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Is It Correct to Say “Thanks for the Other Day”?

Showing someone gratitude is a positive way to build friendships and demonstrate appreciation for another’s actions. In fact, studies show that expressing gratitude frequently can even improve your mental health. So, is it correct to say “Thanks for the other day”?

It is acceptable in many settings to say “Thanks for the other day” to indicate your gratitude for something someone did recently. Still, this is an informal, abbreviated phrase that functions as a minor sentence, so it may not be appropriate in formal settings or academic writing.

Continue reading to learn more about correctly using the phrase “Thanks for the other day.”

Is It Grammatically Correct to Say “Thanks for the Other Day”?

While lacking grammatical completeness since it has no subject or verb, the phrase “Thanks for the other day” still has meaning and functions grammatically. However, grammarians would classify this as a minor or irregular sentence, a sentence fragment that conveys the same meaning as a complete sentence.

As such, you should reserve this casual phrase for informal settings and conversations.

What Does “Thanks for the Other Day” Mean?

“Thanks for the other day” is a phrase that expresses gratitude for something that occurred within the past week. It’s short for “I give you my thanks for the other day.”

On its own, “Thanks” is a noun and an informal exclamation informing someone that you are “grateful or pleased about something” (source). “Thanks” is an abbreviation for the longer phrase “I give you my thanks” or “I offer my thanks,” where the recipient is to infer the subject and verb since we use it in a direct address to someone.

In contrast, when we say “Thank you,” we are using the verb “thank,” and we expect our listener to infer we are the subject and they are the direct object.

Next,  “for” is a preposition that serves as a connecting word. In this phrase, “for” is a preposition of time, as it introduces an object — the noun phrase “the other day” — that refers to a specific time (source).

Additionally, certain words pair most naturally with one preposition. For example, “thanks” or “thank you” will frequently pair with the preposition “for”:

  • [I offer my] Thanks for helping me with my homework. 
  • [I] Thank you for paying for my lunch. 

For comparison, another verb that almost always pairs with the same preposition is “to glance.” You will usually pair this verb with the preposition “at”:

  • She glanced at her notes during her speech.
  • She glanced at her partner nervously just before the presenter announced the results.

In both examples, the noun or noun phrase that follows the preposition serves as the object of the preposition. In our title expression, “day” is the object of the preposition and part of the larger prepositional phrase “for the other day.”

“The other day” is a noun phrase that we most often use to refer to the day before yesterday or sometime in the past week. “Other” is an adjective modifying the noun “day,” meaning a distinct day from an otherwise implied one.

This usually indicates that the person is not referring to the current day or yesterday since they would have said so otherwise (source). Thus, “Thanks for the other day” refers to a specific action or occurrence from a few days ago deserving thanks.

How Do You Use “Thanks for the Other Day”?

“Thanks for the other day” functions as an independent clause, though it is technically a sentence fragment. You can use it as a standalone sentence or within a longer sentence structure.

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Remember, “thanks” is an informal abbreviation and means “I give you thanks.” Here is an example of a conversation where we use “Thanks for the other day” as a complete sentence.

Person A: Thanks for the other day!

Person B: No problem! Happy to help anytime. 

Person A: Thanks! Would you be willing to help out again next week? 

Person B: Sure, I’d love to!

Or, you can pair “thanks for the other day” with another independent clause using a semicolon.

  • Thanks for the other day; I’m so grateful that you helped chaperon the event!

Adding another clause to the sentence without separating it with a semicolon or comma could make the sentence unnecessarily lengthy and awkward. For example: 

  • Thanks for the other day when you helped at the event.
  • Thanks for the other day; your help at the event really made a difference.

While both persons generally understand the specific context of “thanks for the other day,” it does not provide much context on its own. Since your listener might not know what you are thanking them for, you may want to modify the phrase slightly, as in the following:

  • Thanks for filling in for me the other day! 

Using “Thanks for the Other Day” in a Full Sentence

When using “Thanks for the other day” in a full sentence, you will need to add a subject and a verb. You can also attach the expression using a coordinating conjunction like “so.”

  • I just wanted to say thanks for the other day.
  • You have my thanks for the other day.
  • Everything worked out perfectly, so thanks for your help the other day.
  • I couldn’t have done it without you, so thanks for the other day. 

As you can see, when using “thanks for the other day” within a longer sentence, you can pair it with a clause that provides more context. You can also pair it with another expression of gratitude to further demonstrate your thankfulness.

When Can You Use “Thanks for the Other Day”?

You should use the phrase “thanks for the other day” when speaking in the present tense while referring to something that occurred two to four days ago. When combining independent clauses, one will be in the present tense, while the other will be in the past tense.

In the following example, the clause providing more detail is in the past tense:

  • Thanks for the other day; the presentation was a success with your help.

In What Context Can You Use “Thanks for the Other Day”?

It is best to use “Thanks for the other day” in passing during casual conversation and for small expressions of gratitude. This abbreviated sentence communicates an informal tone that is not appropriate for all situations.

