Message-writing guides
Turn a generic greeting into a message only you could send
Use one real detail, a clear meaning and your natural voice to personalise a greeting.
Personalisation is more than adding a name to suggested wording. A message starts to feel individual when it contains something you noticed, remembers something you shared, or names a quality in a concrete way. One true detail is usually enough.
Begin with the purpose
Write down what you want the message to do: celebrate, thank, encourage, reconnect. Keep one main purpose. A birthday card that also asks for a favour or resolves an argument may leave the recipient unsure how to respond.
Choose evidence for the feeling
Instead of “You’re wonderful,” recall an action that made you feel that way. Did they explain a difficult form, wait while you finished a story, or remember a preference? You are not proving a case; you are helping the recipient recognise the kindness you mean.
Connect the detail to its meaning
A detail on its own can feel random. Add a short explanation: “You remembered the tea I like; it made me feel welcome.” Avoid loading one small act with a claim that the person is solely responsible for your happiness.
Work through a three-step revision
Starting point: “Thank you for being there.”
Add the action: “Thank you for calling after my first day.”
Add the effect: “Thank you for calling after my first day. Talking through the small things helped me feel less overwhelmed.”
The final version has a recognisable event and a clear reason for gratitude. It does not need more decorative language.
Read it in your own voice
Would you say this over tea or in a normal message? Replace formal flourishes if they feel borrowed. Check the facts and remove a detail if it belongs to someone else’s private life. Use the tone guide when you like the content but the voice still feels wrong.
TAKE A STARTING POINT
Words you can make your own
Choose the example closest to your situation. Change any detail that isn’t true for you before sending.
Birthday: notice a ritual
Happy birthday, Theo. I hope you get a slow walk and first choice of the pastries, just like our favourite Saturdays.
Thanks: name the action
Thank you for reading my draft so carefully. Your question about the opening helped me see what I was trying to say.
Encouragement: name a strength
I’ve seen how patiently you explain things to new people. I hope you remember that strength as you start tomorrow.
Friendship: use a shared scene
The first cold evening always reminds me of soup at your kitchen table. I miss those long, unplanned conversations.
Celebration: notice the work
Congratulations on finishing the course. I remember you making time to study after your shift, and I’m glad that effort has reached a finish.
Affection: stay ordinary
I like how you save the interesting bit of a story to tell me later. It makes me feel included in your day.
A detail makes the difference.
Add a real name, a shared moment, or something you appreciate. Then read it aloud. If it sounds unlike you, make it simpler.
Try the greeting customiser ↗
