Proper reponse for different kind of "Thank you"

Question

This is probably a dumb question, but it has bothered me for a while.  What is the proper way to reponse for different kind of "Thank you".  Normally if I have really done something for a person, I'll repond "You are welcome.", but most of time it's pure workforce politeness.  I have done nothing special.  I am just doing whatever I am supposed to do.  Is it appropriate to always say "You are welcome"?  Is there any other common expressions?

Kooyeen · Accepted Answer

You're welcome...
No problem...
Anytime...
I think I have also heard something like "You bet", but I am not completely sure.

Or you could just say nothing.

Clive · Answer

Hi,

Yes, don't forget about 'just say nothing'. There seems to be a growing idea today that that's not polite. It is, in most circumstances.

Consider, eg in a department store.

Customer: Can you tell me where the shoe section is, please?

Sales clerk: Yes, it's over there.

Customer: Thank you.

Sales clerk: No problem. (She's telling you that doing her job is not a problem for her!)

Best wishes, Clive

Anonymous · Answer

thanks all

assuming that I am in a conference with a group of clients, one of the client says:

thank you, George. You have done a very nice job (referring to my previous task)

what is the best response to be both polite and humble?

Clive · Answer

Hi,

An under-rated response to a compliment is just to smile and try to look both pleased and modest.

However, in a context like this, you might say something to further your company's interests.

eg It's always a pleasure to write advertising for such a great product

eg I had a lot of great assistance from Steve in your Accounting Department.

Best wishes, Clive

Anonymous · Answer

thank you Clive

Maybe it's due to my background, I always feel that "you are welcome" is not a humble way to respond, because it feels like "yep, I deserved this thank you, but I appreciate it that you recognized it". Please correct me if this impression is wrong.

Is it safe to always say "You are welcome" if I can't think of anything else to say?

Thank you, George. You've done a really amazing job.

You are welcome

Thank you for the hard effort, George

You are welcome

all sounds appropriate?

Anonymous · Answer

thank you Clive.

Is it appropriate to always say "you are welcome" when I have nothing more interesting to say? such as:

thank you George, you've done a really amazing job

you are welcome

thank you for the hard effort, George

you are welcome

Please correct me if I am wrong,

"You are welcome" gives me the impression that "I deserve the gratitude, but I appreciate it because my effort was recognized", which doesn't feel so humble to me. In my culture, it's more humble to imply that "I did what I should do, I don't deserve your gratitude", but it doesn't seem to apply to English.

"My pleasure" emphasizes much on that I enjoyed doing whatever I did, which distorts the true picture of business. Normally I would use it when I invite a client for lunch or did something that has less to do with business, such as

thank you for the lunch, George

My pleasure, you are the guest.

but I feel very awkward using it on pure business activities, in business I am not really helping someone or doing someone a favor, I am merely honoring my contract.

I searched around Internet, but still couldn't find the right reponse. Some people always suggests "You are welcome", but others dislike it.

Is there a "Can't get wrong" way of response in these kinds of situations?

Right now, I tends to just smile and try to talk about something else, but that also doesn't feel right. Sometimes it even feels rude.

Kooyeen · Answer

AnonymousI searched around Internet, but still couldn't find the right reponse. Some people always suggests "You are welcome", but others dislike it.

It's because not everyone speaks the same way. People just say whatever they are used to, they really don't stop to analyze what they say or worry about it. Use whatever you like the best, or whatever you hear the most. Unless you choose something really unusual, it'll be alright.

Yankee · Answer

AnonymousIs it appropriate to always say "You are welcome"?

Hi Anon

There are quite a few things that people say in response to "thank you", including "You're welcome". Generally speaking, however, people never say "You are welcome", so make sure you use the contraction (you're).

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousI always feel that "you are welcome" is not a humble way to respond, because it feels like "yep, I deserved this thank you, but I appreciate it that you recognized it". Please correct me if this impression is wrong.

Your impression is wrong. "You're welcome" is simply a standard response to "Thank you" which has completely lost its literal meaning, and nobody takes it as anything but a word group to be used in that situation and meaningless from any other point of view. And anyway, even if you take it literally, "You are welcome" says that the speaker is glad to have provided something which the other person is thankful for. It is similar to "I'm glad I was able to help you", which may not necessarily be humble, but is certainly not boastful either.

CJ

Proper reponse for different kind of "Thank you"

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