When someone shares good news or a positive update, replying with the same phrase every time can start to feel automatic. Having a range of responses lets you match your tone to the moment — whether you’re texting a friend, writing a work email, or catching up with a client — and makes the person feel like you actually registered what they said.
Why “Good to Hear That” Gets Repetitive
There’s nothing wrong with the phrase itself. It’s polite, clear, and works in most situations. The problem is overuse. When people hear or read it constantly, it starts to sound like a reflex rather than a genuine reaction. Swapping it out occasionally — especially in writing — keeps your communication feeling alive and personal.
Ways to Say “Good to Hear That” Grouped by Situation
When You Want to Sound Warm and Genuine
These work well with friends, family, or colleagues you’re close to. They carry more emotional weight than the standard phrase.
1. “That’s really great to hear.”
A small change, but the word “really” adds sincerity. Works in both spoken and written English. Use when someone shares news you actually care about.
“That’s really great to hear — I’m glad the surgery went well.”
2. “I’m so glad to hear that.”
Warmer than the original. The “I’m so glad” signals personal investment.
“I’m so glad to hear that you got the promotion.”
3. “That makes my day.”
Casual and genuine. Best in friendly or semi-professional settings where you want to sound human rather than polished.
“That makes my day — I was worried about you.”
4. “What wonderful news.”
Slightly more formal but still warm. Works well when someone shares genuinely significant news like a new job, a baby, or a recovery.
“What wonderful news — congratulations to you both.”
5. “I’m thrilled to hear that.”
Shows real enthusiasm. Use it when the news is actually exciting, not for minor updates where it would sound exaggerated.
“I’m thrilled to hear the project got approved.”
6. “That’s such a relief.”
Specific to situations where there was worry or uncertainty before. Sounds natural and human.
“That’s such a relief — I know how long you’ve been waiting.”
In Professional and Workplace Settings
These phrases keep things professional without sounding stiff or indifferent.
7. “Glad to hear the update.”
Clean and direct. Works for email replies to progress reports or check-ins.
“Glad to hear the update — let’s move forward with the next phase.”
8. “That’s encouraging news.”
Good for business or project contexts where things have been uncertain. Neutral but positive.
“That’s encouraging news from the testing team.”
9. “I appreciate you letting me know.”
Acknowledges the update and the person who shared it. More formal and suitable for client communication.
“I appreciate you letting me know — I’ll update the team accordingly.”
10. “That’s good progress.”
Use when someone shares an improvement or milestone rather than a final result.
“That’s good progress — the numbers are moving in the right direction.”
11. “Pleased to hear that.”
Formal but warm. Common in British professional English. Works well in written communication.
“Pleased to hear that the client accepted the proposal.”
12. “That’s positive news.”
Neutral and professional. Useful when you need to stay measured — for example, when the news is promising but not yet final.
“That’s positive news, though we’ll want to confirm the details before proceeding.”
13. “Happy to hear things are moving in the right direction.”
Slightly longer but natural for email. Good for ongoing projects or client updates.
14. “That’s reassuring to know.”
Signals that there was some concern beforehand. Works for project management, medical contexts (general), or business decisions.
“That’s reassuring to know — we were concerned about the timeline.”
Read more: 29 Other Ways to Say “Please Be Advised”
For Text Messages and Casual Conversation
These are short, natural, and appropriate for informal communication.
15. “Oh nice, that’s good!”
Very casual. Suits a quick reply to a friend’s text about something minor.
16. “Glad it worked out!”
Friendly and brief. Works after someone shares a positive resolution to a problem.
“Glad it worked out! I knew it would.”
17. “That’s awesome.”
Common in casual American English. Better for genuinely good news than for minor updates.
18. “Good to know!”
Slightly more neutral than “good to hear that.” Use when someone gives you practical information rather than emotional news.
“They fixed the Wi-Fi in the building.” — “Good to know!”
19. “I’m happy for you.”
Personal and kind. Works when the news directly benefits the person you’re talking to.
