Editor's Corner

Dear Editrix,

I have taken over a new position, and I am dealing with new people daily. Every time I communicate with a new client or vendor, typically via email, I introduce myself by saying something like, “It was nice meeting you”…but that does not seem right, meeting is in person…no? One of my vendors said, “It was nice meeting you virtually,” but that seems awkward. Please advise!

Dear Reader,

How interesting! First, I’d say that you can “meet” someone in person, on the phone, over Teams™, and in other ways. Second, it is great that you are looking for a good, accurate way to be polite. Third, I found all kinds of information to share with you! I hope some of this information helps.

When I read your email, I thought “Nice to virtually meet you,” was a nice way to distinguish between in person and a virtual meeting, but then I read an article on Indeed.com, which provided some updated information on the phrases “Nice to e-meet you” and “Nice to virtually meet you.” It said that these phrases were common, but now many people consider them outdated and discourage their use.

I found another webpage that not only offered some alternatives, but it includes a tool that generates options for different phrases you type in. The article is:

11 Other Ways to Say "Nice to Meet You" in an Email (With Samples) (rontar.com)

Here is an excerpt:

The use of “nice to meet you” is suitable for emails to new colleagues, clients, or business contacts after a first meeting, phone call, or online interaction. [KC – Emphasis mine.] It works well in emails, which are a common communication channel for professional interactions. The formality of the email can be adjusted based on the relationship with the recipient and the context of your meeting.

If you’re okay with “It was nice to meet you,” here are some similar alternatives the article provides:

• It was a pleasure meeting you
• Pleased to meet you
• It’s a pleasure to meet you
• Glad to have met you
• It was great connecting with you
• Happy to meet you
• Enjoyed meeting you
• Good to have met you
• Pleased to make your acquaintance
• Glad we had the chance to meet
• Delighted to make your acquaintance
• Pleased to connect with you
• It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance
• Delighted to engage with you
• Glad to make your connection
• Honored to meet you

And now for the generator tool: Alternatives Generator (rontar.com). It generates some of the outdated phrases, but you can choose what you like. I entered something like “Nice to meet you virtually” at the Original Phrase prompt, and it provided the following phrases:

• Pleasure to connect online
• Great to e-meet you
• Delighted to meet you virtually
• Happy to meet you through email
• Wonderful to connect digitally
• A pleasure to meet you virtually
• Glad to connect with you online
• Nice to meet you through this platform
• Happy to make your acquaintance virtually
• Enjoy connecting in this digital space
• Pleased to e-connect with you
• Nice connecting with you online
• How lovely to meet you here
• Thrilled to meet you remotely
• Good to connect this way

You can enter other phrases, too. For example, enter “You behave like an ill-mannered child,” and you’ll get anything from “Your actions are not aligned with professional standards” (formal), to “Your manner could be more polished” (semi-formal), to “Your conduct is a bit inappropriate” (informal).

Check out the Alternatives Generator and see if it provides you with something you like more. Like the one article said, the references to “electronic” and “virtual” are a bit outdated. Like I say, being polite is always in style.

Kara Church | Technical Editor, Advisory | Technical Publications

Pronouns: she/her | Call via Teams | jackhenry.com

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