Mary Killen Mary Killen

Your problems solved | 7 February 2004

Etiquette advice from The Spectator's Miss Manners

issue 07 February 2004

Dear Mary…

Q. I was brought up always to write thank-you letters for gifts [sic]. In recent years I have found that I am usually far too busy, especially as I would have to write them on behalf of my young children (who receive far too many presents anyway) and also my husband. Is it all right to thank people using email, if that is how we normally correspond anyway? It feels wrong, and a letter is always nice, but it does at least mean that they get thanked. If it isn’t all right, can you suggest a speedy and timely way to say thank you?
L.A.S., London SW6

A. It is possible to batter out two thank-you emails per minute, but your output will fall on fallow ground. Everyone knows that emails are more about sounding-off, buck-passing or time-wasting than about conveying properly considered or sincere information.

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