I hope you are well

[andy-xr]

It took me ages to realise that Americans, when they were asking me 'how's it going?' didnt really want to know how it had gone or to be asked how their day had gone either

There's a bit missing in business conversation, particularly British, between the Hello bit and the 'This is what I want to ask you bit that some people need to fill, I guess the best way they've found is to do it via a statement or wish than ask a question

[Cotty]

andy-xr said:

It took me ages to realise that Americans, when they were asking me 'how's it going?' didnt really want to know how it had gone or to be asked how their day had gone either

“Y'all have a good day now ya hear”
So they don’t want us to have a nice day?

[Alex_225]

krisdelta said:

Email can be "read" in many tones - it's a very good way of setting a positive, friendly tone.

This. I often start e-mails with a courtesy such as this as it is professional but friendly. E-mails can often sound very stark and unfriendly which is something I'm not a fan of.

[Triumph Man]

Alex_225 said:

krisdelta said:

Email can be "read" in many tones - it's a very good way of setting a positive, friendly tone.

This. I often start e-mails with a courtesy such as this as it is professional but friendly. E-mails can often sound very stark and unfriendly which is something I'm not a fan of.

Indeed. If I get an email that starts (my name), message, (their name) I feel like I've pissed them off!

[Cotty]

Triumph Man said:

Indeed. If I get an email that starts (my name), message, (their name) I feel like I've pissed them off!

But that is just your interpretation, you don’t know if that was the intention.
Lots of people type emails on their phones, perhaps the message was brief and missing the opening comment as people do not like writing long letters on a tiny keyboard.

Probably better not to jump to conclusions.

[944fan]

I got an unsolicited email this morning form a company selling their wares. It started:

"I sincerely hope you are doing well."

Which was nice, albeit insincere, for the fact it was started:

Hi [{registrant_name}]

[Europa1]

I think it's down to the fact that email is, in the minds of some, blurring the distinction between conversation and correspondence, and they therefore feel awkward about getting straight down to business in an email. To me, it's correspondence, so, as with a business letter, once you've got "Dear [X]" out of the way, get down to business. The recipient shouldn't take any offence.