Hello

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Hello" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used as a greeting in both formal and informal contexts. Example: "Hello, how are you today?"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Travel

Film

Lifestyle

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Yet as the US president admitted after delivering the greeting "Hello Berlin!" – which despite its lack of oratory prowess drew huge cheers from the Berlin crowds at the Brandenburg Gate on Wednesday – times have changed.

The Guardian

I waved a cheery hello to a man who looked suspiciously like Tony Bennett and stumbled out into the humid Manhattan night, wondering how the hell I was going to find the 7 subway back to Queens.

The Guardian - Film

As you walk towards your pitch, fellow campers greet you, usually with a cheery wave and a hearty hello.

The Guardian - Travel

Time to say a big hello to Cornellà-El Prat: a proper football stadium, steep stands up against the pitch, decked in blue and white.

The Guardian - Sport

Hello, Body Rock.

The Guardian - Film

Me: [knock, knock] Hello.

The Guardian

Then a young voice pipes up: "Hello!

The Guardian - Travel

In France, a new bestseller called Bonjour paresse ("Hello laziness") provides one response: keep activity to a minimum and lie low.

The Economist

Instead, its main effect is to provide a "golden hello" for the rich and mobile, who can live in Britain without coughing up much to the exchequer at least, relative to their means.

The Economist

Yes, you can write a five-line "hello world" program and be reasonably confident it contains no errors.

The Economist

One never sees him sharing a canape and a joke with Christopher Biggins in Hello!, or even falling out of nightclubs with Ewan McGregor.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When answering the phone, use "Hello" to promptly acknowledge the caller.

Common error

While "Hello" is generally appropriate, avoid using it in extremely formal contexts where a more professional greeting like "Good morning" or "Good afternoon" might be more suitable.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "Hello" is as an interjection, used to express a greeting or salutation. As Ludwig AI states, it's a standard way to acknowledge someone's presence or initiate a conversation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Lifestyle

12%

Travel

7%

Less common in

Film

7%

Formal & Business

3%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

As a versatile and ubiquitous greeting, the term "Hello" is grammatically sound and suitable for a broad range of situations, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It functions primarily as an interjection, initiating conversations and acknowledging the presence of others. While generally neutral in formality, it can be adapted to fit various contexts. The phrase sees frequent usage in news media and lifestyle content. For slightly more formal scenarios consider "good morning" or "good afternoon", while "hi there" and "hey" serve as suitable substitutes in casual settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Hi there

More informal greeting.

Hey

Very informal greeting, common in casual conversation.

Greetings

More formal and less common greeting.

Good day

A polite and somewhat formal greeting, often used during the daytime.

How do you do

A formal greeting, typically used when meeting someone for the first time.

Good morning

Greeting specific to the morning.

Good afternoon

Greeting specific to the afternoon.

Good evening

Greeting specific to the evening.

Welcome

Expresses pleasure at someone's arrival or presence.

Salutations

A very formal and somewhat archaic greeting.

FAQs

How can I use "Hello" in a sentence?

"Hello" can be used as a greeting when meeting someone, answering the phone, or calling out to see if anyone is present. For example: "Hello, everyone", "Hello? How may I help you?", "Hello? Is anyone there?".

What can I say instead of "Hello"?

You can use alternatives like "Hi there", "Hey", or "Greetings" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "Hello" or "Hi"?

Both "Hello" and "Hi" are correct greetings. "Hello" is slightly more formal, while "Hi" is more casual. The choice depends on the context and your relationship with the person you are greeting.

What's the difference between "Hello" and "Welcome"?

"Hello" is a general greeting used at any time. "Welcome" expresses pleasure at someone's arrival or presence. You can use both at the same time in certain contexts, for example, "Hello and welcome!".