People often pause over “well wishes” because the phrase looks simple, but it sits in an awkward place between grammar and etiquette. On the one hand, wish is a word English speakers use in letters and cards to say they hope someone will be happy, well, or successful; on the other hand, dictionaries also record related nouns such as well-wish and well-wishing, which makes the phrase feel more “real” than a random mistake. Oxford even gives “Thanks to all those who sent well wishes” as an example, so the phrase is clearly used in natural English.
The short answer is: yes, “well wishes” is correct in modern English, especially when you mean kind or supportive messages. Still, “best wishes” and “good wishes” are more traditional and often sound more natural in formal closings. That is why people get confused, and why this matters in everyday writing, speaking, exams, and professional communication.
Meaning: What Does “Well Wishes” Mean?
In standard English, well wishes means kind or supportive expressions of goodwill. Oxford’s wish entry explains that wishes can be used, especially in a letter, email, or card, to say that you hope somebody will be happy, well, or successful. Merriam-Webster also defines well-wish as “a good or kindly wish,” and well-wishing as the act of wishing well to another.
That means the phrase usually appears when you are:
- congratulating someone,
- wishing someone a speedy recovery,
- sending support,
- or expressing kindness in a message.
Simple meaning table
| Phrase | Simple meaning | Typical use |
| well wishes | kind messages of goodwill | cards, messages, social posts |
| best wishes | a standard closing or greeting | letters, emails, cards |
| good wishes | friendly hopes for someone’s success | formal or semi-formal writing |
| wish you well | a verb phrase meaning to hope good things for someone | direct speaking or writing |
Real-world meaning examples
- “We send our well wishes to the family.”
- “Thanks for all the well wishes.”
- “Her fans sent well wishes after the surgery.”
The idea is simple: well wishes = goodwill messages.
Is It Correct to Say “Well Wishes”?
Yes. “Well wishes” is correct, and major dictionaries show related forms in current usage. Oxford includes it in an example sentence, and Merriam-Webster records the noun well-wish and the noun well-wishing. A grammar commentary from Grammarphobia notes that the usual expression is often good wishes or best wishes, but also says well wishes has been used for hundreds of years.
That means the phrase is not a mistake. The real question is more about style than correctness:
- well wishes is understandable and standard enough to use,
- best wishes is often more idiomatic in greetings and closings,
- good wishes is also widely accepted.
Correctness comparison table
| Phrase | Correct? | Style |
| well wishes | yes | natural, but sometimes less conventional than “best wishes” |
| best wishes | yes | very common and traditional |
| good wishes | yes | common and clear |
| wish you well | yes | verb phrase, not a noun phrase |
Why this feels confusing
The phrase looks odd to some learners because well is usually an adverb, while wishes is a plural noun. But English allows well in noun-like compounds such as well-wish and well-wishing, and those dictionary entries support the idea that “well” can be part of a fixed expression of goodwill.
So the safe answer is: yes, it is correct to say “well wishes.”
Grammar Rules: How “Well Wishes” Works
The phrase well wishes works as a plural noun phrase. In other words, it behaves like a phrase naming multiple goodwill messages. Oxford’s entry for wish says wishes is used, especially in letters, emails, or cards, to express hopes for someone’s happiness, wellbeing, or success.
Grammar breakdown
- well = part of the expression showing kindness or goodwill
- wishes = plural noun, meaning messages or acts of wishing
This means the phrase is not built the same way as a simple adjective + noun combination like red car. Instead, it functions more like a fixed expression. That is why people can write:
- well wishes
- well-wishes
- best wishes
- good wishes
Grammar comparison table
| Structure | Grammar type | Example |
| well wishes | plural noun phrase | She received many well wishes. |
| best wishes | plural noun phrase / closing | Best wishes for your recovery. |
| good wishes | plural noun phrase | We send our good wishes. |
| wish you well | verb phrase | I wish you well. |
How the phrase is used in a sentence
- Well wishes from friends made her smile.
- Well wishes poured in after the announcement.
- We sent our well wishes to the team.
These are all normal, natural structures in modern English. Merriam-Webster even shows examples where well-wishes are pluralized in running text, and Oxford gives a sentence using well wishes directly.
Spelling Differences: Well Wishes, Well-Wishes, or Best Wishes?
The spelling question is where many learners get stuck. The good news is that there is no single tricky “correct” spelling that everyone must use in every context. Instead, English shows a few related forms.
Common spelling and form table
| Form | Status | Notes |
| well wishes | correct | open form, common in modern writing |
| well-wishes | correct | hyphenated form seen in edited prose and examples |
| well wish | correct in dictionary form | singular noun, often hyphenated in dictionary entries |
| best wishes | correct | common closing expression |
Merriam-Webster lists well-wish as a noun meaning “a good or kindly wish,” and its examples show well-wishes in plural text. Merriam-Webster also lists well-wishing as the act of wishing well to another. Oxford, meanwhile, provides the open form well wishes in an example sentence.
Which spelling should you choose?
If you are writing:
- an email,
- a card,
- a social post,
- or a general message,
well wishes is a safe and natural choice. If you are writing more formally or following a house style, you may also see well-wishes.
Spelling and usage comparison table
| Phrase | Best for | Example |
| well wishes | general goodwill messages | Thanks for your well wishes. |
| well-wishes | edited prose / hyphenated style | The article mentioned many well-wishes. |
| best wishes | letters, cards, closings | Best wishes for the future. |
| good wishes | friendly formal writing | I send my good wishes to the family. |
One small caution
Do not turn the phrase into well wishs or well wishings. The standard plural is wishes, and the related dictionary nouns are well-wish and well-wishing.
