once having said hello

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "once having said hello" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that after the act of greeting someone, a subsequent action or thought occurs. Example: "Once having said hello, she felt more at ease in the conversation."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Once you've said hello to our bot, it will ask you whether you would like to subscribe and when you would like it delivered.

The Guardian

Johnson and I had said hello earlier that morning.

The New Yorker

"I've said hello to people I've never wanted to say hello to".

The New York Times

An infusion of chicken and water alone may fill the kitchen with the rich aroma of fat and fowl, but the actual liquid in the pot will remain thin and insipid, hot water with a fading memory of having once said hello to a chicken.

The New Yorker

A perfectly predictable message like 'AAAAAA' has the lowest information for the same reason you would hit me if I walked into your office and said 'Hi Hi Hi Hi Hi Hii! Hi!' After I've said it once, you have my point — I am saying hello — and repeating it is uninformative.

TechCrunch

"Hello!" he may have said.

The Guardian

"Hello, nice people," the beach boys had said.

The New Yorker

He has never said hello.

Los Angeles Times

Once I said hello to her in the hallway.

Vice

Or as Walt Disney once said: Hello Dali.

TechCrunch

Once in the press tent we said hello to Ben Bradley, "Good work" he said.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "once having said hello" to explicitly mark the sequence of events, emphasizing that something happened specifically after the greeting.

Common error

Avoid using "once having said hello" in informal contexts. Simpler phrases like "after saying hello" are often more appropriate for casual conversation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "once having said hello" functions as an introductory gerund phrase, modifying the main clause. It sets a temporal context, indicating that the action in the main clause occurs after the greeting has been exchanged. According to Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "once having said hello" is a grammatically sound phrase used to indicate that something occurs after a greeting. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness. However, it is a relatively uncommon expression and may sound overly formal in casual contexts. Simpler alternatives like "after saying hello" are often preferable. The phrase's primary function is to establish a sequence of events, emphasizing that the action in the main clause happens following the greeting. Due to the limited examples, usage patterns remain undefined.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

after greeting

Replaces the longer phrase with a simpler, more direct alternative, removing the "once having said" construction.

upon saying hello

Uses "upon" to indicate immediacy after the greeting, offering a slightly more formal tone.

having greeted

Uses a past participle to describe the completed action of greeting, emphasizing the result.

after the greeting

Focuses on the event of the greeting as a noun, rather than the action of saying hello.

once greeting

Simplifies the structure to a more concise form, though it might sound less formal.

subsequent to the greeting

Introduces a formal tone by using "subsequent to", emphasizing the chronological order.

following the salutation

Replaces "hello" with "salutation" for a more refined and formal expression.

after offering greetings

Emphasizes the act of offering a greeting, adding a layer of politeness.

with the hello completed

Structures the phrase around the completion of the greeting, highlighting finality.

once an introduction was made

Shifts focus to the broader concept of an introduction rather than just the greeting itself.

FAQs

What does "once having said hello" mean?

It means after someone has greeted another person. It emphasizes that an action or event occurred following the initial greeting.

Is it better to say "after saying hello" or "once having said hello"?

While both are grammatically correct, "after saying hello" is more common and generally preferred for its simplicity. "Once having said hello" can sound overly formal.

What are some alternatives to "once having said hello"?

You can use alternatives such as "after greeting", "upon saying hello", or "having greeted" depending on the context.

How can I make sure I'm using "once having said hello" correctly?

Ensure the context calls for a formal tone and that you wish to emphasize the sequence of events: the greeting followed by a subsequent action.