Knowing how to write a proper (fitting, suitable, appropriate) email is an important skill to have in English. We write emails all the time, both in business and in our private lives, so knowing how to sign off (end an email) properly will leave a good last impression on your reader. That’s why this week we decided to focus on how to thank someone in an email in English.
In case you’ve missed it in the past, you can find more great tips in our blog in Formal Business Email language.
Thank you in advance (for…)
Sometimes you need to ask people for things in advance of (before) getting them or getting permission for them. For example, if you need some information from someone for a project you’re working on, this is a great way to thank someone in an email.
This way of thanking someone is usually used at the end of an email when you know that the person you’re emailing is going to answer positively. You are pretty sure they are going to send you what it is that you’re asking them for.
For example:
- Could you please send me the information for the meeting tomorrow? Thank you in advance for your help!
This phrase is special, however, since it can also be a way of ensuring that the recipient (receiver) of your email or message knows that your request is non-negotiable. That means, you are not really asking them to do something, you are telling them some information and implying (meaning without saying directly) that there will not be any further discussions about the topic.
For example:
- Starting on Monday, all employees will be expected to take their lunch break between 12pm and 1pm. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
Thank you for your valued contribution.
Do you work in customer service or at a charity? If someone sends you an email having to do with money, particularly money that they’re giving or donating to your organization in one way or another, it’s always a good idea to thank them for their support (help, financial contribution). People love feeling appreciated (valued), and thanking them for supporting your business is an excellent way to do so.
Note that this is a rather more formal way to thank someone for their donation, so it’s unlikely you’ll see it in an informal context.
For example:
- If you would like to make a donation, please follow this link. Thank you for your valued contribution.
We appreciate your continued support
As with the example above, this is an excellent way to thank someone if they donate (give for free) to your organization, whether monetarily or with their time. If you make a donation to an organization, you are very likely to see this in an email thanking you for your time and/or money.
This phrase is used particularly when you have a returning customer or contributor!
For example:
- We received your donation yesterday for the amount of $20. We appreciate your continued support! Thank you very much.
Thank you, and we welcome any questions you may have in the meantime.
It’s always good to get feedback from people, as feedback helps you to improve!
If you have only been writing back and forth with someone over email and you know you won’t have any official communication with the person for a while, this is the perfect way to thank someone in an email. With this phrase, they will know that the lines of communication (channels, ways to talk to someone) are always open, and that you are willing and able to answer questions they might have between emails and/or meetings.
For example:
- Your shipment is now on its way! Thank you, and we welcome any questions you may have in the meantime.
Thank you for your assistance/for your help in this matter.
If you’re looking for a simple, effective way to thank someone in an email for their help, look no further than this simple phrase. It’s always a good idea to thank people that have helped you, and this is a very straightforward (direct, clear) way of doing so.
Plus, when you thank people for their help, they will probably be more willing to help you in the future!
For example:
- Can you please tell me when my order will be arriving? Thank you very much for your help in this matter.
As with some of the other phrases above, this way of thanking can also be used in advance, so be careful of your timing and watch out for the context so you don’t accidentally offend anyone. As before, if the request for help is a little uncomfortable, or perhaps wouldn’t be happily accepted by the person on the receiving end, then it could come across as pushy or manipulative.
For example:
- If the person hasn’t actually agreed yet to help, but you say, “Thank you for assistance on this matter,” they may be (understandably) irritated.
Which other ways do you have to thank someone in an email in English? Share them with us in the comments below, and thanks so much for your continued support!
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Check out these other popular blogs: Taboo words in English, 7 Synonyms for Being Drunk, 7 American English Slang Words, or these Sports Idioms used in English!
Erin Duffin lives in Hamburg, is an English teacher, blogger, yoga instructor, and thanks you in advance for telling ALL your friends to subscribe to our blog! 🙂
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