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In writing a letter (or email), is it correct to use "future tense" instead of using "present tense" in your greetings?

Which one is correct or more appropriate to use a greetings?

1. Hope you will be fine.

2. Hope you're fine.

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Question added by Randy Jumaquio , HR Executive │ Content Creator │ Coach , Self-Employed (Freelancer)
Date Posted: 2016/05/20

When writing email to friends I always use present or present continuous  tense in greeting such as I hope you are doing good  but in the end I might use future tense such as I hope you will do good in the exam. Tomorrow... Or I will meet you next Monday....Am I Right? 

Asad Abbasi
by Asad Abbasi , Order Management Executive , Karcher Middle East

The only scenario to use future tense in the greeting is when you are perceiving that the reader will be "opening your letter" after some time (a concept better suited to snail mail). In a way, you are saying "I am hoping you will be doing well by the time this letter reaches you". This also puts forth the notion that you think the reader is not doing well now.

 

I will also advise against using the word "fine" as it does not sound as good.

Wasi Rahman Sheikh
by Wasi Rahman Sheikh , Warehouse Supervisor , AL MUTLAQ FURNITURE MFG

Hope you're fine,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Randy Jumaquio
by Randy Jumaquio , HR Executive │ Content Creator │ Coach , Self-Employed (Freelancer)

Thank you Experts for your answers, I really appreciate them.

Susan Marx
by Susan Marx , Chief Executive Officer (CEO) , AIM

If it is an email or letter to a friend you would use present greetings. But business emails or letters should be kept stictly professional.

Gayasuddin Mohammed
by Gayasuddin Mohammed , Advocate , Practicing Law before High Court at Hyderabad

2. Hope you're fine. is the appropriate one. Anyway when it is going to read by the recipient of the mail/email, it is present tense only for the person to read it as, so hope you are fine is correct.  Thanks.

مها شرف
by مها شرف , معلمة لغة عربية , وزارة التربية السورية

I agree with experts answer. Thanks for the invitation. .

ahmed abdallah
by ahmed abdallah , Language Instructor , King Saud University

Usually, I'd stick to the jargon used 

However, I agree with  Asad Abbasi

I'd like to add another context when the writer of the letter is aware that the addressee is not in good health and hopes he gets well when he receives the letter

AKM Shamsur Rahman Shamsur
by AKM Shamsur Rahman Shamsur , Professor , Eastern University

I would prefer to use the present indefinite sentence. But it depends on the context situation.

Deleted user
by Deleted user

No, and how possibly can one do it - no, sir, you use usual phrases

JACOB TETTEH
by JACOB TETTEH , Store Keeper , Trio Trading Company - Qatar

It is not correct to use the "future" in writing a letter. You definitely need to use the present simple, the present perfect and the future with "will" often, and the past simple and the past perfect less often. In cases where a past simple or a present perfect verb can be used with about the same meaning, the present perfect is usually better in formal writing - "we have received your letter" sounds better than "we received your letter." Remember to use the past simple if there's a time reference, though - "yesterday we received your letter" is correct and "yesterday we have received your letter" is not. The past simple and past perfect should be used in conditionals and reported speech clauses. Remember to shift the "reported" tense back, as in "yesterday we were informed that you had been notified..." Avoid "going to" for the future - I can't think of a situation when I'd use it. Use "will" and use the passive voice if you're talking about plans; as in don't write "we are going to carry out an investigation" but "an investigation will be carried out." If there's a modal verb phrase available, use it – if you're applying for a job or something, "I would like" is always better than "I want", and "should you wish to..." is better than "if you want to..." etc. This kind of stuff is what sets formal language apart in English, more than verb tenses.

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