“It was a pleasure meeting you” is a polite way to end a conversation or email after meeting someone new. This phrase shows you enjoyed meeting the person and want to leave a positive, professional impression. For example, you might say this at the end of a job interview, business meeting, or networking event. It works in both spoken conversation and written messages like emails or LinkedIn messages. The phrase is formal enough for business but friendly enough for casual professional settings. You say it to people you just met, not to people you already know well. This makes it perfect for first meetings where you want to be polite and leave the door open for future contact.
When Should You Say This?
Use this phrase right after meeting someone for the first time in a professional or semi-professional setting. It works best when you want to end the conversation on a positive note.
Perfect times to use it:
- At the end of a job interview
- After a business meeting with new clients
- When leaving a networking event
- At the end of a professional conference
- After meeting a colleague from another office
- Following an informational interview
The key is timing. Say it when you’re wrapping up the conversation or about to leave. Don’t say it in the middle of talking – it signals you’re done and ready to go.
How to Use This Phrase Correctly
The phrase follows a simple pattern. You need the past tense “was” because the meeting already happened.
Basic structure: It + was + a pleasure + meeting + you
Common variations:
- “It was a pleasure meeting you.”
- “It was a pleasure meeting you today.”
- “It was such a pleasure meeting you.”
- “It was a real pleasure meeting you.”
You can add words like “such” or “real” to make it warmer. Adding “today” or “this morning” makes it more specific. But the core phrase stays the same.
In emails and messages: People often write this at the end of follow-up emails after meetings. It reminds the person about your meeting and keeps things friendly.
When training professionals in business communication, I emphasize that this phrase works as a complete sentence. You don’t need to add much after it. Keep it simple and genuine.
Examples in Different Situations
Business Meetings and Interviews
After job interviews or client meetings, this phrase helps you end professionally.
- “Thank you for your time today. It was a pleasure meeting you.”
- “I appreciate you taking the time to speak with me. It was a pleasure meeting you.”
- “I look forward to hearing from you soon. It was a pleasure meeting you.”
- “Thank you for showing me around the office. It was a pleasure meeting you.”
- “I enjoyed learning about your company. It was a pleasure meeting you.”
In professional correspondence, this phrase appears most often in follow-up emails sent within 24 hours of the meeting. It shows you remember the person and valued the conversation.
Networking Events
At conferences or networking events, use this phrase when exchanging contact info or saying goodbye.
- “Here’s my business card. It was a pleasure meeting you.”
- “Let’s stay in touch. It was a pleasure meeting you.”
- “I hope we can connect again soon. It was a pleasure meeting you.”
- “Thanks for the great conversation. It was a pleasure meeting you.”
When editing networking emails for clients, I notice this phrase helps bridge the gap between formal and friendly. It’s professional without being stiff.
Email Follow-ups
After meeting someone, send a follow-up email using this phrase to stay fresh in their mind.
- Subject: Great meeting you today “Hi Sarah, it was a pleasure meeting you at the conference this morning. I enjoyed our conversation about marketing strategies.”
- Subject: Thank you for the interview “Dear Mr. Johnson, thank you for meeting with me yesterday. It was a pleasure meeting you and learning more about the role.”
- Subject: Following up from our lunch meeting “Hi David, it was a pleasure meeting you for lunch today. I’m excited about the potential partnership we discussed.”
LinkedIn and Social Media
On professional platforms, this phrase works well in connection requests or messages.
- “Hi Jennifer, it was a pleasure meeting you at the sales conference. I’d love to connect here on LinkedIn.”
- “Thanks for the introduction yesterday. It was a pleasure meeting you. Looking forward to staying in touch.”
