How to Write A Thank You Note

Many people underestimate the power of a simple handwritten thank you note. These days it seems easy to send a quick email, text message or phone call. They all get the job done, right?

But a handwritten thank you note says more. It says that you went out of your way to sit down and write to those who did something for you. A handwritten thank you note conveys thoughtfulness and sincerity and is the perfect way to express your gratitude to anyone and for any occasion.

People often struggle with knowing what to write in a thank you card. But, no matter how hard it may seem to get started, if you remember these easy step-by-step instructions; you’ll be a pro in writing your own thank you notes.

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thank you for gift note example

Step By Step Thank You Note Wording:

When drafting your thank you letters, use the following guide to make sure you don’t leave anything out.

Start with a Greeting

Open your card with a greeting addressing the recipient. ‘Dear,’ is a standard salutation that is commonly used for notes and cards or you may also decide to just use the recipient’s names. One thing to make sure, is that you’re using the correct form and spelling of the person’s name and anyone else’s names you might be using in your thank you message. Examples of thank you greetings include:

  • Dear Aunt Rose and Uncle Joe,
  • Aunt Rose and Uncle Joe,
  • To my Aunt Rose and Uncle Joe,

How To Say Thank You: Thank You Note Wording

Next, it’s your chance to say the two most important words in the card-thank you. Although it seems like two short words, there are many different ways to say thanks. Just remember who you are speaking to and your own personal style when choosing how to say thanks. Examples of how to express thanks include:

  • Thank you so much for…
  • Thanks a million…
  • I want to sincerely thank you for…
  • I appreciate that you…
  • Thanks it made my day when…
  • I can’t get over how thankful I am for…
  • I wanted to give my many thanks for…

Talk About Specifics

To make each thank you note a one-of-a-kind it’s important that you add specific details to your thanks. What exactly is it that you are thanking this person for? There are a lot of occasions that deserve a special thanks. Did they do something more, something that specifically made you feel special? If so, include that in the note. People love to feel appreciated. Plus, they might not even know that they made a special impact on you until you say thank you for it. If they gave you a gift, now would be a good time to describe how you’re going to use it. If they threw you a party, tell them what your favorite part was. Examples of how to add detail include:

  • I can’t wait to use my graduation money to help buy my new laptop for school.
  • I was so surprised to see all of my friends and family at my party, that day made me feel so special.
  • Here is a picture of me with my new dorm room goodies. Aren’t they cute?

Mention Them

Mention the next time that you may see them, inquire about something going on in their life or just let them know that they are in your thoughts. Examples of looking ahead include:

  • I know Samantha had a big game coming up, I hope that went well.
  • Thinking about you guys always thanks to that wall calendar you sent, can’t wait to see you next.
  • Looking forward to seeing you all again on Thanksgiving, we better start saving room for pies now.

Say Thank You One More Time

Now, as you begin to close your thank you card, restate your reason for writing the note. Add details to say thanks in a different way. Examples of how to restate your thanks include:

  • Thanks again for taking the time to meet with me. I am so excited to hear from you and look forward to what the future holds.
  • We were so happy to have you there for our big day. Thank you again for your generosity and kind wishes.
  • I can’t say thank you enough. That custom photo book means the world to me.

Give Your Warm Regards

Lastly, just as you addressed the recipient with a salutation in the opening of the card, now is the time to close it. Again, depending on whom you are writing to your closing sign off may vary on the personal to formal scale. Examples of closing statements or sign-offs include:

  • Sincerely,
  • All Best,
  • With Love,
  • Many Thanks,
  • Yours Truly,
  • Much Love,
  • Take Care,
  • Always,
  • Thank you again,
  • Hugs and Kisses,
  • XOXO
  • All my love,

Sample Thank You Notes and Thank You Card Templates

Thank you notes are appropriate after many different occasions. Anyone who throws a party, gives a gift, or takes time to do something for you deserves to be appreciated. If someone went out of their way for you it’s nice of you to acknowledge it. There is no event, action or occasion that doesn’t deserve a thanks and just remember that a little bit goes a long way.

Your thank you messages don’t have to be two pages long. Short and sweet will do the trick. We all appreciate our actions getting noticed, especially when we did something nice for someone. These thank you card templates and examples for various occasions should leave you with zero questions on what to say in a thank you card and will give you some ideas for proper appreciation.

Thank You Note Template: Thank You for Gift Samples

If you’ve recently been gifted something special or unexpected make sure you let the giver know how much the present was appreciated. These sample messages make perfect templates for gift-related thank you cards.

Thank You Note for Gift Sample 1

Dear Aunt Brenda and Uncle Troy,

Thank you so much for thinking of me as I graduate and of course for the cold hard cash. I can’t wait to use the money to decorate my dorm room once I move in. I look forward to visiting with you guys the next time you’re out in California or maybe I will make it out to Colorado soon. Again, thanks for the cash. I will send you a picture of my dorm room once I’m all settled in.

Love you guys,

Nikki

Thank You Note for Gift Sample 2

Dear Grandma,

Thanks a bunch for the generous Christmas gift. It made my day to get a handmade quilt that I know I’m going to be using a lot. I can’t wait to see you for dinner next week. Thanks again.