“I’m happy for you — you deserve it.”
20. “That’s the best news I’ve heard all day.”
Playful and warm. Works with friends. May sound dramatic in formal contexts.
When the News Is a Relief After Worry
Sometimes the phrase “good to hear that” doesn’t capture how much you actually cared. These options do a better job in those moments.
21. “What a relief to hear that.”
Honest and warm. Appropriate when you were genuinely concerned.
“What a relief to hear that the results came back clear.”
22. “I was hoping to hear that.”
Shows that you were invested in the outcome.
“I was hoping to hear that — I knew it would be a tough call for them.”
23. “I’ve been thinking about this — I’m so glad it worked out.”
Longer but personal. Best in a message to someone close to you, not in a work email.
24. “That’s taken a weight off.”
Informal but expressive. Works when something stressful has been resolved.
“That’s taken a weight off — I wasn’t sure how that conversation would go.”
Phrases That Add a Next Step or Reaction
Sometimes the best response to good news is to follow it with something — a question, a plan, or a reaction. These phrases do both.
25. “Great to hear — what happens next?”
Shows you’re engaged and curious, not just acknowledging.
26. “Glad to hear it — that opens up some good possibilities.”
Good for professional settings. Shows you’re thinking ahead.
27. “That’s great news — let’s build on that.”
Action-oriented. Works in a team or project context.
28. “I’m glad to hear that. How are you feeling about it?”
Moves the conversation forward while showing genuine interest.
More Understated Options
Not every good update deserves an enthusiastic response. These are quieter, measured acknowledgments.
29. “That’s good to know.”
Very similar to the original but slightly more neutral. Works for information-sharing moments rather than emotional news.
30. “Noted — and good news at that.”
Professional and concise. Use in written business communication when you want to acknowledge an update clearly.
31. “That’s a step in the right direction.”
Measured and thoughtful. Works when the news is positive but not yet final or complete.
“That’s a step in the right direction — let’s see how the next stage goes.”
Read also: 25 Other Ways to Say “Pleasure Meeting You” Naturally
Quick Reference: Matching the Phrase to the Situation
| Phrase | Best For | Tone |
| I’m so glad to hear that | Close relationships, meaningful news | Warm, personal |
| Pleased to hear that | Formal emails, client communication | Professional, polite |
| That’s encouraging news | Business updates, uncertain projects | Measured, positive |
| Glad it worked out | Casual text, friendly conversation | Relaxed |
| What a relief to hear that | News that followed worry or uncertainty | Emotional, genuine |
| That’s a step in the right direction | Partial progress, ongoing situations | Thoughtful, measured |
| I appreciate you letting me know | Workplace updates, client messages | Formal, respectful |
| That makes my day | Friendly, semi-professional conversation | Warm, casual |
A Few Things Worth Knowing
Watch the level of enthusiasm. “I’m thrilled to hear that” sounds perfect when someone tells you they got their dream job. It sounds strange as a reply to “the package arrived.” Match the weight of the phrase to the weight of the news.
“Good to know” is not always the same as “good to hear that.” “Good to know” is more about receiving useful information. “Good to hear that” tends to carry more warmth and personal care. They’re close but not always interchangeable.
In professional writing, shorter is often better. A three-word acknowledgment like “Glad to hear it” before moving to your main point usually reads better than a long opening sentence just to sound enthusiastic.
Regional note: “Pleased to hear that” is more common in British and Australian professional English. In American business communication, “Glad to hear that” or “Happy to hear that” tend to feel more natural.
Most of these phrases are easy to use correctly once you have a sense of the tone you’re going for. When in doubt, ask whether your response sounds like something you’d actually say to the person — or whether it sounds like a form letter. That question alone will usually point you in the right direction.
I write clear, practical English lessons for everyday use. On Lingotexting, I break down grammar, vocabulary, and word types into simple ideas you can apply quickly. My focus is accuracy, real examples, and helpful visuals, so learners build confidence, improve writing, and communicate naturally in school, work, and daily life.