How to address two or more people in an email
When an email goes to more than one person, the greeting sets the tone. Here are greetings that work for two people, small groups and large teams.
For two people, use both names: "Hi Sam and Alex," informally, or "Dear Mr. Lee and Ms. Patel," formally. For three to five people, list first names or use "Hi all," or "Hello everyone,". For a team or department, use the group name: "Hi Marketing team,". Put the names in the order of seniority or who the email is mainly for.
Two people
| Tone | Greeting |
|---|---|
| Formal | Dear Mr. Lee and Ms. Patel, |
| Formal, unknown titles | Dear Jordan Lee and Priya Patel, |
| Professional | Hello Jordan and Priya, |
| Friendly | Hi Sam and Alex, |
Three or more people
- Small group you know: Hi Sam, Alex and Jordan,
- General: Hi all, / Hello everyone,
- Team or department: Hi Marketing team, / Dear Finance team,
- Formal group: Dear colleagues, / Dear members of the committee,
Whose name goes first?
Put the person the email is mainly for first, or the more senior person in a formal email. If neither applies, alphabetical order avoids any hint of ranking.
What to avoid
- "Dear Sirs": outdated and assumes everyone is male.
- "Hey guys": too casual for many workplaces and not everyone likes it.
- "To whom it may concern" when you know the names. See better options.
- Leaving someone out of a two-person greeting.
Addressing them in the body
If different people need to do different things, say so by name: "Sam, could you send the figures? Alex, could you book the room?" It avoids confusion about who does what. More in email greetings and how to start an email.
Questions people ask
- How do you address an email to two people formally?
- Use both titles and last names: "Dear Mr. Lee and Ms. Patel,".
- How do you greet multiple people in an email?
- "Hi all," "Hello everyone," or the group's name, such as "Hi Sales team,".
- Is "Hi all" professional?
- Yes. It is a common, neutral greeting for a group at work.
- Should I use both names or "Hi both"?
- "Hi both" is common in British English. In American English, using both names is more usual.