Grammatical/Letter Writing advice, please.

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I'm writing my official letter of resignation to the HR department but I want to thank them for all their help during my personal/public crisis last year. I don't want to sound all mushy but they were really nice and sympathetic, compared with my asshole boss.

I've written the letter and I just want a sentence/paragraph at the end saying thanks but still quite formal

"I would like to take this opportunity to say how much I value the support I received from your office during a very difficult time in my personal life last year."

This seems too long winded and I think it's grammatically incorrect - advice from clever folks please...

― smee (smee), Tuesday, 18 February 2003 14:49 (twenty-three years ago)

This my one thread for the day, please be nice!

― smee (smee), Tuesday, 18 February 2003 14:50 (twenty-three years ago)

instead of "I would like to take this opportunity to say how much I value" say "Can I also just thank you for", and then end w. a "?"

you have room then to insert a "very much" after the "you"...

― mark s (mark s), Tuesday, 18 February 2003 14:54 (twenty-three years ago)

if you want to, i mean...

― mark s (mark s), Tuesday, 18 February 2003 14:55 (twenty-three years ago)

Thanks. I was thinking that but I remember being told you shouldn't ask a question in a letter unless you actually want a reply or something like that.

― smee (smee), Tuesday, 18 February 2003 14:56 (twenty-three years ago)

I always think a paragraph like that is best started:

On a personal note ...(I would like to thank the HR department for their understanding and help during the difficult period....)

It'll probably mean they'll put a few extri bucks in for your leaving gift.

― Pete (Pete), Tuesday, 18 February 2003 14:57 (twenty-three years ago)

even if they do try and answer — and say "No!" — it's too late cz you already have!!

― mark s (mark s), Tuesday, 18 February 2003 14:59 (twenty-three years ago)

Good ploy Pete but they are in Brighton so they wont be contributing, there prolly won't be one anyway I hate this place so much I'm thinking of just doing a bunk now references and all that are sorted. Am I a bad womang?

Thanx Mark...

― smee (smee), Tuesday, 18 February 2003 15:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I think your sentence looks fine grammatically. Maybe cut out "take this opportunity to", as it is a bit redundant.

― DV (dirtyvicar), Tuesday, 18 February 2003 15:21 (twenty-three years ago)

I agree with the Vicar (the other suggestions are good too though). It looks great.... I'm sure they'll appreciate how genuine your words are.

― Aaron W (Aaron W), Tuesday, 18 February 2003 15:24 (twenty-three years ago)

Thanks everyone, went with my sentence but without the opportunity bit. The deed is done, I haf resigned. Yipee!!

― smee (smee), Tuesday, 18 February 2003 15:46 (twenty-three years ago)

Hey congrats!!

― Aaron W (Aaron W), Tuesday, 18 February 2003 15:52 (twenty-three years ago)

Cheers. I wanna dance and sing and shout. I don't wanna come back tomorrow!

― smee (smee), Tuesday, 18 February 2003 15:54 (twenty-three years ago)

congratulations! quitting jobs is G*R*A*T*E.

― DV (dirtyvicar), Tuesday, 18 February 2003 19:54 (twenty-three years ago)

When writing gramatically, please remember the ten essential rule's:

1. Its' very inportant to be familiar with the apostrophe and it's major function's.

2. If you repeat the same idea twice in a sentence, you have written a tautology.

3. To carelessly split an infinitive is a major grammatical error.

4. No verb, not a sentence.

5. A preposition is not the correct word to end a sentence with.

6. It's preferable to using a conjunction, but.

7. And conjunctions shouldn't really start a sentence either.

8. The 'correct' use of inverted 'commas' is to 'enclose' quotes, not to be substitute 'exclamation marks' and their 'almost' random use 'by' some writers is 'enough' to 'drive' readers 'mad'

9. Similarly, only Proper Nouns (ie Names of Places or People) need Initial Capital Letters.

10. At the end of the day, when the rubber hits the road, the quality of writing is seen, by and large, in the ability to avoid cliches.

― Fred Nerk, Wednesday, 19 February 2003 00:01 (twenty-three years ago)

Fred Nerk, you are a very bad man.

― felicity (felicity), Wednesday, 19 February 2003 00:23 (twenty-three years ago)

..or mang.

I just found this thread, but I'm happy to read that "to take this opportunity" was placed into "File 13" (as Fred would say).

― Mr. Diamond (diamond), Wednesday, 19 February 2003 00:29 (twenty-three years ago)

How about just:

I greatly appreciate the support your office provided during a difficult personal episode.

(or somesuch for the last couple of words)

I'm always railing on my kiddos not to say things like "I would like to say. . ." Don't tell them you're about to tell them something. Just say it!

― That Girl (thatgirl), Wednesday, 19 February 2003 01:03 (twenty-three years ago)

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