How To Write A Proper Thank You Note

Article written by guest writer & anonymous author, Mind Your Manners

Writing thank you notes is a tradition that is slowly falling by the wayside, and it shouldn’t. Thank You notes truly mean so much and are required and expected from people with manners.

Emails, texts and phone calls are not substitutes for a proper thank you, but they can be done in addition to one. Proper thank you notes should be handwritten and mailed. They should have six or more sentences. Use these sentences as an opportunity to personalize your letter and compliment the person on the receiving end. This does not mean compliment their appearance. On the contrary, it means compliment their effort in regard to what your note is referring to. For example: Thank you for inviting us over for dinner last night. We thoroughly enjoyed every single thing on our plates. The steak was cooked to perfection. Your home is so warm and inviting, and we had a wonderful time.

Your thank you note should be written in printed stationary. They can be formal or informal depending on what the thank you note is for. The receiver should receive your thank you note within two weeks of your receiving of a gift, favor, kindness, etc.

Timeline for Thank You Notes In Response To Events:

Funeral- responses for condolences need to be complete by 6 months at the latest.
Wedding- within 6 months
Wedding Shower- ASAP to 2 weeks
Birthday- ASAP to 4 weeks
Baby Shower- depends on when the shower is held in relation to the birth, within 3 months
Retirement- within 6 months
Graduation- within 3 months