If you want to express wistful sentiments but “I hope” feels too personal a phrase for the context you’re in, you’ve come to the right place!
Below, we’ve compiled a list of formal and informal alternative phrases to “I hope.” So, read on to keep your correspondence fresh!
Other Ways to Say “I Hope”
- I trust
- Here’s hoping
- Barring unforeseen circumstances
- I am hopeful
- I anticipate
- Ideally
- With any luck
- May
- I would like
- Holding thumbs
- I want
- I desire
- Hopefully
- I wish for
- I long for
- If all goes well
- I aspire
- I’m hoping
- I’m hankering
- I’m yearning
- God willing
- With luck
- One would hope
- I’m crossing my fingers
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The phrase “I hope” is suitable to use in professional circumstances.
- In formal situations, you can use “I trust” to mix up your language.
- In informal settings, you can use the synonym “here’s hoping.”
Don’t click away! We still need to unpack our choice of formal and informal alternatives to “I hope” in more detail below.
After that, we’ll discuss whether it’s appropriate to use “I hope” in professional correspondence.
I Trust (Formal)
If you’re wondering what to say instead of “I hope” in formal circumstances, our favorite formal alternative is the phrase “I trust.”
Firstly, this phrase is not a better phrase than “I hope.” After all, they can often be used interchangeably in formal emails.
Nonetheless, it never hurts to slightly alter your wording from time to time, particularly in your work correspondence. Therefore, you can use this phrase to keep your emails diverse and avoid repetition.
Finally, consider the sample email below to see what we mean:
Dear Mr. Du Toit,
I trust you are keeping well, and that your business continues to thrive.
I have attached an invoice for our most recent meeting below.
Regards,
Kirk Helman
Here’s Hoping (Informal)
Another way of saying “I hope” in informal circumstances is “here’s hoping.”
Firstly, this phrase is a direct synonym for the original, and you can generally use them interchangeably. Therefore, it’s not a better phrase than “I hope,” but you can use it to change up your wording and perhaps make your email a tad more impersonal.
Secondly, this phrase is suitable to use in casual conversations with friends or acquaintances. Moreover, you can use it in email exchanges with coworkers with whom you have a close relationship.
Finally, let’s see a couple of email examples making use of this phrase:
Dear Jen,
Here’s hoping this email is coming at a good time!
The team has drafted a new report for you to look at. Please get back to me with comments when you have a moment.
All the best,
Greta
Hi Craig,
I have sent out an offer to their team. Here’s hoping they agree with all our terms!
I’ll keep you updated if and when I hear back.
Cheers,
Holly
Can You Use “I Hope” in Professional Contexts?
It is suitable to use “I hope” in most professional contexts. After all, there are many ways to use this phrase in a polite and professional manner.
The best way to illustrate the number of uses for this phrase is with a few professional examples:
- I hope this email finds you well.
- I hope you had a splendid festive season.
- Best of luck, and I hope to hear from you soon.
In short, “I hope” is a perfectly effective phrase to use in professional settings if you use it correctly. It is a great way to politely start an email before you proceed to your point.
Nonetheless, if you’re looking for what to say instead of using “I hope” in formal or informal circumstances, our list of synonyms should help!
If you think you might make use of our list in the future, go ahead to bookmark this page to keep it on hand.