Thanks and thank you

Thank you is more formal than thanks.

• Thank you. (NOT Thanks you.)
• Thanks a lot. (NOT Thank you a lot.)
• Thank you very much.
• Thanks very much.
• Thank God it’s Friday. (NOT Thanks God …)
• Thank you very much indeed. (BUT NOT Thank you indeed.)

Thank you for/ thanks for can be followed by an –ing form.

• Thank you for coming.
• Thanks for everything.

We often use Thank you/Thanks to accept offers.

• ‘Would you like some coffee?’ ‘Thank you.’

To refuse an offer, you can say No thank you/ No thanks.

• ‘Another cake?’ ‘No, thanks. I have eaten too many already.’

Replies to thanks

British people, do not usually answer when they are thanked for small things. If a reply is a necessary, we can say Not at all (formal), You are welcome, Don’t mention it, That’s quite all right or That’s OK (informal).

• ‘Here is your coat.’ ‘Thanks.’ (no answer)
• ‘Thanks so much for looking after the children.’ ‘That’s all right.’ (answer necessary)