How to Word Thank You Notes

Sending a thank you note is always appropriate; people like to feel noticed and appreciated. There are many reasons to send thank you notes including when you receive a gift, when someone has done a specific favor or a particular service for you or when you've been a houseguest in someone's home. Handwriting a thank you note is a lovely gesture that should express kindness and gratitude. Here are tips for wording thank you notes.

Instructions

1. 

   Structure a personal thank you note properly

   ~ Put your address in the top left corner and the date in the top right corner.
   ~ Address the thank you note recipient with a nice salutation such as "Dear."
   ~ Begin the thank you note by mentioning the gift specifically.
   ~ Next write about your use and enjoyment of the gift.
   ~ For shorter but more formal thank you notes many etiquette experts recommend focusing entirely on the gift itself and your appreciation of the giver's kindness.
   ~ More informal thank you notes may include a brief update of personal news.
   ~ A nice thank you note closing would include another sentence regarding your appreciation of the gift and perhaps a mention of the happy anticipation of seeing or speaking to the person again.
   ~ End the thank you note with a warm and sincere closing. Examples include love, best wishes, warm wishes, kind regards, thanks again, my best...

2. 

   Reflect on the gift giver first

   Take a moment to focus on the person who gave you the gift, and the effort they put into the process. Your gratitude will deepen as you consider the energy and thought they put into selecting something you would appreciate/need/want. Reflect on the time they spent thinking of and shopping for (or making) the gift. When you think of the giver of the gift rather than the gift itself, the gift becomes more precious. And your thank you note will communicate this gratitude and appreciation.

3. 

   Match the tone of the thank you note to the gift

   Be authentic and keep the thank you note real. Avoid overstatements and hyperbole; an over-exaggerated thank you note may come across as insincere. Conversely, an underplayed thank you note can sound ungrateful. Match the style and tone of your thank you note to the recipient. And write about the significance of the gift to you. A sincere thank you note does not have to be long and flowery to express your gratitude.

4. 

   Write your thank you note in a timely manner

   Make every effort to write a thank you note within a reasonable amount of time; generally a two-week timeframe is ideal. But do not let being late keep you from writing the thank you note. If you are tardy with the note, acknowledge this with a brief comment and then move on to expressing your appreciation for the gift. It is more important to send a late sincere thank you note than to skip it all together.

Tips & Warnings

• Examples of mentioning the specific gift early in the thank you note:

• Dear Nancy, I just love the new flower pot. You know how much I love gardening. It is already full of flowers and proudly placed by the front door. Every time I pass it, I think of you. Thanks for remembering my birthday... ~~~ Dear Starr, Eddie and I had a blast at your performance. Thanks for getting us front row tickets. You were incredible, as always... ~~~~ Dear Aunt Mimi, We thank you so much for the generous check. We have been saving for a new sofa and your timing couldn't have been better. The sofa we want is on sale, so your gift will be put to good use immediately. We sincerely appreciate your kindness... ~~~~ Dear Caroline, Frosty adores the toy you gave her. Thank you for acknowledging her birthday...

Resources

• How to Write a Thank You Card After a Wedding