Writing a card: structure, length and wording without clichés

What do you write in a card? Four sentences in a fixed order are almost always enough: the occasion, something that is true only of this person, a wish and a concrete next step. Write a card this way and you won't need clichés, and you'll be done in ten minutes.

Most cards don't fail for lack of words, but because of too many. You start, notice after two lines that it sounds like a card off the shelf, and fill the rest with sentences that could be on any card. At Good-Natured we deliberately design our cards with plenty of space for your own lines. That's why this is the blueprint that helps those lines work: structure, length and wording for congratulations, thanks, comfort and blessings.

1. What do you write in a card? A blueprint of four sentences

Sentence 1: the occasion, specifically. Not “Congratulations”, but on what. “On your graduation”, “on your move”, “on your first day of retirement”. A precisely named occasion shows right away that the card was written for exactly this person.

Sentence 2: something that is true only of this person. An observation, a memory, a quality with an example. This is the sentence that makes the card personal, and the only one that really takes effort.

Sentence 3: the wish or the blessing. What you hope for them. Here it can get big, because the first two sentences were concrete. A Bible verse fits in this spot if it suits the person.

Sentence 4: something concrete. An invitation, an offer, a date: “I'll call you on Sunday” or “We'll have the first cup in your new kitchen together”. This sentence connects the card to real life.

Here is what that looks like as a finished card for a move: “To your first home of your own! I still remember how you went through every listing with me a year ago, and now your name is on the doorbell. I pray that God makes this home a place you love coming back to. On Saturday I'll bring over bread and salt.” Simple postcards with enough space on the back work well for lines like these.

2. The second sentence: how to make the card personal

Everything except sentence 2 can be taken from a template if need be. Sentence 2 can't. If nothing comes to mind, three questions help:

What does this person do differently from others? Not “you're so kind”, but how you notice it: “You're the only one who writes down the birthday of every new colleague.”

When did they last help me? A small scene you can put a date on is stronger than any general praise.

What have I thought about them without ever saying it? The answer to this question is almost always the best sentence on the card. It feels a little brave to write, and that is exactly why the card gets kept.

A good test: could the sentence also be on a card to someone else? Then it isn't specific enough yet.

3. Writing a card without clichés: what to cut

Clichés appear when you start writing before you know what you want to say. Most of them are easy to replace:

If you are looking for typical sentences for hard times that are better left unwritten, you'll find them together with alternatives in our encouragement cards with sample texts.

4. Finding the right tone: congratulations, thanks, comfort, blessing

The blueprint stays the same, only the tone changes.

Congratulations: can be short and cheerful. Name exactly what is being celebrated, and don't look back on hard times. The Herzlichen Glückwunsch postcard for 2 € suits birthdays, weddings or a passed exam.

Thanks: Name the thing you are thankful for as precisely as possible. “Thanks for everything” is worth less than “Thank you for picking up the kids three times in March”. Here sentence 4 can also be an invitation in return.

Comfort: don't explain, don't play anything down, don't draw a lesson. Name the loss, share a memory, make a concrete offer. Words for sympathy cards and condolences are collected in our article on Christian sympathy sayings; a fitting card is the Himmel sympathy card for 2 €.

Blessing: write in the second person, so “God keep you” instead of “may God keep”. That turns a formula into a personal word of encouragement. Ready-made wording for baptisms and confirmations can be found under writing blessings.

5. How long should a card be?

Depending on your handwriting, a postcard holds about 60 to 90 words. That sounds like little and is plenty for four sentences. A folded card offers more room, but more space doesn't mean it has to be filled. Better four good sentences with some air between them than a densely written page.

Write the text on a sheet of paper first. That way you'll notice which sentence is too long and won't get stuck in the last line. Start at the top left with the greeting, leave a margin on the right and at the bottom, and sign with the name the person knows you by. A date in the corner may look a bit formal at first, but becomes valuable when the card is found again years later.

6. With a Bible verse: where it belongs on the card

A verse doesn't replace a personal sentence, it strengthens it. That's why it belongs after sentence 2, not before. It should be short, one line rather than a whole passage, and come with its reference so it can be looked up. If you're unsure which tone fits, a single verse is a good guide for every card:

“Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.”
Romans 12:15 (KJV)

Verses that fit on a single line are collected in our article on short Bible verses. For cards to people who need courage right now, the Bible verses for encouragement help, and for hard times the Bible verses for comfort.

Conclusion

Occasion, personal sentence, wish, concrete next step: if you stick to this order, you'll write a card in a few minutes that gets kept. It takes no special talent, just a short moment of attention for the person. You'll find the right card among our postcards or the Christian greeting cards. All Good-Natured cards are printed in Germany.