British vs American English: Is There a Difference?
There is no major British-versus-American rule that makes well wishes wrong in one variety and right in the other. Oxford and Merriam-Webster both record related forms that are used in current English, and Oxford’s examples show the expression naturally in a learner-facing dictionary.
What does differ a little is preference:
- In both British and American English, best wishes is a very common and comfortable closing.
- Well wishes is also used in both varieties, especially when speaking about messages of support, sympathy, congratulations, or recovery.
Style comparison table
| Variety | Common form | Notes |
| British English | best wishes / good wishes / well wishes | all understood |
| American English | best wishes / good wishes / well wishes | all understood |
Practical tip
If you are not sure what to write, best wishes is often the most familiar closing. But if you want to refer to the actual messages people sent, well wishes is completely fine:
- “Thanks for your well wishes.”
- “We appreciate all the well wishes.”
Pronunciation of “Well Wishes”
The pronunciation is straightforward, and the words are familiar in both British and American English dictionaries. Merriam-Webster gives well as /ˈwel/, and Oxford gives wish as /wɪʃ/. The plural wishes is pronounced with the extra -iz sound, as in other English plurals like bushes or dishes.
Pronunciation guide
- well = /wel/
- wish = /wɪʃ/
- wishes = /ˈwɪʃɪz/
Spoken examples
- “Thanks for your well wishes.”
- “We send our well wishes to the team.”
- “Best wishes for a speedy recovery.”
Why pronunciation matters
Because well and wishes are both common words, the phrase sounds natural in conversation. There is nothing awkward about saying it. The issue is usually not pronunciation, but whether the phrase feels as idiomatic as best wishes in a closing line.
Sentence Examples: Correct and Incorrect Uses
Examples make the difference much easier to see. Oxford’s wish entry provides several useful examples such as “With best wishes”, “Give my good wishes to the family”, and “I send best wishes for a speedy recovery.” It also gives the direct example “Thanks to all those who sent well wishes.”
Correct examples
- Thanks for your well wishes.
- We received many well wishes after the announcement.
- She sent her well wishes to the family.
- My well wishes are with you during this difficult time.
- They offered their well wishes and support.
Alternative correct examples
- Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
- Good wishes to you and your family.
- I wish you well.
- With best wishes,
[Your Name]
Incorrect or less natural examples
- He sent a well wishes.
- I give you well wishes to go.
- Her well wish was kind.
This one is less natural if you mean multiple messages; a singular dictionary noun form exists, but in ordinary speech people more often say well wishes or best wishes.
Correct vs incorrect table
| Correct | Incorrect |
| Thanks for your well wishes. | Thanks for your well wishs. |
| I send you my best wishes. | I send you my best wish. |
| We wish you well. | We well wish you. |
A useful distinction
- well wishes = the message or set of messages
- wish you well = the action of hoping good things for someone
- best wishes = a very common closing or greeting
Common Mistakes Learners Make
The phrase is simple, but learners still make a few predictable mistakes.
Mistake 1: Thinking “well wishes” is always wrong
It is not wrong. Oxford and Merriam-Webster both show related forms in real usage, and Oxford even gives a direct example with well wishes.
Mistake 2: Using “well wishes” as a verb phrase
Wrong:
- I well wishes you a happy day.
Correct:
- I wish you a happy day.
- I send you my well wishes.
Mistake 3: Mixing singular and plural forms
Wrong:
- a well wishes
Correct:
- a well-wish
- some well wishes
- many well wishes
Mistake 4: Forgetting that “best wishes” is often more idiomatic in closings
Grammarphobia notes that the usual expression is often good wishes or best wishes, even though well wishes has a long history. That means you can use well wishes, but best wishes may sound more conventional in a card or email sign-off.
Mistake checklist
| Mistake | Better choice |
| a well wishes | well wishes / a well-wish |
| I well wishes you | I wish you well |
| well wish in a closing | best wishes / good wishes |
| well-wishings | well-wishes / well wishes |
FAQs
Is it correct to say well wishes?
Yes. Oxford gives well wishes in an example sentence, and Merriam-Webster records related noun forms such as well-wish and well-wishing.
Is “well wishes” the same as “best wishes”?
They are similar, but not identical in style. Best wishes is a very common closing or greeting; well wishes often refers to the kind messages or goodwill people send.
Can I write “thank you for your well wishes”?
Yes. That is a natural and widely used phrase. Oxford’s example and Merriam-Webster’s example sentences support this kind of usage.
Is “well wishes” formal or informal?
It can be either, depending on context. In a formal card or message, many people still prefer best wishes or good wishes, but well wishes is understandable and acceptable.
What is the singular form?
A dictionary form recorded by Merriam-Webster is well-wish, meaning “a good or kindly wish.”
Should I use a hyphen?
You may see both well wishes and well-wishes in English writing. Oxford gives the open form in an example, while Merriam-Webster’s examples show the hyphenated plural in use.
Conclusion
Yes, it is correct to say “well wishes.” It means kind or supportive expressions of goodwill, and Oxford includes it directly in an example sentence. Merriam-Webster also supports the idea through related noun entries like well-wish and well-wishing, while Grammarphobia notes that well wishes has been used for hundreds of years even though best wishes and good wishes are the more usual expressions in many closings.
A simple way to remember it is this:
- well wishes = correct, especially for messages of goodwill
- best wishes = more idiomatic for cards and closings
- wish you well = the verb phrase
So if you are writing to someone recovering from illness, celebrating a milestone, or simply sending kindness, well wishes is a valid and natural choice. If you want the most traditional closing, choose best wishes. Both can sound good; the best one depends on the tone you want to create.
