“It Was Good to See You Again” vs. “It Was Good Seeing You Again”: The Definitive Guide

⏱ Reading time: 8 min read

Quick answer: Both “it was good to see you again” and “it was good seeing you again” are grammatically correct, but “it was good to see you again” is the standard, professional choice for emails and formal correspondence. Reserve “it was good seeing you again” for casual text messages and spoken conversation with close friends.

Writers and professionals frequently hesitate between using the infinitive (“to see”) and the gerund (“seeing”) when wrapping up a message or conversation. While both phrases express warmth and appreciation, they carry subtle differences in tone, formality, and grammatical rhythm that directly impact how your message is received. As a veteran copy editor, I see this specific choice trip up countless job seekers and business professionals who want to strike the right chord in their follow-ups. This guide will give you the exact rules, real-world examples, and memory tricks to ensure you always choose the right phrase.

Term	Meaning / When to use	Example sentence
It was good to see you again	The standard, more formal infinitive construction. Best for professional emails, cover letters, networking follow-ups, and formal correspondence.	“Dear Sarah, thank you for your time yesterday; it was good to see you again at the conference.”
It was good seeing you again	A casual, conversational gerund construction. Best for text messages, informal Slack chats, or catching up with close friends and family.	“Hey Mark, it was good seeing you again! Let’s definitely grab coffee next month.”

When to use “It was good to see you again”

You should use the infinitive phrase “it was good to see you again” whenever you need to maintain a polished, professional, or universally safe tone. The infinitive form (“to see”) creates a subtle, respectful buffer that readers subconsciously associate with traditional, textbook-perfect writing. I recommend this phrasing without hesitation for business correspondence, networking follow-ups, formal letters, and any situation where you want to project competence and respect.

In professional editing, we evaluate sentences not just for grammatical correctness, but for tonal alignment. The infinitive “to see” functions as a purposeful, forward-looking construct. It implies intention. When you write “it was good to see you again,” you are subtly communicating that the meeting was a deliberate, valued event. I see this error constantly in cover letters, where candidates write “it was good seeing you at the job fair,” unintentionally downgrading their own professionalism.

Let’s look at real-world scenarios where this is the only appropriate choice:

• Professional Email Follow-Up: After a job interview or client meeting, you want to express gratitude without overstepping boundaries.
  • Incorrect/Casual: “Thanks for the chat. It was good seeing you again.”
  • Correct/Professional: “Thank you for the insightful conversation this morning. It was good to see you again, and I look forward to the next steps.”
• Cover Letter or Formal Networking Message: When reaching out to a hiring manager or an industry contact you met briefly at an event, formality is paramount.
  • Incorrect/Casual: “It was good seeing you again at the career fair last week.”
  • Correct/Professional: “It was good to see you again at the industry summit last week, and I remain very interested in the Senior Analyst role.”
• Formal Thank-You Note: For a wedding, a formal dinner, or a mentorship meeting, the infinitive maintains the dignity of the occasion.
  • Incorrect/Casual: “Thanks for hosting. It was good seeing you again.”
  • Correct/Professional: “Thank you for your generous hospitality. It was truly good to see you again.”

The phrase “see you again” carries significant cultural weight as a standard, emotionally resonant farewell. In fact, the enduring global popularity of the hit song “See You Again” highlights how deeply this specific infinitive construction is embedded in our emotional vocabulary for parting and meaningful reunions (See You Again – Wikipedia). Leveraging this familiar, formal structure in your writing taps into that same sense of respectful closure.

When to use “It was good seeing you again”

You should use the gerund phrase “it was good seeing you again” exclusively when the context is relaxed, informal, or highly conversational. The gerund form (“seeing”) mimics natural, spontaneous spoken English. It feels warmer, faster, and more intimate, making it the ideal choice for personal relationships where professional distance is unnecessary or even undesirable.

Conversely, the gerund “seeing” functions as an experiential construct. It focuses on the raw experience of the moment rather than the intention behind it. This is why it thrives in low-stakes, high-warmth environments. If you are writing a wedding thank-you note to your cousin, or a quick Slack message to a teammate you grab lunch with every day, the infinitive can actually sound too stiff.

