Card Messages By Occasion: What To Write In Any Card

You're in the right place for card messages by occasion. There are 123 ready-to-copy lines on this page, grouped into milestone birthdays, birthdays and sympathy, funerals and difficult news, plus more below - pick one, change a detail so it sounds like you, and you're done.

Not sure what to write? Every message guide on the site is listed below by occasion - 123 guides and more than 3393 ready-to-copy lines.

Pick the occasion, open the guide, copy a line and change one detail so it sounds like you.

All of it is free to use. Nothing needs signing up for and nothing needs buying.

Milestone birthdays

• 18th birthday card messages and wishes - 27 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/18th-birthday-wishes-and-card-messages
• 21st birthday card messages and wishes - 25 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/21st-birthday-wishes-and-card-messages
• 30th birthday card messages and wishes - 25 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/30th-birthday-wishes-and-card-messages
• 40th birthday card messages and wishes - 25 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/40th-birthday-wishes-and-card-messages
• 50th birthday card messages and wishes - 25 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/50th-birthday-wishes-and-card-messages
• 60th birthday jokes and one-liners - 40 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/funny-60th-birthday-jokes-and-one-liners
• 60th birthday poems and verses - 18 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/60th-birthday-poems-and-verses
• 65th birthday sayings and quotes - 28 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/65th-birthday-sayings-and-quotes
• 70th birthday jokes, poems and verses - 24 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/70th-birthday-jokes-poems-and-verses
• 75th birthday sayings and verses - 25 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/75th-birthday-sayings-and-verses
• 80th birthday jokes, quotes and verses - 30 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/80th-birthday-jokes-quotes-and-verses
• What to write in a first birthday card - 17 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/first-birthday-card-messages

Birthdays

• Belated birthday messages - 26 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/belated-birthday-messages
• Birthday quotes - 49 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/birthday-quotes
• Birthday toast wording - 30 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/birthday-toast-wording
• Pet birthday messages - 15 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/pet-birthday-messages
• Sorry I forgot your birthday - 25 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/sorry-i-forgot-your-birthday

Sympathy, funerals and difficult news

• Belated condolence messages - 24 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/belated-condolences-messages
• Card message templates - 16 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/card-message-templates
• Get well soon quotes - 46 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/get-well-soon-quotes
• Pet sympathy messages - 36 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/pet-sympathy-messages
• Sympathy card messages and what to write - 29 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/sympathy-card-messages-what-to-write

Weddings, engagements and anniversaries

• Anniversary card messages and wishes - 33 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/anniversary-card-messages-and-wishes
• Death anniversary messages - 10 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/death-anniversary-messages
• Wedding speech one-liners - 28 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/wedding-speech-one-liners

New baby, christenings and baptisms

• Baptism card messages - 24 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/baptism-card-message
• Baptism card messages - 27 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/baptism-card-messages
• Baptism timing, costs and what to write - 29 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/baptism-timing-costs-and-messages
• Christening timing, costs and what to write - 36 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/christening-timing-costs-and-messages
• Mum to be and baby shower messages - 29 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/mum-to-be-and-baby-shower-wishes
• Naming ceremony timing, costs and what to write - 34 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/naming-ceremony-timing-costs-and-messages
• New baby card messages and wishes - 31 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/new-baby-card-messages-what-to-write

Work, new jobs and retirement

• Apology messages for work - 20 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/work-apology-messages
• Funny ways to say goodbye - 24 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/funny-ways-to-say-goodbye
• Good luck messages - 58 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/good-luck-messages Shop this card
• Greetings card layout: composition, grids and white space - 12 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/greetings-card-layout-guide
• How to cheer someone up over text - 38 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/how-to-cheer-someone-up-over-text
• Moving away messages - 45 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/moving-away-messages
• Retirement card messages and wishes - 29 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/retirement-card-messages-and-wishes
• Retirement quotes - 45 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/retirement-quotes
• Retirement speech ideas - 29 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/retirement-speech-ideas
• What to write in a leaving card for a colleague - 45 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/leaving-card-message-for-colleague
• What to write to your boss - 35 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/messages-for-your-boss

