DAYTON, Ohio —
THE DEAL
You just got a great present and now it's time to write the thank-you note. Where do you start?
THE SOLUTION
Use these tips from Pamela Eyring, owner and director of the Protocol School of Washington, to write a professional thank-you note:
Timing. "Timing is important for showcasing sincerity," Eyring said. You should try to mail it 24 to 48 hours after seeing the person or receiving a gift.
One trick that she recommends if you are traveling is to address an envelope ahead of time, bring it with you, write the letter and mail it right away.
If you can't send the note in the 24 to 48 hour time frame, then send as soon as you can after. "Better to send it late than not at all," Eyring said.
Materials. "I recommend good quality stationary and note cards — thicker paper and card stock," Erying said, "because good quality stationary represents you." The cards don't have to be fancy or monogrammed. Plain, good quality paper with a small embossed border is fine.
Eyring recommends using a good writing pen. Don't write with colored pens — stick with black or dark blue. Black is the most formal.
Using your own stamp is also a nice touch.
The note. Always include a greeting in your note. "Dear (name)," is the most appropriate.
"In the body of the note, write from the heart," Eyring said. The note doesn't have to be long. Thank the person and tell them that you appreciate what they did.
End the note with "sincerely" or "fondly," and write this in the bottom right corner.
Handwriting depends on the person. Cursive is a more formal kind of handwriting, but print is OK if your cursive isn't neat. "Take your time, make it legible," Eyring said.
Don'ts. Avoid pointing out negative situations that might have occurred. For example, if your friend threw you a dinner party but the food was cold, avoid mentioning the cold food in the note.
"The worst thing you can do is get a person's name wrong," Eyring said. Double-check the spelling of every word in the letter and correct any grammar mistakes.
Kayla Dunkman writes for the Dayton Daily News.