hello

USAGE SUMMARY

'hello' is a perfectly correct and usable word in written English.
It's a very versatile word that can be used as a greeting, a way to get someone's attention, or an expression of surprise or disbelief. Example: "Hello? Is anyone there?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Travel

Film

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

Use "hello" at the beginning of a conversation, whether in person or on the phone, to establish contact and signal your presence.

Common error

Avoid starting every sentence or paragraph with "hello" in written communication; it can sound repetitive. Vary your openings with different greetings or transition phrases.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "hello" is as an interjection, used to express a greeting or to initiate a conversation. Ludwig provides examples where "hello" serves this exact purpose, such as greeting someone or answering a phone.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Travel

15%

Film

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Science

1%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hello" functions primarily as an interjection used to greet or acknowledge someone, as evidenced by the examples provided by Ludwig. Its register is generally neutral, making it suitable for a wide range of situations. The frequency of its use, as determined by the examples, is very common, particularly in News & Media sources. As Ludwig AI confirms, "hello" is a grammatically correct and versatile word in written English, suitable for various purposes, from initiating conversations to expressing surprise.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hallo

An archaic variant of hello.

hi

A shorter, more informal greeting.

hey

A casual greeting, slightly more informal than "hi".

howdy

An informal greeting, particularly common in the US.

greetings

A more formal way to acknowledge someone.

good day

A polite, time-specific greeting.

good morning

A greeting specific to the morning.

good evening

A greeting used in the evening.

how do you do

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

welcome

A greeting that also expresses pleasure at someone's arrival.

FAQs

How to use "hello" in a sentence?

"Hello" is versatile. You can use it as a simple greeting, like "Hello, how are you?", or when answering the phone. It can also express surprise, as in "Hello, what's this?".

What can I say instead of "hello"?

You can use alternatives like "hi", "hey", or "greetings", depending on the context and formality.

Which is correct, "hello" or "hallo"?

Both "hello" and "hallo" are correct, but "hello" is the more common and contemporary spelling. "Hallo" is considered archaic.

When is it inappropriate to say "hello"?

Saying "hello" is generally appropriate, but avoid it in situations where silence or a more formal greeting is expected, such as during a serious ceremony or when addressing someone of very high rank for the first time.