When writing a formal email to conduct business, apply for a job, etc., we want to make sure that the capitalization and grammar are correct. Here we discuss the salutations “Hi all” and “Hi All” capitalized and provide guidance on the proper one to use.
Is It “Hi all” Or “Hi All”?
If you are using this salutation in a formal email, the proper version to use would be “Hi All,” with both the “H” in “hi” and the “A” in “all” capitalized because it follows the capitalization rules typical for salutations.
The rules for salutations differ slightly from those for words in sentences. Typically in a sentence, the word “all” would not be capitalized unless it were the first word, because it is not a proper noun. However, in a written salutation, both of the words should always be capitalized.
Is “Hi all” Or “Hi All” Most Formal?
Neither “Hi all” nor “Hi All,” is a particularly formal way of beginning an email message. However, if it is the decided phrase to use, “Hi All” (capitalized) is the most formal version because it follows the rules of grammar for salutations.
If you are really looking for a formal greeting to use in an email, it would be more appropriate to use the phrase “Dear,” or “Dear All,” as the word “Dear” is a more formal way of addressing someone by the written word, in general.
Is “Hi all” Or “Hi All” Used The Most?
When looking at usage throughout history, it appears as though the version “Hi all” is used more often than “Hi All,” this fact is particularly true in more modern times, as “Hi all” has seen a great spike in usage since the mid-1990s.
The Google Ngram Viewer here shows this trend. As you can see, for much of history the usage between the two was quite similar, but starting around 1994, the version “Hi all,” started to spike.
The implication of this trend seems to be that either most people are not aware of the grammatical standards for formal salutations, or the instances in which the phrases were being used were not in the context of a written salutation. It is impossible to know which is the case from looking at the data on the graph.
Are “Hi all” And “Hi All” Used Differently In The UK And The US?
The two phrases are used at a similar rate in both the US and the UK, with the version “Hi all” appearing as the more frequently used one in both American English and British English.
The Google Ngram Viewer here shows the usage for American English of the two phrases. As you can see, for much of history both “Hi all” and “Hi All” had a similar usage rate. However, from the 1930s to the mid-1940s, “Hi all,” experienced a large spike in usage and then dipped back down to be equal again with the usage of “Hi All.”
Starting in about 1994, the phrase “Hi all,” started to become increasingly more popular than “Hi All” and based on the graph, it remains so to this day.
This Google Ngram Viewer shows the usage in British English. Throughout much of history, both phrases had less usage than in American English, but the usage they had was pretty much equal. However, similarly to American English, starting in the mid-to-late 1990s, the version “Hi all” experienced a spike in usage and remains the more used to the present day.
Are “Hi all” And “Hi All” Interchangeable?
Based on meaning alone, the phrases “Hi all” and “Hi All,” are interchangeable because they are the same words and mean the same thing. However, if you are attempting to write a formal email, choosing the version “Hi All” would demonstrate that you are aware of proper grammatical standards.
It is doubtful that anyone would really notice an incorrect grammatical usage of this phrase since it is so subtle. Additionally, based on the data shown in the Google Ngram Viewer graphs above, people are used to seeing the phrase “Hi all” in the written word.
If your intention is to truly be formal with your email, a different greeting would be more acceptable altogether, as the greeting “Hi All,” is very informal and would be more likely one that would be used among friends or very close acquaintances (i.e., an informal email from a manager to their team, or an email among friends planning a vacation together).
You may also like:
10 Alternatives To “Hello Everyone” In Professional Emails
Hi vs. Hey – Difference Explained (When To Use Which)
Martin holds a Master’s degree in Finance and International Business. He has six years of experience in professional communication with clients, executives, and colleagues. Furthermore, he has teaching experience from Aarhus University. Martin has been featured as an expert in communication and teaching on Forbes and Shopify. Read more about Martin here.
