Saying “It was nice talking to you” is polite and warm, but in professional settings, it can sound repetitive, overly casual, or too generic. Whether you are writing to a client, concluding a business meeting, exchanging messages with a recruiter, or wrapping up a strategic discussion, using refined alternatives will make your communication feel more polished and intentional.
This article provides professional, semi-formal, and casual alternatives to “It was nice talking to you,” along with usage guidelines, email examples, conversation samples, industry-specific variations, and a comparison table to help you choose the perfect phrasing in any context.
🏢 Formal Alternatives (Meaning + Use + Example + Tone)
1. It was a pleasure speaking with you
Meaning: A refined, respectful expression of appreciation.
Explanation: Ideal for corporate, client-facing, or executive communication.
Example: “It was a pleasure speaking with you earlier today about the upcoming proposal.”
Best Use: Interviews, client meetings, leadership communication.
Worst Use: Casual chats, informal internal messages.
Tone: Professional, polished.
2. I appreciated our conversation
Meaning: Shows gratitude without being overly emotional.
Explanation: Conveys respect and recognition of someone’s time.
Example: “I appreciated our conversation regarding next quarter’s strategy.”
Best Use: Cross-department collaboration, client updates.
Worst Use: Highly casual communication.
Tone: Neutral-formal.
3. Thank you for taking the time to speak with me
Meaning: A formal acknowledgment of someone’s time investment.
Explanation: Excellent for high-stakes or time-sensitive discussions.
Example: “Thank you for taking the time to speak with me about the partnership opportunity.”
Best Use: Interviews, vendor negotiations, academic communication.
Worst Use: Internal quick chats.
Tone: Respectful and formal.
4. I found our conversation very productive
Meaning: Highlights efficiency and value.
Explanation: Signals you appreciated the outcome, not just the interaction.
Example: “I found our conversation very productive and look forward to next steps.”
Best Use: Project meetings, strategy calls.
Worst Use: Introductory calls with no action items.
Tone: Professional, outcome-oriented.
5. I valued our discussion
Meaning: Expresses genuine respect for the exchange.
Explanation: Subtle and mature phrasing for professional emails.
Example: “I valued our discussion on the revised budget plan.”
Best Use: High-level collaboration.
Worst Use: Small talk.
Tone: Formal.
6. It was insightful speaking with you
Meaning: Communicates that the conversation expanded your understanding.
Explanation: Great when someone shared expertise or guidance.
Example: “It was insightful speaking with you about the compliance requirements.”
Best Use: Expert interviews, consulting discussions.
Worst Use: Short or casual chats.
Tone: Intellectual, respectful.
7. I’m glad we had the opportunity to talk
Meaning: A diplomatic phrase acknowledging the usefulness of the conversation.
Explanation: Friendly yet professional, suitable for sensitive topics.
Example: “I’m glad we had the opportunity to talk through the onboarding process.”
Best Use: HR, conflict resolution, negotiations.
Worst Use: Informal peer chats.
Tone: Warm-professional.
8. I truly appreciated your time
Meaning: Strong appreciation with formality.
Explanation: Shows sincere gratitude and professionalism.
Example: “I truly appreciated your time during today’s briefing.”
Best Use: Executive communication, client relations.
Worst Use: Everyday internal updates.
Tone: Highly respectful.
9. I found our conversation highly informative
Meaning: Indicates knowledge gained.
Explanation: Suitable for educational or technical discussions.
Example: “I found our conversation highly informative and helpful.”
Best Use: Training, mentoring, technical reviews.
Worst Use: Very short conversations.
Tone: Professional and analytical.
10. It was a privilege speaking with you
Meaning: Strongest formal gratitude.
Explanation: Shows deep respect, typically for senior professionals.
Example: “It was a privilege speaking with you about your research.”
Best Use: Academic discussions, executive-level interactions.
Worst Use: Peer-level or casual communication.
Tone: Very formal, respectful.
💼 Semi-Formal & Neutral Alternatives
1. It was great connecting with you
Meaning: Friendly professionalism.
Example: “It was great connecting with you during today’s workshop.”
Tone: Warm-neutral.
2. I enjoyed our conversation
Meaning: Positive but not overly formal.
Example: “I enjoyed our conversation about your team’s project.”
Tone: Friendly-professional.
3. I appreciated hearing your thoughts
Meaning: Acknowledges input respectfully.
Example: “I appreciated hearing your thoughts on the design updates.”
Tone: Collaborative.
4. I enjoyed learning more about your work
Meaning: Shows interest and engagement.
Example: “I enjoyed learning more about your initiatives.”
Tone: Professional-warm.
