example of a thank you speech

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How to Deliver a Thank You Speech for an Award or Special Occasion

Last Updated: March 14, 2024 Fact Checked

Composing Your Speech

Practicing your speech, delivering your speech, sample thank you speeches.

This article was co-authored by Deb DiSandro and by wikiHow staff writer, Amber Crain . Deb DiSandro is the Owner of Speak Up On Purpose, an organization dedicated to improving and teaching public speaking. Deb has over 30 years of experience as a national speaker and has presented at the Erma Bombeck Writer’s Conference and the National Society of Newspaper Columnists. She was awarded the National Speakers Association Member of the Year 2007 and has been published in Writer's Digest, Daily Herald, Women's Day, and Better Homes & Gardens. There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 2,447,347 times.

If you need to give a thank you speech, you must be receiving an award or you're being publicly honored—congratulations! If you’ve never given a speech like this before, you're probably a bit nervous, but we're here to help you with that. In this article, we'll walk you through how to craft the perfect thank you speech for any occasion. We'll also include tips on how to connect with your audience so your gratitude comes across loud and clear. To get started on writing a speech that will be remembered and cherished, scroll on down!

Things You Should Know

• Begin the speech by expressing your gratitude for being honored and your appreciation for the people who are honoring you.
• List a few people by name who played a crucial role in your success. If you have a brief story or highlight from your experience, share it with the audience.
• End the speech with something inspirational or dedicate the award to someone special if you feel moved to do so.
• Write the speech on a note card and bring it with you if you need to. Be sure to practice your speech ahead of time so you feel confident and prepared.

• The type of honor you're receiving. To give thanks for an award or professional honor, say something like "I'm so honored to be here tonight, and grateful to be the recipient of this award."
• The formality of the event. If it's a more casual event, like an anniversary party thrown by your friends and family, your expression of thanks can be a bit warmer. For example, you could say "I can't express how grateful I am to have all of you here with us tonight."

• If you're being honored by your company, talk about the great work the organization does, and what a pleasure it is to work there.
• If you're receiving an award from an outside party, like an arts organization awarding you for a film you directed, talk about how honored you are to be recognized by such a great organization.
• If you're giving a speech to thank friends and family for honoring you, say a few words about what a special group of people you're lucky to have in your life.

• You could tell a story about a funny mishap that happened during a big project you worked on, or an obstacle you had to overcome to accomplish your goals.
• Try to bring other people into the story, too, instead of just talking about yourself. Talk about something that involves your coworkers, your boss, your kids, or other people in the audience.
• If you want, you can start your speech with this story and build up to your thank yous.

• You can introduce the list by saying, "I'm especially grateful to a few amazing people whose support is the reason I'm up here right now." Then recite the list of people who helped you.
• Take the audience into consideration, too. If you know your boss will be sitting in the front row, you might want to make sure you thank them.
• This part of thank you speeches can often get tedious. Don't leave anyone important off of your list, but don't list everyone you know, either. Keep it limited to people who actually helped you.
• Watch speeches from award shows like the Oscars or Emmys for inspiration on how to gracefully thank multiple people.

• Say something inspirational. If you're accepting an award for achievements you made for the nonprofit you work for, you could say, "Our work is far from over, but what we've accomplished together has made a difference in hundreds of people's lives. Let's roll up our sleeves and continue this journey with more dedication than ever. If we've made this much progress in just one year, think what we can do in three."
• Dedicate the honor. You can give special appreciation to a loved one or mentor by dedicating your award to that person. Say something like, "And lastly, I want to dedicate this award to my mother. When my teachers told her they thought my dyslexia would prevent me from ever learning to read, she scoffed and told them I'd be a brilliant writer one day. It's because of her faith in me that I'm up here today accepting my first Pulitzer. I love you, mom."

