Is the UK too polite for its own good? The phrase ‘Hope all’s well’ tops the list of email clichés, with over a quarter of Brits (26%) admitting to regularly using this overly courteous expression in their work emails.
The research conducted by Spacemade, the fastest growing flexible workspace operator in the UK, surveyed British people to determine which cliché phrases they most commonly use in email communication. The findings revealed that many Brits typically rely on predictable, overused expressions, highlighting many of the phrases we’re all too familiar with (and maybe a bit tired of).
These clichés might seem harmless, but they can actually slow down our workday. Just think about the time spent crafting these emails when a quick chat could save the day!
Jonny Rosenblatt, Co-Founder of Spacemade: “We’ve had a bit of fun interpreting these common email phrases and offering our take on what they really mean. Would we ever say these phrases in real life, I don’t think so. In-person conversations save us from these formalities, making communication more effective and enjoyable, which ultimately boosts productivity and speeds up decision-making.”
Top 10 Office Email Clichés that dominate inboxes, along with their ‘real’ translations.
| Cliché phrases and percentage of people in the UK who typically use these phrases in emails | Translation |
| Hope all’s well (26%) | I’ve honestly not thought about your wellbeing, but this seems to be the standard way to start an email |
| Apologies for my delay in response (24%) | I’d completely forgotten about your email |
| Hope this finds you well (22%) | I’ve run out of other ways to start emails |
| As per my last email (20%) | You didn’t read my last email, did you? |
| A quick note to say (18%) | Thanks for stating the obvious (and we both know it’s not a quick one) |
| Just following up (17%) | Because I asked for this two weeks ago and I’m still waiting… |
| Re. (15%) | You’ve asked so many questions I’m now resorting to shorthand |
| Thanks for your patience (15%) | We both know you’ve been pestering me all week |
| As per our last discussion (14%) | You didn’t listen to me last time, did you / Why are we having this conversation again |
| Friendly reminder (13%) | Despite me asking you multiple times already, I’m pretty sure you’ve forgotten |
Other commonly used phrases revealed in the research include ‘Just wanted to chase this up’ (9%), ‘Happy Monday/Friday!’ (8%), ‘Please be advised’ (8%) and ‘Nice to E-meet you’ (7%).
In the UK, Oxford takes the crown for the most frequent use of ‘Hope all’s well,’ with more than two in five residents (41%) admitting to using this common cliché. Close behind are Plymouth and Norwich, where over a third of people regularly including this phrase in their emails. On the flip side, only 9% of residents in Cambridge, Edinburgh, and London claim they steer clear of any of the top 10 email clichés.
Jonny Rosenblatt, continues: “Emails and Zoom calls have their limits, I think we can all agree no one loves an endless email chain. We truly believe creating environments where you can be in the same room, makes a huge difference. It’s in those moments – the quick chats, the spontaneous ideas, the real-time feedback – that the best collaborations happen.”
Spacemade’s survey highlights the quirks of office communication and how our flexible workspaces foster real, meaningful conversations that go beyond the screen. By stepping away from the clichés and jargon, we create environments where genuine interactions thrive.
