What to Write in a Card When You Don’t Know Them Well

Writing a card for someone you don’t know very well can feel oddly stressful.

You want to acknowledge the moment properly, but you don’t want to sound fake, overly familiar or like you’re trying too hard. At the same time, you don’t want to come across as cold or rushed.

This is the kind of card that often causes the most overthinking. Colleagues you’ve only worked with briefly. Partners of friends. Neighbours. Friends of friends. Someone you know just well enough that a card is expected, but not well enough to know what tone to use.

The good news is that you don’t need to be clever, funny or personal. In fact, the safest option is usually the simplest one.

If you’re still choosing a card, you can browse our thank you cards here.

Why Simple Is Better When You Don’t Know Someone Well

When you don’t have much of a relationship with someone, the goal of the card is not connection. It’s acknowledgement.

You’re marking a moment. A birthday. A leaving do. A thank you. A difficult situation. You’re saying, “I noticed this happened” or “I wanted to acknowledge this”.

That’s it.

Trying to sound warm, funny or emotional with someone you barely know often feels forced. Neutral, polite messages tend to land much better because they don’t assume closeness that isn’t there.

Safe, Polite Things You Can Always Write

These messages work in almost any situation where you don’t know the person well.

• Wishing you all the best.
• With best wishes.
• Best wishes going forward.
• Thinking of you.
• Warm wishes.

They’re polite, neutral and very hard to misinterpret.

Friendly but Neutral Messages

If you want to sound a little warmer without getting personal, these sit nicely in the middle.

• Hope everything goes well for you.
• Wishing you all the best with everything.
• Sending good wishes.
• Best of luck with what’s next.
• Hope this brings a smile.

These are especially useful for work cards, group cards or situations where lots of people are signing.

What to Write at Work When You Don’t Know Them Well

Work cards come with their own unspoken rules.

You want to be respectful and pleasant, but not personal. In most cases, shorter is better.

• Best wishes for the future.
• Wishing you all the best in what’s next.
• With best wishes and thanks.
• All the best going forward.
• Thank you and best wishes.

These messages do exactly what they need to do without overstepping.

What to Avoid When You Don’t Know Someone Well

When the relationship is limited, it helps to avoid:

• Inside jokes
• Overly emotional language
• Long explanations
• Personal references you’re unsure about

If you’re questioning whether something might sound odd, it probably will. In those cases, step back and simplify.

If You’re Really Overthinking It

Here’s a helpful rule.

If you could write the message in a professional email without it feeling strange, it’s probably suitable for a card when you don’t know someone well.

“Best wishes” might feel boring, but boring is sometimes exactly what you want.

What Actually Matters

A card in these situations is not about depth or personality.

It’s about acknowledgement. It’s about being polite. It’s about not making things awkward.

Most people will not analyse what you wrote. They’ll register that you took the time to sign the card, and that’s enough.

If You Need a One‑Line Fallback

When in doubt, this line almost always works.

“Wishing you all the best.”

It’s neutral, kind and completely acceptable in almost any context.

If you’d like to find a card that matches this tone, you can browse our full range of thank you cards here.