Readers have pushed back against a recent article calling for a ban on the phrase 'thank you' in Britain, arguing that the expression serves an important social function. The original piece by Sangeeta Pillai, published on 7 February, described the British habit of saying thank you as a 'pointless stream of politeness'. However, correspondents have written in to defend the practice, emphasising its role in recognising the efforts of service workers and fostering civility.
Deirdre Breen of Dublin, Ireland, disagreed strongly with Pillai's stance. 'I do not believe that it is overworked or meaningless,' she wrote. 'I love to thank baristas, shop assistants, bus drivers or other people because they more often than not provide a very good service. They work hard and are not paid a lot of money.' She added that kindness and appreciation are especially valuable 'in these febrile times'.
Lotte Lina Kaiser of Geneva, Switzerland, argued that 'thank you' is often a way of saying 'I see you'. She explained: 'It is a recognition that the other person matters and is not invisible. It means, for example, that I see that the bus is driven by a person, not by a machine.' She expressed hope that society would never give up on such daily acknowledgements.
Roger Mortimore of Dorking, Surrey, while agreeing with some of Pillai's points, maintained that showing appreciation is necessary in a civilised society. However, he noted that the phrase can be excessive, citing a New York shop assistant who said: 'Thank you so very much, now you enjoy your underwear.' He also asserted that Britons apologise far too much, contrasting this with France, where 'merci' is used generously but 'je suis désolé' is rare.
Other readers offered lighter observations. Stephen Blakemore of Folkestone, Kent, remarked that a simple 'thank you' no longer suffices, having been replaced by 'thank you so much'. Stephanie Bailey of Norton-sub-Hamdon, Somerset, wryly noted: 'I am sorry, Sangeeta, people in this country say “sorry” a lot more than they say “thank you”!'
