How to Write a Thank You Note

Anybody who has been both a recipient and sender of thank you notes knows that it is a pleasure to read and write one. A thank you note is simply a written appreciation to acknowledge an act, a gift, or an effort. Thank you notes come in all forms - through store-bought cards, handmade cards, photographs, postcards, Post-It notes, email, instant messaging, mobile phone messages, and letters.

The memorable thank you notes you receive may include a girly pink stationery from your niece thanking you for a great vacation, a picture postcard from a cousin, or and a two-page letter from a dear old aunt who has a hard time writing, just to name a few.

A sincere note, no matter how short and no matter how imperfect, is a lot better than a well-written one that sounds wooden and doesn't even come from the heart. What's worse is a perfect note that was never sent, or never even written down. Even a short, "Thank you for the coffee maker. I'm enjoying great freshly brewed coffee now" is enough. Remember, it took effort for the other person to think about and send your gift or do you a favor, so it's only right that you know how to reciprocate the deed.

Etiquette experts say that you need to write thank you notes for the likes of mass cards, sympathy letters, a dinner thrown in your honor, a baby or bridal shower, presents you received when you were at the hospital, weddings, vacation accommodations at a friend's house, congratulatory gifts, and others. If the person who did you a favor is a very close friend or a family member, you can forego having to write and send thank you notes; but it would probably mean a lot to the giver if you still do despite the proximity.

You don't need to write a thank you note if you've just been interviewed for a job post, or if you were a guest at a party (unless you really want to make a thoughtful move), or if you received a present that you also opened with the giver around, or other special favors and errands your friends make (again, unless you want to).