This is only my opinion. It will depend upon the recipient. Some people, like myself equate the two and may even prefer email. Others still prefer a handwritten, snail mailed note or card. Senior citiizens, especially will fall into the second category. Some people just like to have concrete things that they can save for sentimental reasons. I have a niece who is 11 that saves every card ever received. In addition, was the gift received for a more informal occasion such as birtthday, get well or "just because"? An informal response is more acceptable for an informal giift. On the other hand if the gift was received as part of a formal occasion or manne; such as a wedding present or from business contact, the more formal, written note is more acceptable. The only method I feel is not appropriate is a thank you form letter. I include the kind of note that you have written and reuse for future use. Always make such things personal.

According to traditional (and to some people, outdated) etiquette a proper thank you note is sent by post. I also consulted 3 etiquette books I have on hand and they all said the same (21st Century Etiquette, A Guide to Manners for the Modern Age was the most current book). Personally, I ALWAYS send a handwritten thank you card for anything that requires an expression of gratitude (kind act, gift, et cetera). I find e-mailed thank yous unacceptable and so do most etiquette guides. However, if you have somebody you owe a thank you to and you know that they will be just as glad to hear from you via e-mail as the would by "snail mail" then you're probably okay in sending a note via e-mail. I was once asked how I could be so "old fashioned" and I put it in perspective for the asker. . . One guy I dated had a brother and sister in law that drove me crazy, we constantly sent them and their children gifts and they sent nothing. One child lives overseas and the shipping alone is astronomical. We have to choose and buy the gifts, pack them up, take them to the post office. No phone call, no thank you note, NOTHING. Finally, they sent one via e-mail. We had gone through a lot of trouble for them and they couldn't be bothered to sit down, write a note, affix postage to it, and send it. When one considers how much time, thought, and effort we put into our end. . .a quickie e-mail just didn't cut it. It might not be completetly unacceptable to send an e-mail thank you, but before you do, consider 4 things: 1. The recipient and how likely it is that a handwritten note is expected. 2. How do they thank you? Note or e-mail? If it's the latter, then you're probably safe. 3. If they gave you a gift (which hopefully took time and effort) then is a handrwritten note asking a lot in return? 4. Like it or not, most etiquette sources still state that proper etiquette is to send a handwritten note. Another source (good article, worth reading): THANK-YOU NOTE ETIQUETTE By Jill Bremer, AICI, CIP, Bremer Communications The impact of a handwritten thank-you note is often overlooked in today's fast-paced "why-write-something-when-I-can-email-it" world. A note written promptly and sincerely is an important ritual of etiquette that is much more effective and appreciated than a phone call or electronic message. Yes, we have a lot of technology at our fingertips, but just because we can do that way doesn't mean we should. Most of our mail each day is filled with advertisements and bills. Handwritten notes and letters are a rarity, which makes them that much more meaningful to the recipient. When you write a note by hand, it shows the other person that you cared enough to pull out the stationery box and choose your words without the conveniences of the grammar tool and spellchecker! Written notes are also permanent, which means they can be saved by the recipient and passed around to share with others. A few years ago, I worried for weeks about what to get a special client for Christmas. This was someone I had worked with very closely for a number of years on many different projects. She is laden each holiday season with several dozen gifts - fruit, wine, books, etc. I didn't want my gift to get lost in the crowd, so I decided to send her a personal note of thanks. I spent a long time choosing just the right words to express what I had learned from her and how I valued our working relationship. She called me the next week to tell me how special the note was, that she had passed it around to her staff and would treasure it forever. She said it was the one gift that actually meant something to her that year. Thank you notes should be written to thank someone for a gift, a meal or for a favor done. Your appreciation should be acknowledged within 72 hours; thank-yous seem much more sincere when they are expressed promptly. I think one reason people don't send thank-you notes is because they don't own proper stationery. Both men and women need a collection of personalized social stationery, such as letter sheets (for women), Monarch sheets (for men), half sheets, foldover cards (also know as Informals), correspondence cards and envelopes. This set of stationery can be used for letters, thank-you notes, issuing invitations, replying to invitations and gift enclosures. Consider investing in these items; they will serve you well and make a great impression on your recipients. Correspondence cards are the best choice for thank-you notes, however women may also choose Informals for their notes. Here is a sample format for a thank-you note for a gift: Start by expressing appreciation - "Thank you for the beautiful picture frame." Mention the gift's usefulness - "It is the perfect size for our large anniversary picture. The fact that our names and anniversary date are engraved on the frame makes it so special. It looks perfect on the hall table. In fact, it's the first thing you see when you open our front door." Express the hope for a future meeting - "I hope you and Don can visit us soon to see how we are enjoying your thoughtful gift." There is really no excuse for not writing a thank-you note. Purchase the proper tools and make it a habit to write a note as soon as possible after the event or receiving the gift. And, please, teach your children to do the same. It is believed by many people that thank-you notes helped elect George Bush (the first one!) to the U.S. Presidency. He carried a box of cards with him everywhere he went on the campaign trail and jotted a note immediately following each event to the volunteers or hosts. Many believe the personal touch of those notes is what propelled him into the White House. Is there a presidency in your future? Start writing those notes. And when you get there, send me one, too! Jill Bremer, AICI, CIP, owner of Bremer Communications, offers training, consulting and coaching in professional image development and presentation skills. Her clients include Oracle, Abbott Labs, W.W. Grainger, U.S. Department of Energy and the National Association of Realtors. www.bremercommunications.com Hope this helps :)

No. Thank you notes should be sent via "snail mail", using an acutal envelope, an actual stamp, and permit me to say so, actually writing with a real pen on a real peice of paper. (my goodness! who has the time for all that!!!) Isn't it nice, though, to get your mail out of your mailbox, sift through all your bills, your junk mail, your credit card offers, your magazines, and then find a letter...a real letter...from someone you know!!!!! its refreshing.

If you know that the person uses e-mail regularly and will be certain to get the message, then yes. Don't do it if e-mail is not a primary mode of communication for them, as they may well not check their inbox regularly. You should, however, put a little bit of effort into it, don't just email "Thanks", write as if it were a letter, asking how they are, saying how much you enjoyed and appreciated the gift/gesture/support/whatever. If it was related to a specific event it can be nice to attach a photograph of the event (baby photos always go down well). You could also use (or create) an e-card, with a picture or tune. Anything that shows you've actually put a little thought into what you're sending. It also doesn't hurt to call and ask if they got the message. Personally, wherever practical I send Christmas, birthday and thankyou messages all by email, not through laziness, but for reasons of environmental concern (tonnes of paper is wasted this way every year). Most of my family and friends are aware of and appreciate this, but if this is part of your reason, it doesn't hurt to add a brief explanation (I add mine as an automatic signature, which you can set up via yahoo and hotmail accounts). Few people will take offence once given a valid unselfish reason.

Hand writing the thank you rather than email is more personal, and I think most people would prefer it. I think an email thank you is better than no thank you, but only in cases where you don't know the person's actual address or have no way of getting it.