Good To Hear vs. Glad To Hear – Difference Explained For Beginners

There is a unique difference between using “good to hear” and “glad to hear.” While both seem pretty closely linked, it’s good to know what that difference is and what stands them out from each other if you want to use them correctly.

What Is The Difference Between “Good To Hear” And “Glad To Hear”?

Good to hear should be used when speaking in a more general sense and saying that something is nice to hear from someone. Glad to hear should be used when speaking on a more personal note, as “glad” is a feeling that we can have towards someone.

Can “Good To Hear” And “Glad To Hear” Be Used Interchangeably?

There isn’t much true difference between the phrases “good to hear” and “glad to hear.” For that reason, many people use the two phrases interchangeably. Let’s look at a quick example.

• Good to hear that you’re okay.
• Glad to hear that you’re okay.

Both of these sayings use precisely the same idea to convey that we’re pleased by the news that the subject is “okay.” That shows when they’re used interchangeably.

However, there comes a time when we might not want to use them interchangeably, and that’s when we want to be either more personal or more general with our writing. For example, we can say:

• It’s good to hear that you’re okay.
• I’m glad to hear that you’re okay.

However, “I’m good to hear” and “it’s glad to hear” are both incorrect phrases and shouldn’t be used. This shows you the impact of the personal level that “glad to hear” offers since we’re talking about a feeling or emotion that we’re experiencing when someone does something for us.

Both sayings can be used interchangeably in the proper context, but it depends mainly on the sentence structure before you decide to use one over the other.

7 Examples Of How To Use “Good To Hear” In A Sentence

Let’s look at some examples of each to give you more elaboration on the previous section. This way, you’ll be able to see first how “good to hear” is used.

Remember, “good to hear” is more general, and we’re not showing a feeling or emotion upon receiving the news. Still, it’s nice to receive the news that we did, and we appreciate it to the person that said it.

1. It’s good to hear your voice again.
2. It’s good to hear that you enjoyed your time with us.
3. It’s good to hear from you.
4. It’s good to hear back so soon.
5. Good to hear you’ve moved on from that terrible situation.
6. Good to hear what you have to say!
7. Good to hear how much you miss him!

In each of these examples, we’re speaking in a more general sense. We’re never directly or emotionally involved with the situation and instead are showing a general appreciation or acceptance of the information we’ve received.

7 Examples Of How To Use “Glad To Hear” In A Sentence

Now let’s look at the more personal one, “glad to hear.” We use this more often when we’re talking to somebody we know or somebody we want to impress. The personal touch really makes the phrase stand out and shows that we really appreciate the information or news.

Remember, “glad” is an emotion you can feel, which is part of the reason that “glad to hear” is such a personal phrase.

1. I’m glad to hear you’re back together!
2. I’m glad to hear you’re back on speaking terms.
3. Glad to hear you didn’t have any problems with my recommendations!
4. Glad to hear you’ve found what you were looking for.
5. I’m glad to hear your voice again.
6. I’m so glad to hear that you’re okay!
7. Glad to hear you won’t have to go back there again anytime soon!

In each of these cases, we use “glad to hear” in a more personal sense. We don’t always need “I’m” to come before it, but it helps to add that personal flair to the phrase.

Even without including the pronoun contraction “I’m,” we’re still conveying a deeper, more personalized meaning with our message. We’re showing that the information or news has genuinely made us happy, which is the feeling you get when you are “glad” about something.

Is It Grammatically Correct To Say “Good To Hear From You”?

The phrases “good to hear” and “glad to hear” start up a very interesting sentence-style. Some people get confused about the grammatical correctness of them both. However, it’s not as difficult as you might think.

“Good to hear from you” is a grammatically correct saying. It uses all the traditional grammar rules while also omitting unnecessary words.

The word “it’s” that usually comes before writing “good” isn’t required in this case. Even without including “it’s,” the whole phrase is still grammatically correct and acceptable in any circumstance. Even in some more formal circumstances, you can use “good to hear from you” to a great degree.

“Good to hear from you” is used when someone has spoken to us and is often reserved for people that haven’t spoken to us for a while. If it’s been a few months since this particular person talked to you, then you might use “good to hear from you” upon replying to them.

However, due to the impersonal touch of the phrase, some people prefer to use “glad to hear from you” when they get a message from a close friend who they haven’t contacted in a while. Even using “glad to hear from you” is grammatically correct, and the two phrases work just fine as standalone sentences.

Is “I’m Glad To Hear That” Formal Or Informal?

Generally, when we want to write in a more formal tone, we leave out a lot of personal language. To get to a formal level of speaking or writing, the more impersonal you can be, the better it will look on paper.

For that reason, “I’m glad to hear that” is more informal, as we’re expressing a personal emotion when we use it. “It’s good to hear that” is considered the more formal option.

When we used “I’m glad to hear that,” we typically use it with friends when they’ve shared good news with us. If your boss were to come with you with some good news, then you’d probably be more inclined to say “it’s good to hear that,” or even a more simple “thank you for telling me.”

You don’t use “I’m glad to hear that” in formal situations unless you’re close with your boss or coworkers. There are always alternatives that might work better in formal situations. You can refer to the end of the article to find out what they are.

Can “Nice To Hear” Be Used In The Same Situations As “Good To Hear” And “Glad To Hear”?

Since “nice to hear” doesn’t refer to a personal emotion we experience, like saying “glad to hear,” it’s held in a more similar regard to “good to hear” when it’s used.

“Nice to hear” and “good to hear” are used synonymously. This means they mean the same thing and are both used to more generally show appreciation of receiving some news.

Both “nice” and “good” are synonyms to each other. That makes it quite easy to remember which two phrases are most closely linked. “Nice” isn’t a synonym of “glad,” so we typically don’t want to use them in the same situation.

Just like “it’s good to hear,” we want to say “it’s nice to hear,” rather than “I’m nice to hear.” You must remember to keep the language general when using either “nice” or “good” in these contexts.

Should You Use “Good To Hear From You” Or “Good To Read From You” In A Text?

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the verb “hear” means “to gain information” or “to receive communication” when used as an intransitive verb. That means that even when used in a text, we would still use “hear.”

Even though we “read” a text, “read” is the incorrect verb to use in this case. When we receive a message via a text, we should say “it’s good to hear from you,” rather than “good to read from you.”

How Do You Respond To “Glad To Hear” Or “Good To Hear”?

When someone says “glad to hear” or “good to hear,” it’s very commonly replied to with “likewise” or something to that extent. We want to return the message to them to let them know that we’re also happy about the news or the information.

Also, if you tell someone news that they’re glad to receive, you can continue talking about the news to make them even happier (provided that’s the intended effect of the news).

“Good To Hear” And “Glad To Hear” – Synonyms

Finally, let’s look at some alternatives to the two phrases. These might be more suitable in different situations.

• Happy to hear

A good alternative to “glad to hear,” where we express our emotions again.

• Pleased to hear

Another great alternative used to show we’re “glad to hear” something.

• Thank you for telling me

The more formal alternative, where we appreciate being informed about something and are thanking the speaker.

You may also like: 11 Professional Ways To Say “I’m Glad To Hear That”