Thankyou or Thank You: Which Is Correct?

Thank you is the correct spelling when expressing gratitude in English. Thankyou is generally considered incorrect as a standard phrase, although it sometimes appears as a brand name, product name, or an informal styling online.

Many people become confused because they often see “thankyou” written as one word in social media posts, text messages, and logos.

This guide explains the correct spelling, where the confusion comes from, how British and American English treat the phrase, when to use each form, common mistakes to avoid, and plenty of real-life examples to help you write with confidence.

Quick Answer

The correct form is thank you.

✅ Thank you = Correct phrase used to express gratitude.
❌ Thankyou = Not accepted as standard English spelling.

Examples

Thank you for your help.
Thank you very much.
Thank you for your email.
Thank you for coming.

Incorrect examples:

❌ Thankyou for your help.
❌ Thankyou very much.

Quick rule: Always write thank you as two separate words.

The Origin of Thankyou or Thank You

The phrase thank you comes from the verb thank, which has roots in Old English þancian, meaning “to give thanks” or “to express gratitude.”

The word thank is closely related to thought and gratitude, showing appreciation for kindness or help.

The expression thank you has been used for hundreds of years in English literature and conversation. Since it is made up of the verb thank and the pronoun you, traditional grammar keeps them as two separate words.

The spelling thankyou became more common on the internet because people often combine words when typing quickly. It is also used by some businesses and brands as a stylistic choice, but dictionaries do not recognize it as the standard spelling.

British English vs American English Spelling

Unlike many English words, thank you has no spelling difference between British and American English.

Both countries use exactly the same phrase.

Feature	British English	American English
Standard spelling	Thank you	Thank you
Formal writing	Thank you	Thank you
Emails	Thank you	Thank you
Academic writing	Thank you	Thank you
Social media	Thank you	Thank you

Examples

British English:

Thank you for your letter.
Thank you for your support.

American English:

Thank you for your message.
Thank you for your assistance.

Which Spelling Should You Use?

Your audience does not matter in this case because the spelling stays the same.

Audience	Recommended Form
United States	Thank you
United Kingdom	Thank you
Canada	Thank you
Australia	Thank you
New Zealand	Thank you
International audience	Thank you
Academic writing	Thank you
Business writing	Thank you

Always use thank you in professional, academic, and everyday writing.

Common Mistakes with Thankyou or Thank You

Here are mistakes people often make.

Incorrect	Correct
Thankyou	Thank you
Thankyou very much	Thank you very much
Thankyou for helping	Thank you for helping
Thankyou everyone	Thank you, everyone.
Thankyou so much	Thank you so much

Why these mistakes happen

Fast typing on phones
Social media habits
Brand names using “Thankyou”
Assuming common phrases become one word

Thankyou or Thank You in Everyday Examples

In Emails

Thank you for contacting our support team.
Thank you for your quick response.
Thank you for considering my application.

In News

The mayor said, “Thank you to all volunteers.”
Thank you messages were shared after the event.

On Social Media

Thank you for 10,000 followers!
Thank you for all the love and support.

Although some users write thankyou, professional posts still use thank you.

In Formal Writing

Thank you for attending today’s meeting.
Thank you for your valuable feedback.
Thank you for your cooperation.

Thankyou or Thank You – Google Trends & Usage Data

Search interest shows that thank you is overwhelmingly more popular than thankyou.

Usage by Country

Country	Most Common Form
United States	Thank you
United Kingdom	Thank you
Canada	Thank you
Australia	Thank you
India	Thank you

Why “thankyou” Appears Online

Brand names
Company names
Social media hashtags
Informal texting
Typing shortcuts

In standard English, thank you remains the accepted spelling worldwide.

Comparison Table: Thankyou vs Thank You

Feature	Thank You	Thankyou
Standard English	✅ Yes	❌ No
Dictionary accepted	✅ Yes	❌ No
Formal writing	✅ Yes	❌ No
Academic writing	✅ Yes	❌ No
Business emails	✅ Yes	❌ No
Social media	✅ Yes	Sometimes seen
Grammar correct	✅ Yes	❌ No
Recommended	✅ Always	❌ Avoid

FAQs

Is thankyou one word or two words?

The correct spelling is thank you, written as two separate words.

Is thankyou wrong?

Yes. In standard English, thankyou is considered incorrect unless it is part of a brand or company name.

Do British and American English spell thank you differently?

No. Both use thank you.

Can I write thankyou in a text message?

People sometimes do, but thank you is still the correct spelling.

Why do I see thankyou online?

Some brands, websites, and social media users combine the words for style or convenience.

Is thank you formal?

Yes. It works well in formal, professional, academic, and casual writing.

Can thank you be used as a noun?

Yes. For example:

She sent me a heartfelt thank-you note.

In this case, thank-you is used as a noun or adjective and is often hyphenated.

Conclusion

Thank you is the correct spelling because it is a two-word phrase made from the verb thank and the pronoun you, while thankyou is not accepted in standard English writing.

The easiest way to remember the rule is to write the words separately whenever you express gratitude in emails, letters, schoolwork, or business communication.

If you are learning common English spelling differences, you may also enjoy reading our guide on “your or you’re” to avoid another frequent writing mistake and improve your everyday English with confidence.