How to Express Gratitude in Writing?

How to Express Gratitude in Writing?

How to express gratitude in writing

Expressing gratitude is as important as experiencing it. Whether it is someone who did you a good turn or the Universe that made good events happen in your life, expressing gratitude amplifies the beneficial aspect of gratitude manifold.

You have numerous choices when it comes to showing gratitude. Say it aloud, write it down as a thank you note/letter, or express gratitude through gestures like hugging or smiling. You may combine various methods to get the desired outcome.

Gratitude is a powerful force that can have profound effects on your life. When you show gratitude to the universe, it’s like permitting yourself to be happy and content with all of the good things in your life. This article will show gratitude and appreciation in writing and ways to get the best out of it.

Gratitude in writing

Sometimes a thank you note would be appropriate, some situations call for more elaborate writing as in a thank you letter. At times, the shortest format of messaging would do.

Thank you note

A well-written note can be as effective as delivering the same message in person. Writing a note need not be laborious or time-consuming. Here are a few pointers to how to write a good thank-you note.

  • Express appreciation for the action or gift received
  • Explain how it benefited you in 1-2 sentences
  • Conclude the note by saying when you would call or visit them.

You can include relevant quotes, poetry, or sayings as part of the note. With poems, you may be able to say all that you want through them without adding your own words.

Handwritten notes are better than printed ones or SMSs or emails. As per convenience and choices available to you, select the one you think is the best way to show your gratitude.

Some examples of thank you notes.

  1. We are so happy and pleased that you could join us to celebrate Sam’s birthday. He loves playing with the construction set so much. I will be sending you a picture of him playing with it.
  2. Thank you for inviting us to your beautiful home. We had a great time. Your warm welcome, delicious meal, and excellent company are much appreciated.
  3. Thank you ever so much for the anthurium plant. I have been searching for this particular shade for some time now. With the new addition, my garden looks vivid and perfect.
  4. It was so nice of you to help me out by picking up my laundry the other day. I am indeed lucky to have such a kind and helpful neighbor.
  5. Thank you for introducing me to David Smith at ABC Company. I am very grateful for the acquaintance. Your help and support in my job search are much appreciated. 

Gratitude letter

writing gratitude letter

The next best thing to an in-person show of gratitude is through a well-written letter. Again, the paper version carries more value than the electronic kind. 

Here are some tips to make your thank you letter more compelling.

Address the person appropriately. If you know them well, a “Dear First name” would be apt but for more formal relationships, use “Dear Mr/Ms. Surname”.

Get to point quickly. Express your appreciation within the first two sentences. If you are opting to send it as an email, include “Thank You” in the subject.

Add in some details. Specify what you are thanking for and how it benefits you. 

Express your gratitude once again. This is to emphasize your appreciation.

Sign off using appropriate closing. Such as sincerely, affectionately, or best regards.

Ensure that the tone of the letter remains positive but genuine. Do not delay in sending the letter. Keep the letter brief. Make sure that you proofread before sending it. 

Examples of gratitude letters.

Paper version:

July 5, 2021
Will Blake
Deputy Manager
XYZ Company
123 Avenue ABC City, CA 91784

Dear Mr. Brown,

I hope you are doing well. I just wanted to thank you for writing a letter of reference for the position at ABC Company.

I appreciate your taking the time out of your busy schedule to help me. You would be pleased to know that I have another interview scheduled with the firm next week! I will definitely let you know the outcome.

Thank you so much. I really appreciate your time and assistance.

Best regards,

(signature)

Will Blake

Email Version:

Subject: Thank you

Dear Ms. Miller,

I want to thank you for your invaluable assistance in my recent job search.

When I started searching for a job, I had very little idea how to go about it. I had no clue how to look out for new job opportunities. Your guidance and inputs made it easier for me to find the job I wanted. I greatly appreciate you introducing me to the right people. I would like you to know that your help made all the difference.

I am happy to inform you that I have been offered a position with the ABC Company! Thank you so very much. I highly appreciate your help.

Sincerely,

Dan Davis

555-555-5555

[email protected]

Thank you message

You may also say thanks using the shorter format – SMS, messages, and such. Especially, when you are dealing with peers and the younger population, this would suffice or work as well as its more elaborate counterparts.

The shorter the format is, the harder time you will have in bringing out your feelings as you have to work with fewer words. Here are some excellent examples of how you can do this without compromising on the quality of the message you want to convey. 

The best part about short messages of gratitude is that you can include emojis to amplify your emotions.

Examples of short messages of gratitude. You may include appropriate emojis.

  • Thanks a million!
  • You made my day!
  • You are a lifesaver!
  • Much obliged!
  • Blessed to have a friend like you!
  • Thank you, God!

Tips to say thanks in the best possible way

You may opt for the long version, the short version, or the very short one to convey your gratitude. A point to remember when writing any one of them is to bring out your emotions to the fullest extent possible. 

Here are a few tips on how to express gratitude and appreciation the right way.

Show passion: Going a bit over the top is considered acceptable when showing gratitude. Instead of just saying thank you, you can infuse a little bit more enthusiasm and say “you saved my life!”. The whole point is to let the other person know how much you appreciate their help.

Don’t repeat: When using the longer formats, especially the gratitude letter, you will be repeating how thankful you are. Say it in different ways. Vary the choice of words. The focus here is to sound natural and at ease.

Be specific: Make it clear what you are thanking the person for. This may not apply to the short messages. Vague or unclear thank you notes do not carry as many emotions as the ones with more details. Use the template “I appreciate you for …”. It adds more intensity to the message.

Go public: Only if you think this is appropriate and it is acceptable for the person you are expressing gratitude to. Instead of sending a personal letter, note, or message, you can show your gratitude to a person with messages on the public platform. Such as the message board or group chats of an organization. Instagram story, Facebook wall, WhatsApp status, and so on are avenues that you may explore.

Concluding thoughts

Expressing thanks is not only about conveying your gratitude to the person who helped you in your time of need. It is also an encouragement for the person to continue doing the same not just for you but for everyone. Especially when you go public with your gratitude message, it acts as an inspiration for others to help.

Gratitude messages or words of appreciation are a simple way to spread positivity in the community. They make the recipient and giver nice and happy. Even those who read about it find it uplifting and encouraging that there are still people around in this world who are good at heart. 

This small gesture can spread so much cheer that every word of it is worth its weight in gold.

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