Dear friends

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Dear friends" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it as a salutation in letters, emails, or messages addressed to a group of friends. Example: "Dear friends, I hope this message finds you well." Alternative expressions include "Dear all," "Hello friends," and "Greetings friends."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Dear friends!

The New York Times

Dear friends, Thank you!

The Guardian

Dear friends, you have indulged our screed.

The New Yorker

Dear friends... Please don't be mad at me".

The New York Times

Dear friends, this year was not real great.

The New Yorker

"Dear friends," the leaflet read, "Islam is against terrorism.

The New York Times

Dear friends, readers, and general Internet-goers!

TechCrunch

Dear Friends, forgive me.

Huffington Post

Dear friends, I welcome you here today.

Huffington Post

Dear friends got left in the lurch.

Huffington Post

Dear Friends, I too was stunned.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When addressing a group, consider the context and choose an appropriate level of formality. Use "Dear friends" for personal or informal communications.

Common error

Avoid using "Dear friends" in highly formal or professional settings where a more neutral greeting like "Dear colleagues" or "To whom it may concern" would be more suitable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "Dear friends" functions as a salutation, initiating communication with a group of people who are considered friends. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a standard opening for emails, letters, and speeches, setting a tone of familiarity and goodwill.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "Dear friends" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used as a salutation, particularly in informal contexts. Ludwig AI indicates that it's suitable for letters, emails, and speeches, fostering a sense of connection with the audience. While very frequent across different contexts, it's best to avoid in highly formal situations, opting for professional alternatives like "Dear colleagues". Remember to consider your audience and the desired tone when choosing your opening.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

My dear friends

Adds "My" before "dear", emphasizing a personal connection.

Lovely friends

Substitutes "dear" with "lovely", offering a slightly warmer and more affectionate tone.

Hello friends

Replaces "Dear" with "Hello", offering a standard and slightly less formal greeting.

Beloved friends

Uses "beloved" instead of "dear", conveying a stronger sense of affection and fondness.

To my friends

Shifts the construction to a prepositional phrase addressed to friends.

Dear colleagues

Replaces "friends" with "colleagues", suggesting a professional rather than personal context.

Hi friends

Adopts a more informal and casual greeting using "Hi".

Valued friends

Replaces "dear" with "valued", emphasizing the importance and appreciation of the friendship.

Greetings friends

Uses "Greetings" as an alternative opening, providing a slightly more formal tone compared to "Dear".

Dear everyone

Broadens the scope to include all recipients, not specifically limited to friends.

FAQs

How to use "Dear friends" in a sentence?

"Dear friends" is commonly used as a salutation to begin a letter, email, or speech when addressing a group of friends. For example, "Dear friends, I hope this email finds you well."

What can I say instead of "Dear friends"?

You can use alternatives like "Hello friends", "Greetings friends", or "My dear friends" depending on the context and level of formality.

Is it appropriate to use "Dear friends" in a formal email?

While "Dear friends" is perfectly acceptable among friends, it's generally too informal for professional or highly formal communications. Consider using "Dear colleagues" or "To whom it may concern" instead.

What is the difference between "Dear friends" and "Dear colleagues"?

"Dear friends" is used to address people with whom you have a personal relationship. "Dear colleagues" is used in a professional context to address coworkers or associates.