Here are three concrete scenarios where the gerund form shines:

• Text Message to a Friend: When you are texting someone you know well, brevity and conversational flow are the priorities.
  • Stiff/Unnatural: “It was good to see you again. Drive safely.”
  • Natural/Casual: “It was good seeing you again! Drive safe and text me when you get home.”
• Informal Slack Message to a Close Colleague: If you work closely with someone and have a friendly rapport, a slightly casual tone builds camaraderie.
  • Stiff/Unnatural: “It was good to see you again in the breakroom today.”
  • Natural/Casual: “Hey, it was good seeing you again today. Have a great weekend!”
• Casual Email to a Long-Time Client: If you have worked with a client for years and your relationship is genuinely friendly, you can relax the grammar slightly to reflect that bond.
  • Stiff/Unnatural: “It was good to see you again at the golf outing.”
  • Natural/Casual: “Great catching up at the golf outing—it was good seeing you again.”

How to remember the difference

If you constantly second-guess which phrase to use, apply this simple memory trick: Think of the “T” in “To” as standing for “Traditional” or “Textbook.” If you are writing something that needs to be traditional or textbook-perfect (like a business email, a cover letter, or a formal thank-you note), use “to see.” If you are texting, chatting, or speaking aloud, “seeing” flows much more naturally like everyday dialogue.

As an editor, I also rely on a deeper linguistic insight: the rhythm of the sentence. The infinitive “to see” creates a slight pause that adds weight and deliberation to the statement. The gerund “seeing” rushes the syllables together (“good seeing”), which sounds friendly but can occasionally feel slightly abrupt or overly familiar to a reader who expects professional distance. When in doubt, always default to the infinitive. It is never wrong, whereas the gerund can occasionally be a stylistic misstep in formal contexts.

Common mistakes and exceptions

Even experienced writers occasionally stumble when constructing these farewell phrases. Here are the most frequent errors I correct in manuscripts and professional correspondence, along with how to fix them.

• Mistake 1: Mixing the structures awkwardly. Writers sometimes try to combine the preposition “for” with the gerund, resulting in clunky, unnatural phrasing.
  • Incorrect: “It was good for seeing you again.”
  • Correct: “It was good to see you again.”
• Mistake 2: Over-casualizing formal emails. Using “it was good seeing you again” in a first-time follow-up email to a hiring manager, a potential investor, or a senior executive can inadvertently signal a lack of professional polish. Always err on the side of formality when the power dynamic is unequal.
• Mistake 3: Misplacing the adverb. The word “again” must directly modify the act of seeing. Placing it elsewhere disrupts the sentence flow.
  • Incorrect: “It was again good to see you.”
  • Correct: “It was good to see you again.”
• Mistake 4: Confusing “good” with “well”. While not directly about the infinitive/gerund choice, writers often pair this phrase with the wrong adjective or adverb.
  • Incorrect: “It was well to see you again.”
  • Correct: “It was good to see you again.” (“Good” is an adjective describing the experience “it”, while “well” is an adverb typically describing an action or health).

Understanding the grammatical role of “again” is key to avoiding these pitfalls. As an adverb indicating repetition or a return to a previous state, “again” modifies the verb to show that the action is not happening for the first time (Again). This is precisely why “it was good to see you again” implies a pre-existing relationship, making the formal “to see” even more appropriate to honor that established connection.

• Exception: British vs. American English. In British English, the grammatical distinction between the infinitive and gerund in this context is identical to American English. However, British writers might occasionally pair the phrase with “lovely” or “grand” (e.g., “It was lovely to see you again”). The core grammatical rule remains unchanged across both dialects.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is “it was good seeing you again” grammatically incorrect? No, it is not grammatically incorrect. The gerund form is perfectly valid English. However, it is stylistically informal and should be avoided in professional or formal written correspondence.

Can I use “it was great to see you again” instead? Yes, absolutely. Substituting “great” for “good” is an excellent way to amplify enthusiasm and warmth while maintaining the exact same grammatical structure and professional tone.

Should I use “it is good to see you again” or “it was good to see you again”? Use “it is” if you are currently in the person’s physical presence (for example, greeting them at a door or starting a meeting). Use “it was” if the meeting has already concluded and you are following up afterward via email or text.

Can I use “it was nice to see you again” instead of “good”? Yes, “nice” is a perfectly acceptable and highly common synonym for “good” in this context. “It was nice to see you again” is slightly softer and more traditional, making it an exceptional choice for formal correspondence with older demographics or highly conservative industries.

Why does “it was good seeing you” sometimes sound rude in an email? It does not sound inherently rude, but it can sound overly familiar or rushed. In a professional setting, readers expect a baseline level of formality. The gerund “seeing” drops that formality, which can be misinterpreted as a lack of effort or respect, especially if you do not know the recipient well.