8.1. Ways of saying thank you
As stated in the listening text in the previous section, it is quite important to show people that we appreciate what they do or did for us. Here you have some common ways to do so orally:
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Thank you so much for all you did for me.
I really appreciate what you did for me, I'll never forget it.
Thanks a bunch.
Thanks a million.
What would I have done without you!
I owe you one.
I don't know what to say, "thank you" seems too small.
Thank you is not enough for all you did for me.
I'll never thank you enough for all your help.
You were too kind, thank you very much.
You're the best and I'll never forget you, thank you!
You were my saviour, I would have been lost without you.
You were an angel, thank you very much!
| Formal replies | Informal replies |
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It's my pleasure! You're welcome. It was the least I could do. That's really not necessary. You would have done the same! |
No problem! No sweat! Oh, come on! Don' t mention it! Forget it! Anytime. It's nothing! You shouldn't have bothered! No worries! |
Caso de estudio
Say thank you to the following people by talking directly to them. Be natural and use your own words and the ones before. Add as many information as you want. The following example will help you.
Example: Mary has brought you a souvenir from Egypt.
Oh Mary, thank you very much for the souvenir, you shouldn't have bothered! I love it!
Peter has given you a lift to the office because your car broke down yesterday.
Curiosidad
Read the text about the history of thank you cards and answer the questions below.
According to Advanced Etiquette, "A personal, handwritten, thank-you note is the finest form of expressing gratitude".
The custom of sending greeting cards can be traced back to the ancient Chinese, who exchanged messages of good will to celebrate the New Year, and to the early Egyptians, who conveyed their greetings on papyrus scrolls.
By the early 1400s, handmade paper greeting cards were being exchanged in Europe. The Germans are known to have printed New Year's greetings from woodcuts as early as 1400, and handmade paper Valentines were being exchanged in various parts of Europe in the early to mid-1400s.
By the 1850s, the greeting card had been transformed from a relatively expensive, handmade and hand-delivered gift to a popular and affordable means of personal communication, due largely to advances in printing and mechanization, as well as the 1840 introduction of the postage stamp.
The first known published Christmas card appeared in London in 1843, when Sir Henry Cole hired artist John Calcott Horsley to design a holiday card that he could send to his friends and acquaintances.
Although the first known valentine card can be traced back to 1415, it wasn't until the early 1800s and the Penny Post that they became popular and affordable. Esther Howland, a young woman from Massachusetts, was the first regular publisher of valentines in the United States. She sold her first handmade valentine in 1849, eventually establishing a successful publishing firm specializing in the elaborately decorated cards.
Today, it could be said that Greeting cards have developed enormously, so much so that we even have Electronic Cards. These Digital cards are becoming more and more common since they are a quick way to send a message of thanks to the other part of the world through a computer. No doubt, technology has taken a primary role in sending and receiving thank you notes, invitations and general greetings
Cuestionario SCORM
How to write a Thank you note.
Thank you! These are welcome words to all of us. A thank you communicates that we are valued and appreciated. Not receiving a thank you suggests that we are taken for granted. That is why an expression of thanks can make all the difference in a business relationship. Luckily, thank you notes are among the easiest messages to write, especially when you follow these tips and suggestions:
- Do not procrastinate. Send your thank you note as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the less likely you are to do it and the more likely someone somewhere is feeling unappreciated.
- Send it the old-fashioned way--in the mail. Some say it is okay to send it via E-mail. It is true that something is better than nothing, but receiving a card in the mail is far more exciting.
- Hand-write your note. When learning how to write thank you a thank you note, many reach for their laptop. That is fine, but try something different. Connect with your heart and pick up your pen--even for business notes. Typing is faster, but a neatly written note has the personal human touch of appreciation that every person is longing for.
- Be specific, positive and honest. Mention exactly what you are thanking them for and why you appreciate it. This is not the time to critique the gift, it is the time to be appreciative.
- Be brief and to the point.
- Use the word "You" more than the word "I".
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Here are the basic parts to every thank you note: Salutation. For example: Dear ... Thank you for the ... A sentence complimenting the other person or, when you receive a gift, a sentence mentioning the gift's usage. Thank again. Sincerely, Your name. |
Reflexión
Here you have two examples of thank you notes. Read them carefully and answer: What is the most appropriate one? Why?
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Dear Elizabeth, I just love the cuddly blanket you gave me at my baby shower. You have a gift for finding the most adorable things. I can't wait to bundle my little girl in the blanket. I just know she will love it. Thanks for making my baby shower such a special day. Love, Anne. |
Dear Elizabeth, Thank you for the cuddly blanket. You have a gift for finding the most adorable things. When my baby girl is wrapped in the warmth of your thoughtful present, I will think be sure to think of you and all of your well wishes for my growing family. Your presence at the shower made the day that much more special. Thanks again. Love, Anne. |
Para saber más
Make it real!
It is time for you to say thank you. Though we said before that it is better to send thank you cards in the regular mail, since our course is online, we are going to take advantage of it to thank your tutor or any of your classmates. Click on any of the links below and enter an e-card website. Customize your card and send it. Have fun!