The festive season is finally here. Before, we used to send letters to wish our loved ones well during this time. And surprisingly this year I got a letter from my long-distance friend who couldn’t come this year. While I was writing back to her, suddenly it hit me. For a while, I got confused about what to write. Your welcome, or you’re welcome.
If I could get confused for a while, I believe there are many like me who get confused for a moment as well and there will be many who will face the same thing. So here is the article that will clear your doubts and get you the clarity you need.
Your Welcome, Or You’re Welcome
We commonly use the phrase you’re welcome when we are being polite with someone. When we are replying to them for their thank you. But the question is, why do we reply with you’re welcome and not your welcome as a reply for a thank you?
The term your is actually the possessive form of the word you, the pronoun. It is used when we want to mean that something is yours or belongs to the plural or singular form of you. For example, I have kept the bottle inside your bag.
The term you’re is the short form for you are and is a contraction. When we want to say you are welcome, we often say you’re welcome. This phrase is mostly used as a reply to thank you.
The confusion mostly happens because the terms are homophones, meaning both the terms sound the same, but have different spellings and meanings. So while using the terms, you have to make sure you are paying attention to the context where you are using it. The term that should be used is you’re welcome and not your welcome.
Synonyms Of You’re Welcome
Replying with you’re welcome is the most common response to thank you. But there are other ways of replying or synonyms of the term as well. Let’s have a look at those.
- No worries/no problem – This phrase helps you acknowledge when someone is thanking you for your deed and lets them know it was not a problem for you in any way.
- Anytime – This is a casual and quick way to let the other person know that you are willing to help them whenever they need in the future as well.
- My pleasure – This phrase is mostly used in professional situations and portrays that you are happy to help them in every possible way.
- Happy to help – This phrase is quite similar to the phrase used just above but is used in different situations. It is mostly used in informal and casual settings.
- Of course/certainly – This phrase portrays that you find helping someone to be something inherent and obvious. It also suggests that thanking you for the act was not necessary.
- You got it – This phrase is quite relaxed and is used between friends who you consider close, whether inside the office or in any informal setting as well.
- Do not worry about it – This way, you let the person know that you helped them of your own free will but do not hold any wish to help them in the future.
- It was nothing – people often hak others or the bare minimum they have done for them. As they believe it a way of being polite.
- You’re most welcome – This is quite a simple way to reply with the same enthusiasm when someone says thank you so very much.
Some Other Synonyms
- Just let me know when I can help – This is the phrase you use when you want to let them know that you are happy to help them in the future as well.
- Returning the favor – This one is used in situations where you are not very familiar with the other person. But at the same time, you want to keep things well. So that you can ask for help in the future if you need it.
- Sure thing – This one is a laid-back response for someone who is thanking you for your help.
- My pleasure – This phrase is used when you want to let them know that you were happy to help them.
- No need to thank me – This phrase is used when you did the favor as a part of your job and nothing more.
- You would have done the same thing – This expression is a little bit formal but can be used in informal settings as well. This shows that the other person would have done the same if they were in your situation.
Now that we have established which is the correct form, you welcome, or you’re welcome. Let’s check out some examples as well.
Examples Of You’re Welcome
- Thank you for picking me up.
- You’re welcome.
- I did not think that you would put in so much effort for me. Thank you for everything.
- You’re welcome.
- You helped me a lot in my difficult time. Thank you.
- You’re welcome.
- Thank you for coming back to get me.
- You’re welcome.
- Thank you for taking care of the meeting for me. I appreciate that a lot.
- You’re welcome.
Bottom Line
As discussed, there is nothing you welcome. So there should be no confusion between you welcome, or you’re welcome. The first one is just a misspelling and should never be used while replying to anything in exchange for a thank you.
Also, while using any of the synonyms and alternatives of the term, you’re welcome to remember in which context you are using it, and you should be fine.
RECOMMENDED READING:
- A Hour Or An Hour: Which One To Use
- Know Your Vocabulary: To Bad Or Too Bad
- Know Your Vocabulary: Monkies Or Monkeys