Thank you and appreciation

• How to write a thank you message - 12 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/how-to-write-a-thank-you-message
• Late thank you messages - 19 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/late-thank-you-messages
• Thank you card messages for teachers - 30 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/teacher-thank-you-card-messages
• Thank you card templates - 10 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/thank-you-card-templates
• Thank you for a gift messages - 48 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/thank-you-for-a-gift-messages
• Thank you gifts and cards for a care home team - 18 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/thank-you-care-home-staff
• Thank you gifts and cards for a childminder - 18 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/thank-you-childminder
• Thank you gifts and cards for a doctor or GP - 18 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/thank-you-doctor
• Thank you gifts and cards for a firefighter - 15 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/thank-you-firefighter
• Thank you gifts and cards for a health visitor - 14 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/thank-you-health-visitor
• Thank you gifts and cards for a nurse - 24 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/thank-you-nurse
• Thank you gifts and cards for a paramedic - 16 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/thank-you-paramedic
• Thank you gifts and cards for a police officer - 17 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/thank-you-police-officer
• The best teacher thank you gifts - 11 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/best-teacher-thank-you-gifts
• What to write in a teacher end of year card - 14 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/what-to-write-in-a-teacher-end-of-year-card
• What to write to a carer - 25 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/messages-for-a-carer
• What to write to a foster carer - 23 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/messages-for-a-foster-carer
• What to write to a midwife - 22 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/messages-for-a-midwife
• What to write to a vet - 23 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/messages-for-a-vet
• What to write to your cleaner - 24 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/messages-for-your-cleaner
• What to write to your postie - 24 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/messages-for-your-postie

Christmas and seasonal

• Chinese New Year card messages - 21 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/chinese-new-year-card-messages
• Christmas card messages: what to write in a Christmas card - 39 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/christmas-card-messages-and-wishes
• Diwali card messages - 21 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/diwali-card-messages
• Eid card messages - 26 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/eid-card-messages
• Halloween card messages: what to write in a Halloween card - 35 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/halloween-card-messages-and-wishes
• Halloween party ideas and what to write in a Halloween card - 40 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/halloween-party-ideas-and-card-messages
• Mother's Day card messages: what to write for mum - 34 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/mothers-day-card-messages-and-wishes
• Umrah Mubarak messages - 21 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/umrah-mubarak-messages
• Valentine's card messages: what to write in a Valentine's card - 37 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/valentines-card-messages-and-wishes

Exams, graduation and achievements

• Exam results messages - 45 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/exam-results-messages
• Passed your driving test messages - 43 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/driving-test-messages
• What to say if exam results go badly - 16 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/what-to-say-if-exam-results-go-badly
• What to write in a graduation card - 17 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/graduation-card-messages

Love, friendship and just because

• Apology messages for a partner - 30 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/apology-messages-for-partner
• Friendship quotes - 50 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/friendship-quotes
• How to say I love you in a card - 12 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/how-to-say-i-love-you-in-a-card
• How to write a sorry message - 12 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/how-to-write-a-sorry-message
• Just because messages - 46 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/just-because-messages
• Sorry messages for a friend - 18 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/sorry-messages-for-a-friend
• Thinking of you messages - 39 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/thinking-of-you-messages
• What to write in a sorry card - 56 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/what-to-write-in-a-sorry-card