Love,

Ellie

Thank You Note for Gift Sample 3

Aunt Laura,

Thank you very so much for your generous gift. As you know, we are saving up for a down payment and your kindness will really help us out. Hope the kids are doing well. We are looking forward to catching up with everyone around the holidays.

With Love,

Amanda

Thank You Card Wording: Wedding Thank You Note

A wedding is a special day and you were happy to share it with your loved ones. However, no that it’s time to send thank you’s, you’re not sure how to express your gratitude. Luckily we’ve collected some samples for wedding thank you notes below.


wedding thank you note example

Thank You Note for Wedding Sample 1

Dear Allie and Josh,

It was so lovely to see the two of you at our wedding; it’s been so long. Thank you for making the trip out to be with us on our special day. It meant so much to have you there. We’re looking forward to seeing you soon.

Sincerely,

Becca and Jacob

Thank You Note for Wedding Sample 2

Dear Uncle John,

Thank you for our new dishware set and for your company on our wedding day. The dishes are already being put to use at the new house and are very much appreciated. We can’t thank you enough for your kindness.

Love you,

Kate and Darren

Thank You Note for Wedding Sample 3

Brad,

Thank you so much for being a part of our big day. It meant a lot that you flew all the way out here to be with us. Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

Julia and Evan

Thank You Card Ideas: Sympathy Thank You Note

Your loved ones took the time to express their condolences, and you want to show how much that meant to you. See our templates for sympathy thank you cards below.

Sympathy Thank You Note Sample 1

Phil and Family,

The kindness and generosity of good friends like you has been a great help to us during this difficult time. It’s the little things that seem to make our days better. My family and I would like to offer our thanks for the flowers you sent over. Thank you so very much for your loving support.

Sincerely,

Jim

Sympathy Thank You Note Sample 2

Dear Helen,

There are simply no words that can express our thanks for the love, support and sympathy you have extended during this hard time. It means everything to know that we have friends like you. We are deeply grateful to you.

With Love,

Deanna and Family

Sympathy Thank You Note Sample 3

Dear Aunt Marla and Uncle Bob,

You have been a rock to my family and I during this time of loss. Your willingness to help with anything needed was a huge comfort. Please know that we are deeply grateful for you.

With Love,

Anna

What To Write In A Thank You Card: Thank You Note For Baby Shower

Your new baby is going to be spoiled for gifts when they arrive. Let your guests know how much the gifts were appreciated with the following baby shower thank you templates:


baby shower thank you note examples

Baby Shower Thank You Note Sample 1

Dear Natasha,

I can’t begin to say enough thanks to you for planning the baby shower of my dreams. It was a day that I will never forget, especially since you made it possible for Grandma Mary to be there. I absolutely loved everything about that day, thanks again for making it happen. Can’t wait for the little one to arrive and know a special person like you.

Love,

Jeanine

Baby Shower Thank You Note Sample 2

Aunt Shelly,

Thank you for attending my baby shower. And thank you for the handmade bibs and swaddling blankets- we will be using those a lot. We can’t wait to see you guys over the holidays, which are coming up so soon. Anyways, thanks again and love you lots.

Love,

Anita

Baby Shower Thank You Note Sample 3

Dear Grandma,

It makes me so happy that you were able to be a part of my baby shower. Thank you so much for the quilt and thoughtful wishes. I can’t wait for the little one to meet her great grandmother. See you for dinner soon.

With Love,

Evangeline

Thank You Note Examples: Thank You Note After An Interview

You appreciated the time your interviewer took to get to know you and your background, and now you’re looking for a way to say thank you. Check out the post interview thank you templates below for inspiration.

Interview Thank You Note Sample 1

Dear Mr. Yamamoto,

Thank you so much for taking the time to meet with me yesterday and to interview me for the sales position. I enjoyed the opportunity to learn more about the position, to meet with you, and to see your offices. As we discussed, I have two years of experience in sales and I believe that my qualifications will make me a strong addition to the team. I am excited about this opportunity to join (organization name) and look forward to hearing from you soon. Please do not hesitate to call or email me if you have any questions or need additional information.

Best Regards,

Donald McMillian

Interview Thank You Note Sample 2

Dear Mrs. Esquire,

I wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed my recent interview at (organization name.) Please relay my appreciation to the other members of your team whom I had the opportunity to meet.

I was aware of your company’s excellent reputation before my interview and my visit only confirmed my initial impression. I would be pleased to start my professional career here and believe my qualifications would make me a great asset to your team.

Again, thank you for the opportunity and warm hospitality extended to me. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Swann

Interview Thank You Note Sample 3

Dear Mrs. Bucher,

I enjoyed talking with you and learning about careers in finance. It was exciting to find out about the successful path of a former USC student. I appreciate you taking the time to meet with me and am excited for the opportunity to join the team at (organization name.)

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

All Best,

Jeffrey Hammond

Additional Thank You Note Resources

There’s no need to have a hard time writing thank you cards anymore with our templates and wording ideas. If you need a little added motivation for putting the pen to paper, pick out a style of stationery that you really love, from holiday cards to more general greeting cards for any occasion. With so many designs to choose from, your thank you cards will not only sound good but look good. No matter what the occasion, make sure to show your appreciation with a hand-written thank you note.