Both sentences are grammatically correct, and they mean the same thing: you hope the other person’s life, work, or situation is going fine. The difference is tone. “I hope all is well” is the standard, neutral version that fits any email, letter, or message. “I hope all is good” sounds relaxed and conversational, so it suits friends, close coworkers, and quick texts better than formal writing.
If you are not sure which one to use, choose “I hope all is well.” It is never wrong for the situation.
Why “good” is not a grammar mistake here
A common belief is that “good” cannot follow “is” because the sentence needs the adverb “well.” That rule is misapplied.
In “all is well” and “all is good,” the verb is is a linking verb. It does not describe an action; it connects the subject (all, meaning “everything”) to a word that describes it. Words in that position are adjectives, and both well and good work as adjectives:
- well (adjective): in a satisfactory or good state. Dictionaries use “all is well” as their example of this sense.
- good (adjective): satisfactory, fine, pleasing.
So neither sentence uses an adverb at all. “All is good” is built exactly like “The food is good” or “The weather is good.”
Where the good/well rule does apply
The rule matters as soon as you swap the linking verb for an action verb. An action verb needs the adverb well:
| Sentence | Verdict | Why |
| I hope everything is well. | Correct | is links to an adjective |
| I hope everything is good. | Correct, casual | is links to an adjective |
| I hope everything is going well. | Correct | going is an action verb; well is the adverb |
| I hope everything is going good. | Nonstandard | Common in casual speech, but edited writing uses going well |
| I hope the move went well. | Correct | went describes how something happened |
This is the version of the mistake that actually costs writers credibility. If you extend the greeting with going, working out, or turned out, use well.
The real difference: register
Because the meaning is the same, the choice comes down to how formal you want to sound.
“All is well” is an old, settled phrase (think of all’s well that ends well). It reads as polite and neutral, which is why it is so common at the start of professional emails.
“All is good” carries the feel of the informal expressions it’s all good and all good, which dictionaries label informal. That association is what makes “I hope all is good” sound friendly and easygoing. In a message to a client, a professor, or someone you have never met, it is not incorrect, but it may come across as more casual than you intend.
| Situation | Better fit |
| Email to a client, manager, teacher, or official | I hope all is well. |
| Cover letter, formal request, or first contact | I hope all is well. (or skip the greeting and state your purpose) |
| Message to a colleague you chat with daily | Either |
| Text or DM to a friend or relative | Either; “Hope all is good!” sounds natural |
Examples in context
Formal:
Dear Ms. Jessi, I hope all is well. I’m writing to confirm the delivery date for order 4471.
Casual:
Hey Rocky! Hope all is good with you guys. Are we still on for cricket on Saturday?
Where both work equally well:
I hope all is well at the new office. I hope all is good at the new office.
In the last pair, the two sentences are interchangeable. Pick the one that matches the rest of your message.
Details that change the sentence
“All is” vs “all are.” In this greeting, all means “everything,” so it takes the singular verb is. If you write all are, all now means “everyone,” and the sentence is about people:
- I hope all is well at home. = I hope things at home are fine.
- I hope all are well at home. = I hope everyone at home is healthy and fine.
Both are correct, but they say different things. For a situation or a project, only is fits: I hope all is well with the project (not all are).
“Doing” needs a person. I hope all is doing well is unnatural, because doing well describes a person or organization, not “everything.” Write I hope all is well or I hope everyone is doing well.
Adding a phrase. You can narrow the greeting naturally: I hope all is well with you, I hope all is well on your end, I hope all is well with the family. The same additions work with good in casual messages.
Dropping “I.” Hope all is well and Hope all’s well are normal in informal notes and texts. In a formal email, keep the full sentence.
Punctuation. The greeting is a complete sentence, so end it before starting the next thought.
- Incorrect: I hope all is well, I wanted to ask about the invoice.
- Correct: I hope all is well. I wanted to ask about the invoice.
Joining two complete sentences with only a comma creates a comma splice. Use a period, or connect them with a word like and.
A quick way to decide
- Is the message formal, or to someone you don’t know well? Write I hope all is well.
- Is it relaxed, to someone you’d happily say “it’s all good” to? I hope all is good is fine.
- Did you add an action verb such as going or working out? Use well, whatever the tone.
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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.