You want to express your gratitude when someone has said something supportive or complimentary. But is the phrase thank you for your kind words suitable to include in a work email?
In this article, we’ll address this question. Furthermore, we’ll show you a few other ways to say thanks professionally.
10 Alternative Ways to Say “Thank You for the Kind Words”
Have a look at these 10 ways to express gratitude in an email:
- I appreciate your kind words
- That’s nice of you to say
- I appreciate you saying that
- I am deeply grateful for your kindness
- That’s very kind of you
- What you said meant a lot to me
- I am deeply touched by your kindness
- Please accept my warmest thanks for your kind words
- How kind of you
- I can’t thank you enough for how kind you have been
1. I Appreciate Your Kind Words
I appreciate your kind words is a very similar phrase to thank you for the kind words. However, the inclusion of the personal pronoun “I” makes this phrase just a touch more personal.
Nonetheless, this phrase is still suitably formal to use in an email to a colleague if they have expressed condolences for a hardship you are facing. You can also use it if they have said something kind and supportive.
As this phrase is somewhat formal, you can use it with a colleague you don’t know very well yet. It is sincere without being too casual.
See the email sample below:
Dear Tanya,
I appreciate your kind words, and I absolutely reciprocate your sentiments.
It has been a pleasure to work on this project with you and I hope to do so again in the future.
Regards,
Jeremy
2. That’s Nice of You to Say
You can reply with that’s nice of you to say when a coworker gives you a compliment.
This phrase is courteous and acknowledges your coworker’s kindness while maintaining a suitably professional tone. Therefore, it’s a safe choice when you have received positive feedback from a team member you aren’t particularly close to yet.
For instance:
Dear Laurie,
Thank you, that’s nice of you to say!
I was very impressed by your insights as well.
Warm regards,
Petrus
3. I Appreciate You Saying That
A different way to say thank you for the kind words is I appreciate you saying that.
When a colleague that you are friendly with gives you positive feedback on your work or how you are managing your role, you can reply with this sincere phrase.
I appreciate you saying that is a bit more casual than some of the others on our list. Therefore, we wouldn’t recommend using it in an email to your boss or a client.
However, it is perfectly suitable for an email to a coworker if there is generally a friendly dynamic in your office.
Consider the example email below:
Hi Georgia,
I appreciate you saying that.
I did put a lot of effort into that presentation and I’m glad it worked out!
All the best,
Lee
4. I Am Deeply Grateful for Your Kindness
If you have been struggling with personal matters, it can make a huge difference if your employer is supportive and understanding throughout such a difficult period.
The phrase I am deeply grateful for your kindness is a very sincere phrase that you can use in a letter or email when you are expressing thanks to your boss. It is effusive yet maintains a formal tone.
Therefore, let’s see a sample email that includes this phrase:
Dear Ms. Alexander,
I am deeply grateful for your kindness and support throughout this endeavor.
Warm regards,
Alyssa Wentworth
5. That’s Very Kind of You
Sometimes, when you’ve done a particularly good job on a project, you may hear some very positive and complimentary feedback from a client for the work you’ve done. Always a great sign!
Therefore, you can use the phrase that’s very kind of you to express your gratitude sincerely while maintaining a formal and professional tone in your response.
For example:
Dear Mr. Jones,
That’s very kind of you, and I am pleased to have assisted you in this regard.
Warm regards,
Theresa Webber
6. What You Said Meant a Lot to Me
What you said meant a lot to me is a more informal but no less sincere alternative to thank you for the kind words.
This phrase is quite personal. Therefore, it is most suited for a message to a colleague with whom you have a close and trusting relationship.
If a coworker has complimented you, praised your work, or mentioned the efforts you have made during a project in a meeting, you can let them know that their kindness has made a difference in your day!
To see what we mean, have a look at the following email sample:
Hi Shad,
What you said in the meeting this morning meant a lot to me, so I just wanted to send a quick message of appreciation!
All the best,
Kelsey
7. I Am Deeply Touched by Your Kindness
When tragedy strikes, some kind messages from your colleagues can do a lot to help you through your hardship.
Therefore, you can include the phrase I am deeply touched by your kindness in a group message or email to your peers to let them know that their thoughts are acknowledged and appreciated.
This phrase is very sincere and emotive, but this is appropriate when a personal matter is impacting your work life. Sometimes, you have to set aside the business culture in favor of genuine humanity.
Have a look at the email example below:
Hi All,
I just wanted to say that I am deeply touched by your kindness and wishes over the past few days.
Your support has meant the world, and I look forward to seeing you all when I return to work.
All my best,
Jen
8. Please Accept My Warmest Thanks for Your Kind Words
If you have received a very kind message of condolences or a sincere message of congratulations from your boss, you can respond with the phrase please accept my warmest thanks for your kind words.
This phrase is a tad wordy, but it maintains a professional tone despite being very heartfelt. Therefore, it is suitable to use in a message to a superior if they have said something kind.
Check out this sample email:
Dear Ms. Kilpatrick,
Please accept my warmest thanks for your kind words.
I am grateful to have been included in this project and I am pleased to hear that I contributed positively.
Warm regards,
Ashley Heed
9. How Kind of You
The phrase how kind of you is a more concise and professional way to say thank you for the kind words when you have received a compliment or praise from a client.
It’s always great to hear that you’ve done a good job on a task and made the client happy. If they are especially effusive in their phrase, you can point out that they are being kind as an expression of thanks.
For instance:
Dear Miss DuMont,
How kind of you! I am pleased to hear that you are satisfied with the assistance you received.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out if there is anything else I can help you with.
Warm regards,
Terrance Alloy
10. I Can’t Thank You Enough for How Kind You Have Been
If you are new to the workplace and have received some support from one of your team members, it’s a good idea to express your appreciation in an email.
The phrase I can’t thank you enough for how kind you have been is very sincere but still formal enough to keep things suitably professional. This is preferred if you are a junior member of your team speaking to a superior or someone who has worked there longer.
To see this phrase in action, have a look at the email example below:
Dear Lucas,
I can’t thank you enough for how kind you have been during my first week here.
Your support has made my transition into this role far more pleasant, and I really appreciate it.
Warm regards,
Liam
Is It Correct to Say “Thank You for the Kind Words”?
It is perfectly correct to say thank you for your kind words if someone at work, or in any other situation, expresses condolences or support.
This is a rather formal phrase and manages to sound sincere without being overly personal or effusive.
Thus, let’s see a couple of email examples that include it:
Dear Justine,
Thank you for the kind words. It means a lot to me.
Sincerely,
Hinal
It is also correct to say thank you for your kind words to make things just a touch more personal. For instance:
Dear Milan,
Thank you for your kind words at the meeting this morning.
It is wonderful to feel so valued in our team.
All the best,
Coral
So, we know that thank you for the kind words is a suitable phrase to include in a formal email when you want to express gratitude. However, it never hurts to mix up your language from time to time, especially if you are expressing thanks.
Using the same phrase over and over again may come across as less sincere. Therefore, you can use one of the alternative phrases in our list to avoid repetition in your emails.
