a friendly greeting

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a friendly greeting" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a warm and welcoming way to say hello to someone. Example: "When meeting new clients, it's important to start with a friendly greeting to make them feel comfortable."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

As some local residents passed by, they shouted a friendly greeting and joke was exchanged.

The Guardian

This promotes the simple idea that a friendly greeting from doctors and all those involved in caring for a patient can make an enormous difference.

The Guardian

At the store, Don Henderson shouted a friendly greeting, but pointed to a line of customers and lifted his palms to the sky.

The New York Times

The employees most likely to use a friendly greeting were women not in positions of authority, followed by men in subservient positions.

The New Yorker

A bell tinkles as you open the small door on to a friendly greeting by staff and a free glass of vodka.

The Guardian - Travel

A green Fiat sedan and a small white truck coming toward us on the two-lane Via Malmanago flash their headlights in what I take to be a friendly greeting.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

27 human-written examples

Dressed in casual but non-earth-tone clothes, he gave a brief, friendly greeting.

The New Yorker

The 48-year-old, who works in IT, added: "The volunteers have been really nice, there was a very friendly greeting".

Independent

In fact, the phrase "Have you eaten yet?" is a typical friendly greeting among Thais.

Huffington Post

This is the common way that Muslims greet each other, and as most Pakistanis are Muslim, this is a very friendly greeting.

WikiHow

Now more than ever, as Mr. Miller explained it, the card as a form of friendly greeting has taken on extra meaning as a gesture of bravado.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming to create a welcoming atmosphere, use "a friendly greeting" in both verbal and written communication to immediately put people at ease.

Common error

While "a friendly greeting" is generally acceptable, avoid overusing it in extremely formal or professional settings. Consider using more formal alternatives like "a warm welcome" or "a cordial salutation" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a friendly greeting" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or preposition. Ludwig AI confirms that it's grammatically correct, as shown by the examples. This indicates its primary function is to describe an action or state.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Wiki

17%

Huffington Post

12%

Less common in

Science

2%

The New Yorker

2%

Los Angeles Times

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a friendly greeting" is a grammatically sound and commonly used noun phrase that serves to describe a warm and welcoming initial interaction. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and versatile, though it may be more suitable for neutral or informal contexts than highly formal ones. Usage analysis reveals its prevalence in News & Media and Wiki sources, indicating its broad applicability. For those seeking alternative expressions, options like "a warm welcome" or "a cordial salutation" offer similar meanings with subtle differences in tone and formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a pleasant hello

Uses simpler terms, suitable for informal contexts.

a warm salutation

Replaces 'friendly' with 'warm' and 'greeting' with the more formal 'salutation'.

a neighborly salutation

Highlights the friendly and welcoming nature of a greeting, particularly in a neighborhood setting.

a cordial welcome

Uses 'cordial' to emphasize sincerity and 'welcome' as a more general term.

a kind acknowledgment

Highlights the act of recognizing someone in a friendly manner.

a genial reception

Employs 'genial' to highlight cheerfulness and 'reception' for the manner of receiving someone.

a cheerful expression

Shifts the focus from the act of greeting to the emotion conveyed.

a hospitable gesture

Focuses on the act of hospitality conveyed through the greeting.

a gracious introduction

Emphasizes politeness and formality in initiating contact.

a welcoming address

Refers to a spoken or written greeting, often formal.

FAQs

How can I use "a friendly greeting" in a sentence?

You can use "a friendly greeting" to describe a warm and welcoming way to say hello. For example, "She offered "a friendly greeting" to all the guests as they arrived".

What can I say instead of "a friendly greeting"?

You can use alternatives like "a warm welcome", "a cordial salutation", or "a pleasant hello" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "a friendly greeting" or "a friend greeting"?

"A friendly greeting" is correct because "friendly" is an adjective describing the type of greeting. "Friend" is a noun and doesn't fit grammatically in this context.

What's the difference between "a friendly greeting" and "a warm greeting"?

Both ""a friendly greeting"" and "a warm greeting" convey positive sentiment, but "warm" suggests a deeper sense of sincerity and enthusiasm than "friendly".