The phrase well wishes is commonly used to express good wishes, kindness, support, or hopes for someone’s happiness, health, success or recovery. You may hear it in messages such as “Send her my well wishes” or “I’m sending you my best wishes.”
Well wishes is especially common when someone is going through an important event or difficult situation, such as an illness, recovery, new job, graduation, wedding or personal challenge. It can be used in both casual and formal communication, although best wishes and my best wishes are often more natural in certain situations.
Quick Answer
Well wishes means kind or positive thoughts and hopes for someone’s well-being, happiness, recovery or success.
Examples:
- Please accept my well wishes.
- I’m sending you my well wishes.
- Give her my well wishes.
- We wish you all the best.
The related phrase best wishes is also extremely common.
Why People Confuse It
People sometimes wonder whether well wishes is grammatically correct because wish can be used as both a verb and a noun.
In well wishes, wishes is a plural noun, while well describes the positive nature of those wishes.
Think of it as:
well wishes = good/positive wishes for someone
The phrase is normally used as a noun phrase.
Well Wishes Meaning
Well wishes are expressions of goodwill toward another person.
Depending on the situation, they can communicate hopes for:
- Good health
- A quick recovery
- Success
- Happiness
- A safe journey
- A new beginning
- A successful event
- General well-being
For example:
I sent her my well wishes after her surgery.
This means you expressed your hopes that she would recover and be well.
How to Use “Well Wishes”
1. Send Someone Your Well Wishes
This is one of the most common constructions.
Please send him my well wishes.
I’d like to send you my well wishes.
We’re sending our well wishes to the family.
2. Give Someone Your Well Wishes
You can also say:
Please give her my well wishes.
This means you want another person to communicate your good wishes to her.
3. Offer Your Well Wishes
Offer can also be used, particularly in more formal contexts.
We would like to offer our well wishes to the newlyweds.
The organization offered its well wishes to the team.
4. Extend Your Well Wishes
Extend is another formal option.
We would like to extend our well wishes to everyone affected.
This construction is particularly common in formal announcements and professional communication.
Well Wishes vs. Best Wishes
Although well wishes and best wishes are related, best wishes is often more idiomatic in everyday English.
| Phrase | Typical Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Well wishes | Expressing goodwill or concern | We send our well wishes. |
| Best wishes | General good wishes | Best wishes for your new job. |
| Good wishes | General positive hopes | I send my good wishes. |
| Get well wishes | Recovery from illness | Sending get-well wishes. |
For a card or email ending, Best wishes is generally more natural than simply Well wishes.
For example:
Best wishes,
Sarah
sounds more natural than:
Well wishes,
Sarah
When to Use “Well Wishes”
Well wishes works particularly well when someone:
- Is recovering from an illness.
- Is facing a difficult situation.
- Has experienced a loss.
- Is beginning a new chapter.
- Is celebrating an achievement.
- Is preparing for an important event.
- Needs encouragement or support.
Examples:
- We sent our well wishes to the injured player.
- Please accept my well wishes during this difficult time.
- Everyone is sending their well wishes for your recovery.
- We want to extend our well wishes to the graduating students.
Examples (10+)
- I’m sending you my well wishes.
- Please accept my well wishes.
- We send our well wishes to your family.
- Give her my well wishes.
- Everyone sent their well wishes after the announcement.
- We would like to extend our well wishes to the couple.
- The team sent their well wishes to their injured teammate.
- I want to offer my well wishes for your recovery.
- Please send him our well wishes.
- The organization expressed its well wishes to the community.
- We are sending our warmest well wishes.
- I hope my well wishes bring you some comfort.
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Using “well wishes” as a sign-off
You may occasionally see:
Well wishes,
John
This is understandable, but Best wishes is generally more natural as a standard letter or email closing.
Better:
Best wishes,
John
Mistake 2: Saying “a well wish”
Well wishes is normally used as a plural expression.
Instead of:
❌ I sent him a well wish.
Prefer:
✅ I sent him my well wishes.
If you need a singular noun, a good wish or simply a wish may work depending on the context.
Mistake 3: Confusing “well wishes” with “well-wishes”
Both forms can be encountered, but well wishes is commonly written as two words when used as a noun phrase.
The related compound well-wishing is often hyphenated when used as a noun or adjective:
Her well wishing friends supported her.
Memory Trick
Think:
WELL WISHES = POSITIVE WISHES FOR SOMEONE
If you’re expressing hope that someone will be healthy, happy, successful, or safe, you can often use well wishes.
For example:
Sending you my well wishes.
means:
I’m sending you positive thoughts and good wishes.
American vs British English
Well wishes is understood in both American and British English.
However, best wishes is extremely common in both varieties, especially as a letter or email closing.
The exact phrase you choose depends on the situation and level of formality.
Similar Expressions
You can use several related expressions depending on the situation:
- Best wishes
- Good wishes
- Warm wishes
- Warmest wishes
- All the best
- Best of luck
- Get well soon
- Wishing you well
- Wishing you all the best
- My thoughts are with you
For example:
Wishing you all the best in your new role.
Final Verdict
Well wishes is a correct and useful expression meaning positive thoughts, hopes or expressions of goodwill toward someone. It is especially appropriate when expressing support for someone’s health, recovery, success, or well-being.
However, if you’re ending a letter, email, or card, Best wishes is usually the more natural expression. Use well wishes when you specifically want to communicate goodwill or positive thoughts toward someone.
FAQs
What does “well wishes” mean?
Well wishes means kind, positive thoughts or hopes for someone’s health, happiness, success, recovery, or general well-being.
Is “well wishes” grammatically correct?
Yes. Well wishes is a recognized noun phrase used to express goodwill toward someone.
Is it “well wishes” or “best wishes”?
Both are correct, but they are used somewhat differently. Best wishes is more common as a letter or email closing, while well wishes emphasizes positive thoughts or goodwill toward someone.
Can I say “sending well wishes”?
Yes.
Sending you my well wishes.
is a natural expression.
Is “well wishes” formal?
It can be used in both formal and informal contexts. Extend our well wishes and offer our well wishes sound particularly formal.
Can I say “well wishes to you”?
Yes, although “sending you my well wishes” or “best wishes to you” may sound more natural depending on the situation.
Is “well wishes” appropriate for someone who is sick?
Yes. You can say:
I’m sending you my well wishes for a speedy recovery.
However, get-well wishes or wishing you a speedy recovery may be even more specific.
Can “well wishes” be used for congratulations?
Yes. It can express goodwill toward someone beginning a new chapter, although best wishes is often more natural for occasions such as weddings, graduations and new jobs.
Conclusion
Well wishes is a correct expression used to communicate kindness, goodwill, and positive hopes for another person’s well being. It can be used when someone is sick, recovering, celebrating an achievement, starting something new or experiencing a difficult period.
Remember that best wishes is generally the better choice as a standard email or letter sign off, while well wishes works naturally when you’re specifically expressing positive thoughts toward someone.
Remember This
✅ Well wishes = Positive thoughts and hopes for someone’s well-being
✅ Sending you my well wishes = Sending you my good thoughts and support
✅ Best wishes = A very common general expression and sign off
Quick rule: Use “well wishes” to express goodwill; use “best wishes” for a general good wishing phrase or sign off.
