We forget important information all the time — doctor’s appointments, recitals, and work meetings, just to name a few events. It is common for someone to remind us that there is an important thing we have forgotten. When they do this, is it correct to say “Thanks for the reminder”?
It is correct to say “Thanks for the reminder” to thank someone when they help you remember something important. It expresses gratitude for the help and commonly stands as its own sentence, functioning as a response to something someone else has said.
Of course, just like any other expression, “Thanks for the reminder” has specific contextual requirements to use it correctly.
What Does “Thanks for the Reminder” Mean?
“Thanks for the reminder” means “I thank you for helping me remember.” It is an expression of gratitude, and each part has its own definition that we combine to create the overall meaning.
The plural noun “thanks” is an expression of gratitude that we use to acknowledge the actions or behaviors of others. It comes from the verb “to thank,” which means to show gratitude.
The Function Words “For” and “The”
Most of the time, the preposition “for” and the article “the” will both follow the plural noun “thanks.” Prepositions and articles are function words connecting the content words in the expression (source).
Prepositions express relations between two elements within a sentence (source). For example, in the expression “Thanks for the reminder,” we use the preposition “for” to demonstrate the relationship between “Thanks” and “the reminder.” Thus, the “thanks” is for the reminder.
An article, such as the word “the,” modifies the noun it precedes, defining whether the noun is general or specific. “The” is a definite article, so in this expression, you are thanking someone for a specific reminder they gave.
In this case, the preposition “for” sets up the intent or purpose of gratitude. “The” specifies the noun that follows it. “The” is a definite article, so the “thanks” cannot be just for any reminder.
There must be a specific reminder in mind that both the listener and speaker know. If there isn’t, you must establish the context to clarify what the reminder was and who you are thanking.
The Object “Reminder”
The noun “reminder” is the reason for the gratitude in this expression. It is the thing that causes someone to remember (source). This could be a calendar notification, a verbal remembrance, or a post-it note on the wall.
Is It Grammatically Correct to Say, “Thanks for the Reminder?”
It is grammatically correct to say “thanks for the reminder.” However, as a minor sentence, it may seem grammatically incorrect because it lacks a subject and verb.
While it may seem otherwise, technically, “Thanks for the reminder” is grammatically correct despite not having a subject or verb because it is a minor sentence.
Typically, if the expression stood alone, it would only be grammatically correct if you spoke to someone specific. Additionally, it must be contextually significant after someone has helped you remember something.
It is grammatically correct because of the implied subject, object, and verb “[I offer my] thanks [to you] for the reminder.” The listeners assume these implied subjects, so the expression makes sense.
How Do You Use “Thanks for the Reminder”?
We can use “Thanks for the reminder” as a minor sentence or as an interjection.
A minor sentence is a word or phrase that stands as a sentence despite being grammatically incomplete (source). Again, in this case, “Thanks for the reminder” lacks both a subject and a verb.
However, when we use this expression, we don’t need to have a subject (source). By speaking to someone else, we can assume that what you mean is “[I offer my] thanks [to you] for the reminder.” Listeners assume you are the one offering thanks and that the listener is the one receiving your thanks.
“Thanks for the reminder” can also function as an interjection. Interjections are remarks that can seem abrupt, such as an exclamation or interruption. Generally, they can be emotionally driven but usually don’t have a grammatical purpose (source).
They convey emotion, meaning, or feeling and precede punctuation marks. “Thanks for the reminder” is a great example since it can stand alone before a punctuation mark despite not being a full sentence.
We typically use minor sentences and interjections as a response to something else. For example, if someone sends you a text to remember to pick up some medication, you can text back, “Thanks for the reminder!”
We can also add context before or after the expression. For the example above, you can say, “Thanks for the reminder, I’ll go right now,” or “I’ll go right now, so thanks for the reminder!”
When Can You Use “Thanks for the Reminder”?
You use “Thanks for the reminder” as a response to someone else’s actions. It is an informal expression we intend to be quick and not prolong the topic of conversation.
Here are some examples of when to use “Thanks for the reminder”:
- A reminder text comes to you.
- Someone tells you of something you’ve forgotten.
- Someone reminds you of an upcoming event.
Texting is a great example of when to use “Thanks for the reminder.” It is a quick response to the reminder that ends the conversation without the need for further explanation.
Additionally, “Thanks for the reminder” often ends the conversation with someone in person. This is because they have reminded you of something urgent you have forgotten and need to go deal with immediately.
The final point to use this expression in conversation is to signal a change in the conversation’s topic. For example:
Person 1: Don’t forget that you have a seminar this weekend.
Person 2: Thanks for the reminder; I’ve really been looking forward to it.
Through the intonation, it is clear this section of the conversation is over. Otherwise, the speaker can continue the new topic by continuing to talk about the upcoming event and related topics.
In What Context Can You Use “Thanks for the Reminder?”
We typically use the expression “Thanks for the reminder” in informal contexts with friends, coworkers, and family members.
