I'm from Russia and I've got a problem with writing a letter. Can I use the phrase "glad to hear such news" if I'm not speaking with a person? Isn't it better and more correct to use "glad to know"?
Learn English – “Glad to hear” in non-speaking form
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Best Answer
"hear" can mean much more than perceiving by the ear. Definitions include:
In 1953, a General Service List of English Words (Oxford University Press) listed "perceiving by the ear" as accounting for 54% of all meanings of "hear". With tremendous technological advance since then (smartphones, text messages, e-mails), I won't be surprised if I hear this number has dropped significantly.
To answer your question, "glad to hear the news", "glad to hear from you" are grammatical and current usage.