About Appreciation Letter

Appreciation letters show good manners, sophistication and class. If someone has gone above and beyond his typical duties to help you in some way, you should take the time to write a letter of appreciation. By learning about what it takes to write a meaningful one, you can feel less intimidated and take on this worthwhile task.

Function

An appreciation letter is very similar to a typical thank you letter. The difference is that thank you letters are more personal and casual while an appreciation letter is typically more formal. For instance, you might send a thank you letter to your aunt for a birthday gift. A letter of appreciation, on the other hand, is one you might write to someone with whom you do not have a personal relationship, such as a business contact or someone who assisted you in some manner.

Types

Appreciation letters, while serving the same basic function, can be written for a variety of reasons. Each type will be just a bit different. An appreciation letter to an employee should define the specific behavior or undertaking you want to recognize. A letter penned for your child's teacher, though, will reflect many ways she made a difference in your child's life. Appreciation letters are also appropriate for business colleagues, clients, customers, retailers and networking contacts.

Features

If you are writing a letter to a teacher, employee, or perhaps a customer service representative who took extra time to help you solve a problem or find the perfect item, composing the letter in your own handwriting on attractive stationery or a blank note card is a nice touch. If the letter is meant for a business connection, you can use your computer's word processing program and print it on business letterhead. Addressing it personally and copying the letter to the person's immediate supervisor makes it even more meaningful.

Time Frame

A letter of appreciation should be sent as soon as possible following the action or performance you want to recognize. However, if you meant to write a letter but it slipped your mind for some time, write it anyway. It does not matter if the occurrence took place weeks, months or even years ago. Many schoolteachers can tell you about letters they received from students they taught years or decades prior and how meaningful those notes are.

Considerations

Proofread your appreciation letter before mailing it. Even if you used a word processing program with a spell check feature, it may have missed a "to" that should have been a "too." Ask someone you trust to read it also, or read it aloud to him. You might want to use a thesaurus to find the ideal words for your sentiments, but do not go overboard. The key is that you are honest and sincere.

Resources

• Helpful Appreciation Letter Words and Tips