How to Write a Thank You Note

We write thank you notes for gifts, exemplary service, and recognition. Most of us have dutifully written that thank you note or email to Aunt Nancy. Keep reading to find out what to include in your thank yous.

Thank you Notes for Gifts

What goes into a thoughtful thank you note? Always start with a greeting followed by naming the gift using a positive adjective and a specific detail which shows how you appreciate or how you will use the gift.

Here are some examples:

Dear Aunt Nancy,

Thank you for the lovely flowers. They really brightened my day.

Dear Aunt Nancy, Thank you for the birthday check. I will use it to buy a pair of suede boots I’ve had my eye on.

Dear Aunt Nancy,

Thank you for the beautiful sweater. Did you knit it yourself? I love the cable design and it will go perfectly with my new pants.

Dear Aunt Nancy,

Thank you for the gift certificate to Sizzler. John and I had a delicious steak and lobster dinner.

Dear Aunt Nancy,

Thank you for the wooden salad bowl. I can’t wait to use it at our first dinner party!

Obviously, these examples are the bare minimum. Most likely you will add family news or share something that is happening in your life before closing your note with another sentence thanking the sender for the gift.

Thank Yous for Exemplary Service

While we often think of writing a thank you for gifts, there are other reasons to write them too. Has someone helped you through a difficult transition? Perhaps you received extra attention from a service representative, or a clerk helped you fill out official paperwork at a government office. Although a thank you is not expected it will always be appreciated. In these cases, a brief reminder of the incident should be followed by heartfelt gratitude for their effort on your behalf.

Here are some examples:

Dear Kimberly,

I really appreciate the time you took with me to answer all my questions about the different kinds of checking accounts ABC Bank has. Thanks to you, I feel confident that I picked the right one.

Dear Matthew,

Losing Mom was difficult. I was overwhelmed by all the paperwork. I couldn’t have completed all those documents without your help. Thanks for making the process so easy.

Thank You notes for Acts of Kindness

And then there are the times you want to thank someone for an act of kindness. Perhaps your neighbor shoveled your sidewalk or brought you a meal when you were sick. Maybe a police officer or fireman plucked something off the top shelf you couldn’t reach at the store. Don’t let these acts go unrecognized. If you know who performed the act of kindness follow the recommendations under the gift heading. Name the kind act using a positive adjective and give a specific detail which shows how their action touched you. If the person is unknown to you, write to the organization, office, or company for which that person works.