5. Thanks for the great conversation
Meaning: Casual-professional.
Example: “Thanks for the great conversation earlier today.”
Tone: Light but polite.
6. I enjoyed exchanging ideas with you
Meaning: Highlights the collaborative aspect.
Example: “I enjoyed exchanging ideas with you during the brainstorming session.”
Tone: Creative-professional.
7. It was refreshing talking with you
Meaning: Signals positivity and new perspective.
Example: “It was refreshing talking with you about team culture.”
Tone: Warm-neutral.
8. I’m glad we had the chance to speak
Meaning: Polite and diplomatic.
Example: “I’m glad we had the chance to speak about the proposal.”
Tone: Balanced.
9. I liked discussing this with you
Meaning: Neutral and approachable.
Example: “I liked discussing this with you and look forward to follow-ups.”
Tone: Semi-formal.
10. I enjoyed chatting with you
Meaning: More relaxed, still professional.
Example: “I enjoyed chatting with you at the event today.”
Tone: Light and friendly.
😄 Informal or Casual Alternatives
- It was great talking to you
- I really enjoyed our chat
- Fun talking with you
- Loved catching up
- Always nice talking with you
- Good chatting with you
- Great finally talking to you
- Nice catching up today
🏭 Industry-Specific Variations
Business
- “I appreciated our strategic discussion today.”
Corporate
- “It was a pleasure speaking with you about the quarterly initiatives.”
Academic
- “I valued our discussion on your recent findings.”
Customer Service
- “I’m glad we had the opportunity to discuss your concerns.”
Legal
- “I appreciated your time reviewing the case details.”
Email Communication
- “Thank you for the thoughtful conversation earlier.”
📧 Professional Email Examples
1. Subject: Follow-Up on Today’s Meeting
Hi Daniel,
It was a pleasure speaking with you earlier regarding the upcoming launch.
Please find the requested documents attached.
Best regards,
Maria
2. Subject: Great Connecting Today
Hi Sarah,
It was great connecting with you this afternoon. I appreciate the insights you shared.
Warmly,
Tom
3. Subject: Thank You for Your Time
Dear Dr. Lopez,
Thank you for taking the time to speak with me about your research.
Sincerely,
Grace
4. Subject: Productive Discussion
Hi Team,
I found our conversation very productive and look forward to implementing the next steps.
Best,
Karen
5. Subject: Appreciated Our Conversation
Hello Mark,
I truly appreciated our conversation about the restructuring plan.
Regards,
Helen
💬 Dialogue Examples
A: “Thanks for joining the call today.”
B: “My pleasure — it was insightful speaking with you.”
A: “Great meeting you today!”
B: “Likewise, I enjoyed our conversation.”
A: “Hope this discussion helped.”
B: “Absolutely—I appreciated hearing your perspective.”
A: “Thanks for participating.”
B: “I enjoyed exchanging ideas with everyone.”
A: “We covered a lot today.”
B: “Yes, it was a very productive conversation.”
📊 Comparison Table
| Phrase | Tone | Best Use | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| It was a pleasure speaking with you | Formal | Client/exec meetings | “It was a pleasure speaking with you today.” |
| I appreciated our conversation | Formal-neutral | Collaboration | “I appreciated our conversation about the plan.” |
| It was great connecting with you | Semi-formal | Networking | “It was great connecting with you at the event.” |
| Thanks for the great conversation | Semi-formal | Friendly workplace | “Thanks for the great conversation earlier.” |
| I really enjoyed our chat | Casual | Informal workplace | “I really enjoyed our chat today.” |
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using overly emotional phrasing in professional contexts
- Repeating the same sign-off in every email
- Sounding too casual with senior-level contacts
- Not matching tone to the conversation’s seriousness
- Overusing enthusiastic language
- Using phrasing that doesn’t align with message intent
- Adding unnecessary compliments in formal emails
🚫 When NOT to Use These Phrases
- When the conversation was conflict-heavy or tense
- When the discussion was purely transactional
- When closing a complaint without resolution
- When the tone of the email must remain strictly factual
- When the receiver may misinterpret friendliness as informality
❓ FAQs
1. What is the most professional alternative to “It was nice talking to you”?
“It was a pleasure speaking with you.”
2. What is the most neutral option?
“I appreciated our conversation.”
3. What should I use in an email to a client?
“I found our conversation very productive.”
4. What works best in a networking context?
“It was great connecting with you.”
5. What’s the best polite closing for interviews?
“Thank you for taking the time to speak with me.”
6. Can these phrases be used in follow-up emails?
Yes, most of them work well in follow-up or recap messages.
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