When someone in your life is under the weather, recovering from a surgery or operation, or otherwise not feeling well, letting them know you are thinking of them is a wonderful thing to do. Sending someone a get well message makes them feel better (emotionally, anyway). Get well messages don’t have to be long; truly, it is the thought that counts. If you’re not sure how to tackle these short but sweet messages, we have some helpful tips to walk you through the process step by step.

Step one: Identify the correct tone. 

There are many different tones, or levels of formality, that you can use when writing a get well message. If you are writing a get well message for a coworker, acquaintance, or someone else you do not know intimately, you may choose to use a more formal tone. A formal tone might include using a formal naming convention (as in “Mr. X” or “Ms. Y”) and fewer personal details. When writing a get well message for a family member or friend, a less formal tone may be more appropriate. This can include using more slang terminology or even an inside joke.

What’s the difference between informal and formal writing, and when should you use them? We break it down.

Step two: Begin with their name.

If you are writing a formal get well message, use “Dear” followed by their title and a comma, as in: 

• Dear Mr. Smith,
• Dear Dr. Johnson,
• Dear Coach Carter,

If you are writing an informal get well message, you can include the “Dear” or not. When writing a message for a family member, you may choose to include their kinship title (“Aunt,” “Uncle,” etc.).

• Dear Aunt Josephine,
• Dear Uncle David,
• My dearest Josh,
• Katy,

Step three: Explain why you are writing.

After the introductions are out of the way, write a short sentence describing the situation and purpose of the note, as in:

• I was sorry to hear you are not feeling well.
• I hope you recover quickly from your surgery.
• We heard you were under the weather. 

Step four: Make it specific.

There are a lot of generic get well messages out there. After all, that’s why get well cards with preprinted messages exist. But what really makes them sparkle is when you include a specific note that references something you know about the person who isn’t feeling well or their situation. It can be a single sentence, but it should make the message personal. Some examples are:

• Looking forward to seeing you at school again soon! 
• We miss you at the hair salon.
• Hoping you will be home from the hospital before you know it.
• It’s not the same without you at the office! 

Looking to inspire toughness when the going gets tough? Check out these quotes about strength for anyone who’s struggling.

Step five: Wrap it up.

Once you have written one or two sentences sharing well wishes, you want to wrap up strong. You can do that with a general expression of well-wishing such as: 

• Hope you feel better soon.
• Take good care of yourself.
• Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
• Sending get well wishes!
• Keeping you in my prayers.

Step six: Sign off.

When you’ve finished writing your message, you want to end with a friendly, upbeat sign-off, followed by a comma. Some formal ways to end your message are: 

• Thinking of you,
• Wishing you healing,
• All my best,

Some informal ways to end your message are: 

• Warm wishes,
• Take it easy,
• Hugs,
• All my love,

Make sure to remember to sign your name to the end of the note! 

General advice

When writing a get well message, there are a few general pieces of advice to keep in mind:

• Be upbeat and positive. After all, you want to cheer the receiver up! 
• Keep it short. A few sentences will do the trick.
• It is common to include religious messages and prayers in get well messages, as in “praying for you.” While some people welcome such messages, it may not be welcome if you are not sure if someone shares your religious conviction. Keep this in mind when using this kind of language in get well messages. 
• Remember that not everyone will recover from every illness, so be mindful when writing “get well soon.” It might not be appropriate for every situation. 
• Be sincere. Express how you really feel!  

The next time someone in your life feels sick or has to get an operation, keep these tips in mind to write them a get well message that is going to cheer them up. They are lucky to have someone like you thinking of them!