hey

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hey" is correct and usable in written English, particularly in informal contexts.
You can use it as a casual greeting or to get someone's attention. Example: "Hey, did you see the latest episode of that show?"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Belt-tightening and all that … hey, I've even had to lay off my personal photographer".

The Guardian

Cutting it since 2010 at a time of growing need has been arguably one of the coalition's most short-sighted policies, with – hey presto – the NHS's workload pushed up and ability to do its job enfeebled as a result.

The Guardian

We complain about politicians spinning, rather than recognizing that this is exactly what we want a weathervane — or hey, a wind turbine — to do, or recognizing that it's up to us to be that wind.

The Guardian - Opinion

The Chumby seems a peculiar poster child for this new way of doing things, but hey — whatever floats Sony's boat.

The New York Times - Tech

As England's chief scourge throughout the Ashes, the sight of Johnson putting the frighteners on the world No1s was both a sort of relief – hey, maybe we weren't that gutless after all – and, if we're honest, weirdly cathartic.

The Guardian - Sport

The next morning, I woke up to an email: Hey Lindy, I don't know why or even when I started trolling you.

The Guardian

Here's how I imagine that I'd imagine the discussion would have gone: Hey kid, you can't be late, so I have to have this 'meeting' with you, but you and I both know that if it wasn't for your bat I'd be sipping margaritas by my pool in Indiana right now, so just be patient here and go through these motions with me, OK? Oh, and don't worry about that fine, I got it.

The Guardian - Sport

It is unclear whether the accident in Bank Hey Street was weather-related.

The Guardian

Retweet this tweet: — Alexander White (@alexanderwhite) December 14 , 2013Hey @GregHuntMP, don't destroy the Great Barrier Reef.

The Guardian

Mrs Woods, from Liverpool, was watching a television news report in October about babies' organs being retained by Alder Hey and decided to find out more.

The Guardian

"I phoned up Alder Hey hospital to ask for information," she said.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To soften the abruptness, follow "hey" with a name or a more complete greeting, like "Hey John, how's it going?".

Common error

Avoid using "hey" in formal emails, business letters, or presentations. Opt for more professional greetings like "hello" or "good morning/afternoon".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "hey" is as an interjection, used to express emotion or to initiate conversation. Ludwig examples illustrate its role in greetings and grabbing attention, aligning with the Ludwig AI's assessment of its common informal use.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Hey" is a versatile interjection primarily used as an informal greeting or to get someone's attention. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage, especially in casual settings. While effective in informal conversation, remember to avoid using "hey" in formal or professional contexts where more appropriate greetings like "hello" are preferred. Consider alternatives such as "hi", "yo", or "what's up" to ensure your communication aligns with the intended tone and audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hi

A simple and direct greeting, similar in informality.

yo

An informal greeting, often used in urban slang.

hello

A slightly more formal greeting, but can still be used casually.

what's up

An informal inquiry about someone's well-being or current activities.

oi

An informal greeting, or to get someones attention, predominantly used in British English.

howdy

A regional (typically Southern US) informal greeting.

greetings

A more formal salutation, suitable in some contexts.

look here

Used to get someone's attention, especially when wanting to show or explain something.

excuse me

A polite way to get someone's attention, especially in a formal setting.

listen

Used to urge someone to pay attention to what you're about to say.

FAQs

How can I use "hey" in a sentence?

"Hey" is typically used at the beginning of a sentence as a greeting or to get someone's attention. For example, "Hey, did you see the game last night?"

What can I say instead of "hey"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "hi", "hello", or "what's up".

Is it appropriate to use "hey" in a formal email?

No, "hey" is generally considered too informal for professional emails. It's better to use a more formal greeting like "hello" or "dear".

What's the difference between "hey" and "hi"?

Both "hey" and "hi" are informal greetings, but "hey" can sometimes be perceived as more casual or attention-grabbing than "hi".