Where do these etiquette gurus get their 'rules' from anyway? Traditional isn't always better, and typing beats a quill pen any day. Surely its better to put the effort into the wording rather than the handwriting. Insisting on hand written notes, cards and especially letters is honoring form before function. Moreover, if – as we're always being told – it's the thought that counts, then why does it matter whether a note is typed or hand written? Surely it is the words and sentiment of the message that matter, and these remain the same whether they are typed or handwritten. In such cases surely typed notes are not only preferable, but actually the polite thing to do! Certainly both my husband and my sister-in-law have writing so atrocious that I generally don't even try to decipher anything that they have hand written (success is uncertain and the process gives me a headache). Few people these days have attractive handwriting, and a surprisingly large number have truly appalling writing that borders on the illegible. It this sounds familiar then yes, you're better off doing the whole process by hand!įor many of us, the major issue with hand writing thank you notes and letters is surely legibility. In other words, they can write the note, address the envelope and find a stamp in less time than it takes to start the computer, open the right program, type out the text, mess around with fonts and formatting, and finally print the whole thing out. Those blessed with fine penmanship may argue that hand writing is quicker than typing. On the other hand, if your hand writing is poor then I would maintain that typing is the way to go – the aim is for your note to stand out for its thoughtfulness, rather than because the recipient fervently wishes you had typed it so (s)he could read it! If you are lucky enough to write in beautiful copperplate, or be skilled with a calligraphy pen, then by all means hand write your thank you messages. Having said that, you really do need to have decent (if not beautiful) hand writing to write a successful thank you note.
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In these cases a hand written note is probably preferable. The same is true for times of loss or particularly sensitive situations – times when you especially want to reach out to the recipient. It's true that for formal situations, and in particular weddings, a hand written thank you note or thank you card is considered more appropriate than a typed message. It signals that you have 'made an effort' and therefore conveys your appreciation more appropriately. Writing a thank you note, card or letter by hand gives the personal touch – at least that is the general perception. The case for hand writing thank you notes