Good evening

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Good evening" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used as a greeting in the evening, often when meeting someone or starting a conversation. Example: "Good evening, everyone. Thank you for joining us tonight."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

39 human-written examples

"Good evening, Clarice".

The New York Times

Good evening Demi.

The Guardian - Music

Good morning, Ulster County.

The New York Times

Good evening, everyone.

The New York Times

"Good evening, doctor.

The New Yorker

Good evening!" Tbilisi: "Hello, Norway!

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

Good night, good night.

The New York Times

Good afternoon.

The New Yorker

Good night.

University of California, Berkeley

Good afternoon -- or good morning, everybody.

The New York Times

Good evening!

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "Good evening" when greeting someone in the evening, typically after 5 PM or 6 PM. It's more formal than "Hi" or "Hello" but less formal than "Good night" (when saying goodbye).

Common error

Avoid using "Good evening" as a farewell. "Good night" is the appropriate phrase to use when someone is leaving or going to bed.

Linguistic Context

The primary function of the phrase "Good evening" is to serve as a greeting. It is used to acknowledge someone's presence or to initiate a conversation in the evening. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

25%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "Good evening" is a standard and widely accepted greeting for use in the evening hours. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and frequently used across various contexts, particularly in news media and academic settings. While versatile, it's important to distinguish its use as a greeting from "Good night", which is a farewell. For more casual situations, alternatives such as "Evening" or "Hello" may be suitable. Remember to use "Good evening" after around 5 or 6 PM to start a conversation or acknowledge someone's presence politely.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Adding "Hello" for emphasis or a slightly more formal tone.

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Hi, good evening

A more casual greeting, combining "Hi" with the formal "Good evening".

Evening

A shortened, more casual form of the greeting.

How do you do this evening?

A more elaborate and polite greeting.

Evening, all

A less formal greeting for a group of people.

Good even

An archaic but understandable variation of the standard greeting.

Greetings

A general greeting suitable for any time of day.

Top of the evening to you

An Irish expression used as a greeting in the evening.

Have a good evening

Used as a farewell rather than a greeting.

Good day

General greeting, appropriate earlier in the day.

FAQs

When is it appropriate to use "Good evening"?

"Good evening" is typically used as a greeting in the evening, usually starting around 5 PM or 6 PM. It is a polite way to acknowledge someone's presence or begin a conversation.

What's the difference between "Good evening" and "Good night"?

"Good evening" is used as a greeting, while "Good night" is used as a farewell. You say "Good evening" when you arrive or meet someone in the evening, and "Good night" when you're leaving or someone is going to sleep.

Are there any informal alternatives to "Good evening"?

Yes, informal alternatives include "Evening", "Hi", or "Hello". The choice depends on the context and your relationship with the person you're greeting.

Is it ever incorrect to say "Good evening"?

While generally acceptable, using "Good evening" during the daytime is incorrect. It's best to use "Good morning" or "Good afternoon" during those times.