Send a thank-you note whenever you receive a gift or helpful service.
Writing a thank-you note expresses more than gratitude; it shows you have good manners and makes the recipient feel acknowledged. Thank-you notes should be written after receiving cards, gifts or money for your birthday, wedding, anniversary, baby shower or other celebrations. After a job interview, send the interviewers a note thanking them for their time and the opportunity. Be prompt when writing and sending your thank-you note.
Instructions
1. Hand-write the note to make it as personal as possible.
2. Place a date in the top right-hand corner. If it's a formal note, you might want to list your address as well as the date. Include a greeting such as "Dear Joe" and a short introduction that sets the scene for your note. For a wedding thank-you note, you might say something like, "We really enjoyed seeing you at our wedding. Thank you for joining us in celebrating our marriage."
For a formal letter, you can include the person's name and address on the left-hand side. You can also include a header indicating the subject of the letter on a separate line below his address. For instance, you might write, "RE: Generous contribution toward advancing our cause." You can use capital letters, underline or bold-face this phrase for greater effect. On the following line, continue with the greeting, as in "Dear Mr. Shaw" followed by a comma.
3. Mention your appreciation for the gift you received. For example, you might write, "Thank you for the Crock Pot -- we can't wait to try out our favorite winter recipes!" If you have received money as a gift, mention what you plan to do with it. For example, "Thank you for your generous gift. We plan to spend it on a new dining room table." When thanking someone for money, refer to it as a "generous gift," and don't state the amount that you received.
4. Add a detail about the gift or service. For example, you might write, "The blue color of the serving plate matches our dining room wallpaper perfectly."
5. Add a sentence directed to the recipient that looks to the future, such as, "We look forward to seeing you at the family get-together at Thanksgiving."
6. End with a closing line such as "Thanks again for your generosity. Love, Sarah and Paul." You will need to tailor your note for the particular person you're thanking. For example, it would be inappropriate to sign off with "Love ..." on a note for your boss, a business colleague, a recent acquaintance or someone you don't know very well.