“Thanks” is a more informal noun version of the verb “to thank” when compared to “thank you.” Since this expression lacks a clear subject and verb, you’ll want to use it in informal contexts with familiar people.
Additionally, you can use this phrase in any context where you are addressing a single person. Because of the implied object [you], this expression is best for addressing one person at a time.
Using “Thanks for the Reminder” in a Full Sentence
“Thanks for the reminder” can stand as its own full sentence. Additionally, it can be at the beginning or end of a sentence to establish context for the graciousness.
Here are a few examples of using the expression in a full sentence:
- Thanks for the reminder to go to the seminar!
- Thanks for the reminder to have fun.
- I will definitely go get my prescription today; thanks for the reminder!
When looking at these examples, notice the first two have “Thanks for the reminder” at the beginning of the sentence. The preposition “to” commonly follows this expression, and we use it to connect the expression of gratitude with what they have reminded you of.
Because “Thanks for the reminder” can be an interjection, we need to precede it with a semi-colon when we use it after a sentence.
When Not to Use “Thanks for the Reminder”
You should not use “Thanks for the reminder” in situations where you are talking to more than one person, it is not contextually significant, or you are not thanking the person you are talking to.
Like most expressions, “Thanks for the reminder” has contextual requirements we need to fulfill to use it correctly. This means someone must have reminded you of something. It could be an upcoming event or something that you have forgotten.
Furthermore, we must direct the phrase “Thanks for the reminder” toward a specific person. If you are addressing a group of people, “Thanks for the reminder” can be confusing since the audience won’t have enough information to know who you are addressing.
Additionally, because “thanks for the reminder” is a minor sentence with an implied subject and object, you should not use it if you are not addressing the person you are speaking to. It will not be grammatically correct if you are trying to thank someone outside the conversation.
What Can You Use Instead of “Thanks for the Reminder”?
You can use almost any expression of gratitude in place of “Thanks for the reminder.” Some examples include “I appreciate the help” or “Thank you for reminding me.”
If you want to use something besides “Thanks for the reminder,” there are many options to choose from (source). Here are some examples:
- Thank you for reminding me.
- I appreciate the help.
- Thank you for bringing that up.
These are all options you can use to express gratitude to someone who has helped you remember something you may have forgotten.
Expressions of Gratitude as Minor Sentences
There are many examples of minor sentences in the English language. Some examples may include interjections, expressions of gratitude, and commands where the speakers expect the listeners to insert the subject and object intuitively to understand the expression.
As we’ve discussed, minor sentences do not contain subjects or verbs, so they cannot be grammatically true full sentences. Many expressions of gratitude function as abbreviated declarative statements — omitting the “I” — or as standalone interjections, like “Thanks!”
The “I” is an implied subject that the speaker and listener recognize intuitively. This is what makes minor sentences contextually significant since only the speaker and listener know what merited the response and who the subject and object are.
Other expressions of gratitude function as imperative clauses, requests, or demands of the speaker. Here is an example: “Please accept my thanks.”
For more expressions of gratitude as minor sentences, please read “Is It Correct to Say ‘Thanks a Lot’?” “Is It Correct to Say ‘Thanks a Ton’?” “Is It Correct to Say, ‘Thanks for Checking on Me’?” “Is It Correct to Say, ‘Thanks a Million’?” and “Is It Correct to Say, ‘Thanks for All You Do’?”
Phrases and Clauses
It is essential to understand the difference between phrases and clauses in English. A clause is a group of words with a subject and verb. A phrase is a group of words that contain either a subject or a verb but not both.
Sentences comprise both phrases and clauses. Clauses express an action or state of being, and in compound sentences, a comma separates them. Clauses have both a subject and a verb, and they can be independent clauses or dependent clauses.
Independent clauses contain a complete thought and function as a complete sentence. Meanwhile, dependent clauses contain an incomplete thought and usually include a subordinating conjunction. Thus, a dependent clause cannot stand alone as a complete sentence.
Both independent clauses and dependent clauses contain both a subject and a verb. A phrase, on the other hand, contains one or the other. There are many categories of phrases in the English language, such as prepositional phrases, noun and verb phrases, and gerund phrases.
This article was written for strategiesforparents.com.
Each type of phrase has a different purpose and grammatical usage. It is great to know how to use these as they are quite common in English. Additionally, knowing these phrases makes it easier for you to break down sentences in order to understand them.
Final Thoughts
You can use the expression “Thanks for the reminder” to thank someone for helping you remember something. We often use this saying as a response to someone else’s actions.
“Thanks for the reminder” can stand alone as a minor sentence, or we can connect it to the main clause. Normally, the subject is implied, so we do not need to state the person’s name we thank explicitly.
To make sure that you are using this phrase correctly, remember that you should be addressing one person and have a specific reminder in mind. Still, you may need to provide additional context for your listener to understand what you are thanking them for.
In this case, you can use the preposition “to” after the expression “thanks for the reminder.” Then, you would simply state what they reminded you to do!