context of your email. Here are some options you can use:
Not always. A greeting signals respect and sets the right tone when you’re writing formally, introducing yourself, or reaching out to someone senior. But in quick back-and-forth threads — especially when the context is already clear — you can drop it and get straight to the point. The rule of thumb: use greetings when they add professionalism, skip them when they only add clutter.
Start by grounding your opener in something real — a project they just finished, an event you both attended, or even a detail from their last message. It shows you’re paying attention and writing to them, not just recycling a template. Authentic emails feel personal without being long, and that relevance makes people more likely to respond.
Sometimes the classic works. If you’re emailing someone you don’t know well, or you need a neutral tone, “I hope you are doing well” is perfectly fine. Just don’t rely on it every time. Mix in context-based variations to show attention and professionalism.