You should only use this phrase to refer to one instance that deserves thanks. For example, if a fellow coworker fills in for you at a meeting due to an emergency, it might be appropriate to say “Thanks for the other day” the next time you see them.

However, if a friend spends months helping you plan an event, “thanks for the other day” would be a very underwhelming expression of gratitude to use a few days after the event takes place. 

What Can You Use Instead of “Thanks for the Other Day”?

Instead of using the noun form “thanks,” you could use many different verbs, including words such as “appreciate.” You could also highlight several actions that deserve thanks or focus deeply on recognizing a significant act for which you are expressing gratitude. 

Here are some examples of using a verb to express a state of gratitude: 

  • We appreciate what you did the other day.
  • I applaud your help the other day.

Here are some examples of using an adjective to express a state of gratitude: 

  • I was grateful for your help the other day.
  • We’re thankful for the other day.

Here are some examples of using a noun to express gratitude: 

  • My compliments for your service the other day.
  • Hats off for the other day.
  • You have my appreciation for the other day.

Since “Thanks for the other day” is a colloquial phrase, you may prefer one of the following for a more formal setting: 

  • Thank you for the other day. (slightly less colloquial)
  • I appreciate your kind words the other day. 
  • I was grateful for your advice the other day.

“Thanks for the other day” is a very light, casual, and friendly phrase. If you want to express gratitude on a deeper level, here are some examples to use instead: 

  • Please accept my sincere thanks. 
  • I am eternally grateful for your patience and wisdom.
  • I truly appreciate your honest advice. 
  • I am indebted to you.
  • Many thanks for the other day.

Expressions of Gratitude as Minor Sentences

A minor sentence is a word, phrase, or clause that acts and appears as a full sentence, but it does not contain the “grammatical completeness and independence of a full sentence” (source). There are many informal expressions of gratitude that we can characterize as minor sentences. 

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We most often use minor sentences in casual conversation where a lengthier sentence is not necessary or fitting. However, you can also use them in writing or conversation for added emphasis or style (source).

  1. Her singing was bad. So bad.  
  2. Nevermind. 
  3. The date was awful. Just terrible.

The second sentences in examples one and three are minor sentences, and example two is a one-word minor sentence. These words and phrases do not contain the standard subject, verb, and object like a full sentence normally does, but they still convey a complete thought and serve a purpose within a given context.

Many expressions of gratitude are most appropriate as minor sentences because they are something you can say quickly and in passing to make someone feel appreciated.

Showing gratitude is polite. We use expressions of gratitude so often that they seem most natural when we express them as minor sentences. Consider the following:

  • Sure, thanks. 
  • Thanks so much! 
  • Much appreciated!
  • Many thanks! 
  • Thankful/Grateful for you! 

For more information on minor sentences, check out our article “Is It Correct to Say ‘Many Happy Returns of the Day’?

Phrases and Clauses

Phrases and clauses help us form sentences and allow us to communicate through writing or speech effectively. Sentences can include a single independent clause, or we can combine them with dependent clauses, and these clauses contain words and phrases. 

Independent vs. Dependent Clauses 

An independent clause has a subject and a verb and can function as a complete sentence. Conversely, a dependent clause is a phrase subordinate to the main clause. In other words, dependent clauses depend on another clause — an independent clause.

For example, “Because I slept through my alarm clock” is a dependent clause. It does not form a complete sentence. 

However, “Because I slept through my alarm clock, I missed my 8 AM class” is a complete sentence. The independent clause “I missed my 8 AM class” could stand on its own, but the dependent clause adds more context.

Phrases

A phrase is either a word or a word group that has a single grammatical function. This includes adverbial phrases, prepositional phrases, and noun phrases. So far, we’ve mentioned prepositional phrases and noun phrases in passing.

Noun Phrases 

The noun phrase is among the most common types of phrase that you’ll encounter. This is a group of words that function together to act as a single noun or object (source). Often, noun phrases are simply nouns paired with modifiers like articles and adjectives.

“Thanks for the other day” contains the noun phrase “the other day,” having the indefinite article “the,” the adjective “other,” and the noun “day.”

Prepositional Phrases 

Prepositional phrases start with a preposition and have a noun, noun phrase, or pronoun at the end. For instance, “Thanks for the other day” contains the prepositional phrase “for the other day. ” This includes the preposition (“for”) and the noun phrase that is the object of the preposition (“the other day”).

Adverbial Phrases 

Adverbs add more detail to a sentence by telling you how, when, or where something occurs. Examples of adverbs include “correctly,” “carefully,” and many other descriptive words ending in -ly. 

This article was written for strategiesforparents.com. 

Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs, and an adverbial phrase acts just like an adverb (source).

  • Please take the medication as directed.
  • Right out of college, they will get married.

Final Thoughts 

“Thanks for the other day” is a helpful phrase that allows you to express gratitude simply and casually. This is an excellent phrase for small expressions of gratitude toward friends, family, and possibly even coworkers. It can function as a full sentence on its own, or you can use it within a larger sentence.