Moving home, travel and everything else

• Best British sitcom one-liners - 30 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/best-british-sitcom-one-liners
• Birth flower card messages - 24 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/birth-flower-card-messages
• Celebration quotes - 32 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/celebration-quotes
• Confirmation card messages - 20 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/confirmation-card-messages
• Confirmation timing, costs and what to write - 33 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/confirmation-timing-costs-and-messages
• Divorce and breakup support messages - 40 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/breakup-support-messages
• First day at school messages - 41 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/first-day-at-school-messages
• First Holy Communion timing, costs and what to write - 34 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/communion-timing-costs-and-messages
• Funny card messages - 29 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/funny-card-messages
• Funny quotes - 55 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/funny-quotes
• Greetings card typography: fonts, sizes and pairings - 14 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/greetings-card-typography-guide
• Hospital stay messages - 38 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/hospital-stay-messages
• How to design a greetings card - 15 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/how-to-design-a-greetings-card
• How to give a toast - 26 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/how-to-give-a-toast
• Long distance relationship messages - 12 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/long-distance-relationship-messages
• Motivational quotes - 60 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/motivational-quotes
• New home messages - 53 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/new-home-messages
• New relationship messages - 12 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/new-relationship-messages
• Photo greetings cards: choosing and preparing images - 15 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/photo-greetings-card-guide
• Short funny poems for cards - 25 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/short-funny-poems-for-cards
• St Patrick's Day ideas for a party worth turning up to - 22 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/st-patricks-day-ideas
• Top 50 funny one-liners - 45 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/funny-one-liners
• What to say after a miscarriage - 12 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/what-to-say-after-a-miscarriage
• What to say when someone gets a serious diagnosis - 12 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/what-to-say-after-a-serious-diagnosis
• What to say when someone is made redundant - 12 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/what-to-say-when-someone-is-made-redundant
• What to say when someone moves into care - 10 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/what-to-say-when-someone-moves-into-care
• What to write in a card for someone you don't know well - 27 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/what-to-write-card-someone-you-dont-know-well
• What to write in a communion card - 23 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/what-to-write-in-a-communion-card
• What to write to a co-parent - 25 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/messages-for-a-co-parent
• What to write to a godparent - 22 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/messages-for-a-godparent
• What to write to a neighbour - 37 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/messages-for-a-neighbour
• What to write to a sibling-in-law - 27 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/messages-for-a-sibling-in-law
• What to write to a stepdad - 27 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/messages-for-a-stepdad
• What to write to a stepmum - 27 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/messages-for-a-stepmum
• What to write to an uncle or aunt - 29 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/messages-for-an-uncle-or-aunt
• What to write to your adult child - 29 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/messages-for-your-adult-child
• What to write to your in-laws - 26 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/messages-for-in-laws
• What to write with a gift card - 24 ready-to-copy lines. /blogs/news/what-to-write-with-a-gift-card

Shop all greetings cards

How to write it so it lands

• Write the message out on paper first if the card is a one-off - no crossings out.
• Short and specific beats long and general every time.
• Sign it with how you actually speak to them, not how a card company would.

Where to shop next

• Shop all greetings cards
• Birthday cards
• Funny cards
• Sympathy and bereavement cards
• New baby cards
• Milestone birthday cards
• Pin badges
• What to write generator
• Message index: every card message guide, A to Z
• All decade guides in one place
• Card messages by occasion: every guide in one place
• Card hub: cards, badges and messages by occasion
• Decade history by era
• Planning the party? Birthday party ideas
• How to make a balloon arch
• Photo booth prop ideas
• Congratulations cards
• Good luck cards
• All guides

Frequently asked questions

How do I find the right message quickly?

Find your occasion in the list above and open that guide. Each one groups its lines by tone - funny, heartfelt, short - so you can jump straight to the sort of thing you want to say.

Can I copy these messages word for word?

Yes, freely. They're written to be copied by hand into a card. Changing one specific detail - a name, a shared joke, a place - is what makes it sound like you.

What if my occasion isn't listed?

Start with the closest guide; most messages adapt with a word or two changed. The general 'what to write' guides cover the awkward in-between cases.

Do you sell the cards too?

Yes. We design and print greeting cards, art prints and pin badges in the UK, and orders placed on a working day usually go out the same day.