Proper Etiquette for Writing Thank You Cards

Thank you notes should be received two to three weeks after a gift or card has been given.

Greeting cards date back to the ancient Chinese and Egyptian eras, when greetings and messages of good will were written on scrolls. The mid-19th century saw advances in printing and the introduction of the postage stamp that popularized greeting cards. Among those greeting cards were thank you notes. In the early 21st century, these thank you cards have an entire set of etiquette rules and suggestions that go along with them.

Instructions

1. Keep a list of givers' names as you open gifts. Make a note of what each gift was next to the name of the giver. If you're opening gifts in front of others, at a baby shower, for instance, have the hostess do this so you can relax and enjoy opening gifts.

2. Purchase your thank you cards or materials to make them. Card stock weighing 28 to 30 pounds is typical, but you can use any type of paper, especially if your event was casual. If you're sending thank you cards for a wedding, they should be ordered along with the invitations for a more elegant and uniform style.

3. Write a rough draft of the note. First put in a line thanking the giver for the specific item you received. Then, mention why you like it or what you plan to do with it (and how excited you are). Always include well wishes and sign with a familiar salutation, like "Sincerely yours" or "Many Thanks." Write the final version directly on the card, carefully, using a quality pen. Never type a thank you note.

4. Place the card in a matching envelope. Place a stylish or elegant stamp for a finishing touch. Deliver your notes to the post office instead of a mailbox to ensure their safety.

5. Send the note/card as soon as possible after you receive the gift. The note should be received two to three weeks after you've been given the present or card. Engraved "receipt of gift" notification cards are available at stationary stores to send to the giver, letting her know you've received a sent gift, but a handwritten note is still required.

Tips & Warnings

• Send a thank you note, when in doubt. Emily Post says anyone giving shower, wedding, congratulatory, sick or condolences gifts or cards should receive a personalized note expressing your gratitude.

• Avoid mentioning monetary gifts specifically in the thank you note. Amounts and form of payment should not be mentioned. Instead, "generous gift" works well.

References

• The Greeting Card Association: The History of Greeting Cards
• The Wedding Channel: How to Write a Great Thank-You Note
• Emily Post: Thank-You Notes- To Send or Not to Send
• Marie Claire: How to Write a Holiday Thank You Note

Resources

• "Mom, Let's Write Thank You Notes!"