It’s nice to e-meet you. 

On the face of it, this greeting signals that it’s a pleasure to be introduced. Beneath the surface, it says that no email can substitute for an in-person encounter. Only when we have shaken hands, stared into the whites of each other’s eyes and taken the full measure of each other will we have properly met. (Oh, and by the way, I also send e-cards, shop on e-commerce sites and still think of Amazon as an e-tailer.)

If you want to understand the hidden meanings of other email greetings, including such all-time classics as “I hope this email finds you well”, click on this e-link. To read more about the practicalities and quirks of the workplace, you can sign up to the Bartleby newsletter. And to learn how to make the most of generative AI in your organisation, listen to the third season of Boss Class, our podcast on how to be a great manager.