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A guide to writing creative and thoughtful English greeting cards

Do you want to learn how to write greeting cards in English and share your thoughts and feelings with others? Then you've come to the right place. At English Path, we want to help you connect with others and open doors to new opportunities by building your English skills. So, together, we are going to learn how to write meaningful and creative English greeting card messages for special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, thank-you notes, get well soon messages or just simple words of encouragement. Let's get started!

How can I write greeting cards in English?

Greeting cards are beautiful ways to share your feelings and thoughts with others. You don't have to be an English expert to write thoughtful messages in greeting cards. All you need to do is think about who the card is for and how you want them to feel when they read it. Then, you can write something special just for them. 

1. Choose the right English greeting card 

When you’re writing English greeting cards, it's important to know the occasion. For instance, if you're wishing someone a happy birthday or letting someone know you're thinking of them. This will help you pick the right card from the shop. If you want to make it extra special, you can even create your own greeting cards! 

Below are some English greeting cards you can find for various occasions:  

  • Birthdays 
  • Anniversaries 
  • New job/promotion 
  • Retirement 
  • Graduation 
  • Get well soon 
  • Missing you  
  • Thank you 
  • Congratulations 
  • Thinking of you 

2. Start with a warm greeting 

After choosing the perfect card, the next step is to write a warm and heartfelt greeting. It's important to use simple language that expresses your genuine feelings. Begin by addressing the person you are writing to, such as "Dear [Name]" or "To my dear friend," depending on your relationship. You can use basic phrases like “Happy Birthday,” “Thank you,” “Congratulations” or “Thinking of you,” etc.  

Then, you can add one or two thoughtful sentences like "I hope your day is filled with joy," "Wishing you all the best," "You mean so much to me," etc. The key is to keep it simple yet heartfelt so your loved one feels appreciated and loved.  

Take inspiration from the following English greeting card messages for different occasions to create your own. 

  • Birthdays: Happy birthday! Wishing you a day filled with cake and smiles! 
  • Anniversaries: Happy anniversary! Wishing you many more years of love and laughter! 
  • New job/promotion: Congratulations on the new job! All the best! 
  • Retirement: ️Rest, relax, and enjoy – you deserve it all. Happy retirement!️ 
  • Graduation: One chapter closes and a new adventure begins. Congratulations! 
  • Get well soon: Sending my best wishes and sunshine your way. Hope you feel better soon! 
  • Missing you: Sending lots of smiles and hugs! I miss you. I can't wait to see you again.  
  • Thank you: Thank you! You're the best! 
  • Congratulations: Congratulations! So proud of you!  
  • Thinking of you: Thinking of you today. Hope you're having an amazing birthday! 

3. Personalise your message 

To make your English greeting card more special, try personalising your message. It's a nice way to show you care about the person you're sending the card to. You can do this by remembering a joke or memory you both shared. For example, you can say something like,  

  • Remember when we laughed so hard? Let's make more memories like that! 
  • You're always so kind and it means a lot to me. I'm lucky to have you in my life.  

This will bring back happy memories and show the other person that you appreciate them. 

4. End your English greeting cards with a warm goodbye 

It's always nice to end your message with a friendly goodbye. This way, the person you're writing to knows how you feel and your message also ends on a nice note. You can use phrases like “Love,” “Best wishes,” “Warm regards,” and “Take care,” followed by your name. These goodbyes will help you to connect with the person you're writing to. So, next time you send an English greeting card, remember to add a warm goodbye to your message! 

Sending an English greeting card is like sharing a little piece of your heart on paper. So, pour your feelings into it, sprinkle it with love, and watch it work its magic! Remember, practise makes perfect. Don't worry if your English isn't perfect. The more you practise, the better you'll become at expressing yourself. If you need more help with how to write greeting cards in English, you can explore English Path's wide range of courses that help learners of all ages and backgrounds learn English. 

Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about how to write greeting cards in English

A1. When writing a message on an English greeting card to someone, try to make it personal by adding things you like about them or sharing a memory you have together. Be sincere in expressing your emotions like love, gratitude, or wishing them well. 

A2. When you're writing a greeting card, start by saying "Dear [Name]" or "Hi [Name]!" to be friendly. If it's for a special occasion like a birthday or holiday, mention that. Then, make it personal by saying something specific about the person you're giving the card to. 

A3. When you write a message on a greeting card, it's better to keep it short and sweet. Instead of writing something too long, try to express your feelings in a few heartfelt sentences. That way, your message will be more meaningful and memorable. 

A4. Yes, it's perfectly fine to add funny messages to your greeting cards, but you need to be careful. Make sure that your joke is something the person getting the card will like. You don't want to upset anyone with your message. Everyone’s personality and sense of humour is different, so keep this in mind when you are writing. 

A5. Writing a message by hand can make it feel more personal and special. But, if your handwriting is difficult to read or not very neat, it might be better to type the message instead. This way, the person who receives your card will be able to read and understand your message without any trouble. To learn more about how to write greeting cards in English, join English Path. Our experienced and dedicated teachers can help you write great messages and improve your language skills!