The Art of Writing a Thank You Note

The holiday season is coming to an end, which means now is the time people start thinking about thank you notes. The power of a thank you note is underestimated, especially in today’s technology driven society. These days, one can research and copy a thank you note from the Internet. However, the Internet can provide valuable information when it comes to grammar and sentence structure.

The anatomy of a thank you note is important and should be taken into consideration. No one wants to receive a thank you note that sounds impersonal and rushed. That being said, it is important to always handwrite a thank you note.

Don’t think too much about your penmanship. A handwritten note is always better than any type of electronic note. Besides, everyone has their own touch.

Below is a basic template to help when drafting a thank you note this holiday season.

• Greeting. Make sure to use proper form and correct spelling of the person’s name, as well as anyone else mentioned in the note.
• Express your gratitude and thanks. Start the note off by being direct and say thank you in the first sentence.
• Be specific. Talk about how much you use (or plan to use) their gift. This shows your appreciation. If you received a monetary gift, tell them how you plan to spend the money or what you plan to purchase if it is a gift card.
• Any future plans? Mention when/where you plan to see them next. If nothing is planned, let them know that you are thinking about their family and wishing them a happy and healthy new year.
• Restate your thanks. End the note by thanking them one more time, but provide different details that were mentioned in the opening of the note.
• Ending. Close the note with your regards. For personal relationships, chose a warmer closing such as with love, many thanks or yours truly.

Timing is everything when it comes to sending out thank you notes. Try to send your thank you notes out quickly. It is suggested to send a thank you note within a month.