• Don't write out the speech word for word. When you deliver it, you'll be looking down at the paper the whole time instead of addressing the audience. You'll come off as nervous and stiff instead of sincerely grateful.
• Alternatively, if there is a phrase or sentiment that you want to make sure you get absolutely right, write out that part in full. Practice this part so that you can say it smoothly.
• Try writing out just the first line of each paragraph you want to say. Then, when you glance down at your card, that first line will jog your memory.

• As a general rule acceptance speeches are very short. Acceptance speeches for Academy Awards, for example, are limited to 45 seconds or less. Going over two or three minutes is going to end up boring people, so no matter what, aim to keep it to the point.
• When you practice your speech, set a timer to see how long it takes. You might want to record yourself so you can listen to the speech and identify parts you can shave off if your speech is too long. The most essential part of the speech is the expression of gratitude; the rest can be lopped if necessary.

• Solicit feedback from the people listening to your speech. Ask them which parts drag on too long, or if there's anything you didn't say that should be included.
• Make sure you deliver the speech to at least one person you trust to give you totally honest feedback.

• To help yourself eliminate the filler words, listen to a recording of yourself talking. Try to catch the spots where you tend to fill in the blank with "um" or "uh." Practice saying those lines without filler until you're able to deliver the whole speech that way.

• Try visualizing yourself delivering the speech without stumbling. Imagine the room in as much detail as you can. If you know who will be in the audience, pretend that they are there as you practice. Deliver the whole thing in your head without a hiccup. This technique can help you feel less anxious when it comes to the real thing.
• Some people find it helps to laugh heartily before giving a speech. It puts you in a more relaxed mood.
• If you have the opportunity to do some vigorous exercise before the event, that's another great way to release nervous energy.

• Making eye contact will help you deliver the speech with more feeling. You can pretend like you're giving it to a friend, rather than a faceless crowd of people.
• Rotating between more than one person is important. When you look at more than one spot in the audience, the whole group will feel more included in what you're saying.

• If it's possible to look at the people you're thanking as you say their names, try to do so. For example, if you're thanking a colleague who's sitting in the first row, your gratitude will be more apparent if you're able to focus on her while you're talking.
• Don't be embarrassed if you tear up a little. It happens all the time during thank you speeches.

• When the event is over, people may approach you to say positive things about your speech. Be sure to thank them and give them a few moments of your time.

Community Q&A

• Practice your speech in front of a friend or small audience, then ask for feedback on the content, tone, and delivery (including voice, body language, sincerity, and timing). Thanks Helpful 10 Not Helpful 3
• Rehearse your speech until you’re familiar with every word. Thanks Helpful 5 Not Helpful 2
• Acknowledge your audience and thank them for being there with you. Thanks Helpful 4 Not Helpful 3

• Remember that the organizers of the event have decided to honor you. Avoid questioning their decision, even jokingly, since this could be seen as disrespectful. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 1
• Be cautious when using humor in your speech. Don’t mock or denigrate yourself too much. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://youtu.be/R9LUQio1g2Y?t=61
• ↑ https://youtu.be/R9LUQio1g2Y?t=94
• ↑ https://youtu.be/R9LUQio1g2Y?t=115
• ↑ https://youtu.be/R9LUQio1g2Y?t=171
• ↑ https://youtu.be/R9LUQio1g2Y?t=221
• ↑ https://www.unr.edu/writing-speaking-center/student-resources/writing-speaking-resources/speech-delivery
• ↑ https://www.gvsu.edu/speechlab/practicing-presentations-33.htm
• ↑ https://mitcommlab.mit.edu/be/commkit/public-speaking-how-to-practice
• ↑ https://mitcommlab.mit.edu/be/commkit/public-speaking-how-to-practice/
• ↑ https://courses.aiu.edu/Public%20Speaking/Sec%209/SEC%209%20PUBLIC%20SPEAKING.pdf

