Greetings are simple words, phrases, or actions that we use to say ‘hello’ to someone. They help start a friendly interaction and can be verbal, written or physical gestures.
Verbal Greetings
These are how you greet someone through talking.
They can be informal or formal.
Informal greetings (to be used for people you know well) can be the following greetings:
‘Hi’, ‘Hey’, ‘How’s it going?’
Formal greetings should be used for everyone else who you do not know so well, such as:
‘Good morning / afternoon / evening’, ‘It’s a pleasure to meet you’
Always greet the other person how you would like to be greeted to establish mutual respect.
Written Greetings
You may be talking to someone through writing, either through emails, texts or letters.
Like verbal greetings, there is a difference between informal and formal written greetings.
For informal greetings, like when you are sending a text to your friend, its fine to greet like a casual verbal conversation:
‘Hey, how are you?’
For formal written greetings, for example if you are sending an email to your new employer, it is better to use:
‘Dear [name]’, ‘To whom it may concern’
The difference between the formal and informal options mean that you can better change your tone for the environment and person receiving them.
Physical Greetings
Greetings can also be physical, and range from something more formal, like shaking someone’s hand, to more intimate, like a hug.
Here are some examples of physical greetings:
Waving: a casual gesture that can be used in many social situations
Handshakes: a more professional greeting
Hugging: used for intimate and familiar settings
Fist bump: a more casual, hygienic alternative to handshakes
Bowing: a common greeting that shows respect
Nod: a simple non-verbal act of acknowledgement
Always ask for consent before trying to physically greet another person such as by a handshake, even if this is someone you know.