Is there a proper way to start an email?

[KatyMac]

Dear seems a bit odd unless it's Mrs or Mr etc

Hi is very informal

Just their name seems a bit abrupt

so what do I use, are there rules?

Yo, Dude!

Aloha!

I normally say

Hello,

blah blah de blah blah

I hate emails that jump right into the content. It feels very abrupt.

Nope, I don't think Hello would work for me

Ah well

I usually use Hello, but I quite like Good morning or Good afternoon.

Agree it's a bit of a minefield though.

At work I use Dear First Name, then sign off with Regards.

I use hi for cutomers as email is a bit more informal than letters, unless you are using mr/mrs sir etc and then I'd use Dear. Don't think there is a perfect opening.

I usually start with their first name, as I think its a bit more friendly than just jumping into the content.

So -

Fred,

I've just received the information about X, could you answer a couple of questions?....

Regards, (or Thanks,)

AMIS

It depends who the email is to...

If it is to a friend then it might start "Dear X", "Hi X" or possibly "Oi you!" depending on how close we are.
If it is to an acquaintance then probably "Hello X".
If it's work related then unless the person is someone I am on first-name terms then I would use the same format as I would for a letter.

Thanks everyone

If it is a friend I use hello or hi.
if it is more formal I use dear first name and usually sign off with regards or even yours sincerely if it is really formal and I have started it dear mr or mrs.

"G'day Sugar Tits"- seems to do the trick.