It’s been a few weeks since the holidays, so if you haven’t written your thank you notes yet, now is the time!
Maybe you’d like to get creative with one of these, sent to me from my friend Andy. Britain’s The Magazine and the Society for Editors and Proofreaders had a contest to write a thank you letter that can have two different meanings if you use the same words but change the punctuation.
Here’s my personal favorite (as well as Andy’s):
Dear Aunt Agatha,
Sorry it has taken me so long to write telling you how much I liked your Christmas present this year, only I didn’t have the time. To take it back and get another would be out of the question! I suppose for you to be so kind shouldn’t come as a surprise after what you bought me last year. It was splendid! News about Uncle Brian? Dying to see you again in the New Year. Would be awful to lose touch.
Mark
Dear Aunt Agatha,
Sorry it has taken me so long to write telling you how much I liked your Christmas present this year, only I didn’t. Have the time to take it back and get another? Would be out of the question, I suppose, for you to be so kind. Shouldn’t come as a surprise after what you bought me last year. It was splendid news about Uncle Brian dying. To see you again in the New Year would be awful.
To lose touch,
Mark
Mark Till, Southport, England
I love these! Doesn’t the line about Uncle Brian kill you?
Click here to see the rest. These are five of the best.
The Grammar Vandal 
Dear Blogger
Please note that this competition took place in 2008 and a winner was chosen then. The Society for Editors and Proofreaders would appreciate it if this is clarified in your blog so no one is misled to think this is an ongoing competition. Thank you.
Reminds me of the well-known example:
A woman, without her man, is nothing.
A woman: without her, man is nothing.
I love Lynn Truss- in her book she has another great example:
Comfort ye my people” (Please go out and comfort my people.)
“Comfort ye, my people.” (Just cheer up, you lot; it might never happen.)
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Gordon Brown was quoted in Saturday’s Times: ‘I am dealing with the problems with Alistair Darling, of a global financial crisis…’
I hate to be picky, but it should be “thank-you letters,” not “thank you letters.”
Hahaha love it!!!