About This Article

To give a thank you speech, open with an expression of gratitude, like "I'm so honored to be here tonight." Then, acknowledge the people that are honoring you by thanking them. To warm up the audience, tell a funny or moving story that's related to your award or recognition. After that, go on to mention the names of some people that have helped you get to this point, particularly those that are in the audience. Finally, end your speech with something inspirational, like a dedication to a loved one or a call for more work to be done. To learn more, like how to practice your speech before giving it, keep reading the article! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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40 Quick Thank You Speech Samples For Any Occasion

June 13, 2018

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Some people say that saying thank you is a waste of time if the person doing you the favor is close to you as it is almost an insult to do so. We don’t agree, saying thank you makes the giver of the favor or the host of the occasion or the stranger doing a kind deed feel good. It is also good manners to express your gratitude and this makes you feel good too. Words have a power that we often do not think about or talk about but they create vibrations that linger on creating an impact; whether it is negative or positive depends on what is being said and how it is being received and perceived. But often we find it difficult to say a thank you, especially if it is in the form of a speech. We tend to gush on or say too little, both instances can be bad. It is good to have a sample of a thank you speech that will come in handy. For instance, there are short welcome speech samples that you can use. Which is the reason that we are putting together quick thank you speech samples for any occasion.

It could be possible that we can come up with things to say to your love before you die but coming up with quick thank you speech samples for any occasion may be more challenging. Some may find it more challenging to say thank you but find it easier to go with quotes about being happy.

Quick Thank You Speech Samples For Any Occasion

Thank you for letting me be a part of your special celebration and making me a part of the occasion as well as the celebration.

A simple thank you is not enough to thank you for inviting me to your party, but right now, that is all I have to give you – a heartfelt thanks.

I will always remember this special gesture that you made to me with a lot of fond affection and love. Thank you for doing this for me.

It is good to be here because it gives me a chance to say thanks to everyone for their role in making my venture a success.

When you hold someone close to your heart, they know how you feel about them. In spite of that, it is good to say thank you nevertheless because some things need to be said.

A thank you is a simple gesture to let you know what you have done and that I love you for doing it.

Is it a good idea to end this occasion with a simple thank you? It may not be enough but it needs to acknowledged.

It is my humble opinion that a thank you is a simple way of saying that I am happy for what you did and the way you supported me. And I thank you very sincerely for all that you have done.

I appreciate the way you have treated me and made me feel though I am only a visitor here. I would like to sincerely thank you for all that you have done to make me feel at home.

Dear all, as I stand here looking upon all your eager faces, I realize that while I need to thank you, it is also important to keep my thank you speech short because you already know I am really grateful.

A mere thank you is a small way in which I can repay you for what you have done. But I feel that this is the first step to telling you how special you have made me feel.

My gratitude is but a very small part of the way I feel about being a part of this ommunity/project/enterprise/function.

Thank you! Phew! There I said it! Now we can move on to the bigger celebration.

My thank you to you is but a simple drop in the ocean when I compare it to what you have done to have me thank you.

No way will I go from here without telling you that I am grateful for all that you have done. Thank you very much.

When I say thank you to you, you have to realize it is not just for today but for letting me into your lives and letting me feel like one of you.

The occasion demands that I say a few words. But that is not why I am doing this, but because this occasion demands a few words of gratitude towards all those who made this occasion possible and worked to ensure its success.

I am happy that this is an occasion that will let me have my thanksgiving. I am grateful for everything and everybody that led up to this moment.

They say there is no I in team and today is proof of this statement. You guys rock as individual stars and as a team. Thank you for being who and what you are!

I am grateful that I am being given this award because it gives me a chance to look at you all and wish you all the best for all that you do and say thank you for making this possible.

The company I work in requires a bigger thank you than anything or anybody else. But this does not mean that I do not want to thank each one of you for helping me along the way.

I thank you from every atom of my existence because I owe you a lot not only for helping me along the right path but also for ensuring that I did not go down the wrong path.

It is indeed a fortunate thing to happen when a person is called upon to say thank you because it means that he or she has a lot to be grateful for.

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