Across business communication, this phrase signals you’re open to future contact without being pushy. It’s friendly but leaves the next step open.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
| Mistake | Example | Why It’s Wrong | Correction |
| Wrong tense | “It is a pleasure meeting you” | Use past tense after meeting already happened | “It was a pleasure meeting you” |
| Using it before meeting | “It will be a pleasure meeting you” | Don’t say this before you’ve met | Wait until after the meeting |
| Adding unnecessary words | “It was a very great big pleasure meeting you” | Too many extra words sounds fake | “It was a pleasure meeting you” |
| Using it with people you know | “It was a pleasure meeting you again” | Don’t say “meeting” if you already met before | “It was great seeing you again” |
| Wrong for casual friends | Saying this to friends at a party | Too formal for casual social settings | “Nice meeting you” or “Great talking to you” |
The biggest mistake is using “is” instead of “was.” The meeting happened in the past, so you need past tense. Saying “it is a pleasure meeting you” sounds wrong and confusing.
Another common error is using this phrase with people you already know. If you’re seeing someone again, don’t say you’re “meeting” them. Say “It was great seeing you again” or “It was wonderful catching up.”
What Are Good Alternatives?
You don’t always have to use the exact same phrase. Here are other ways to say the same thing.
In professional settings:
- “It was great meeting you.”
- “It was nice meeting you.”
- “I really enjoyed meeting you.”
- “Thank you for taking the time to meet with me.”
- “I appreciated the opportunity to meet you.”
For slightly casual settings:
- “It was lovely meeting you.”
- “So nice meeting you.”
- “Really great meeting you.”
For follow-up emails:
- “Thank you for meeting with me.”
- “I enjoyed our conversation.”
- “It was wonderful speaking with you.”
Pick the one that fits your situation and relationship with the person. “Great” and “nice” are less formal than “pleasure.” For job interviews and important business meetings, stick with “pleasure.”
When Should You NOT Use This Phrase?
Don’t use this phrase in every situation. Sometimes it’s too formal or doesn’t fit.
Skip it when:
- Meeting casual friends or family
- Talking to people you see every day at work
- In very casual social settings like parties
- When the meeting went badly
- With people much younger than you in casual settings
- In text messages to friends
This phrase is for professional or semi-professional situations. At a casual party with friends, saying “it was a pleasure meeting you” sounds stiff and weird. Just say “nice meeting you” or “good talking to you.”
Also, don’t use it if the meeting was negative or awkward. If a job interview went badly, you might still say it to be polite, but if someone was rude to you, you don’t owe them this phrase.
Quick Tips for Using This Right
Match your tone: Say it warmly, not robotically. Smile when you say it in person. This keeps it genuine.
Keep it simple: Don’t add too many extra words. The basic phrase works best.
Follow up: If you say this in person, follow it up with an email using the phrase again. This reinforces the connection.
Watch your timing: Say it at the end of the conversation, not in the middle.
Be genuine: Only use it if you actually want to stay in touch. People can tell when you’re being fake.
Conclusion
“It was a pleasure meeting you” is a professional phrase for ending first-time meetings positively. Use it after job interviews, business meetings, and networking events. The phrase shows respect and opens the door for future contact. Remember to use past tense “was” and save it for professional settings, not casual friend situations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Say this at the end of a professional first meeting, like after a job interview, business meeting, or networking event. Use it when wrapping up the conversation.
Yes, this is correct and widely used in professional settings. The past tense “was” is right because the meeting already happened.
Yes, this phrase works great in follow-up emails after meetings. It reminds the person about your meeting and keeps things professional and friendly.
“Pleasure” is more formal and professional. “Nice” is more casual. Use “pleasure” for business settings and “nice” for casual situations.
No. Don’t use “meeting” if you’ve met before. Say “It was great seeing you again” or “It was wonderful catching up” instead.
Yes, it works perfectly in LinkedIn connection requests or messages after meeting someone at an event or conference.
Yes, it’s too formal for casual parties or friend gatherings. Use “nice meeting you” or “great talking to you” in casual settings instead.
Say “The pleasure was mine” or “It was great meeting you too” or “Likewise, I enjoyed our conversation.”
