The term “no, thank you” with a comma is the correct grammar for when you are declining something. However, the term “no thank you” can be valid in some rare circumstances. E.g., “No thank you is needed from you; just give me your support.”
You should always use a comma when you use “no, thank you” to respond to an offer or decline something.
- Would you like a drink?
- Correct: No, thank you. I just had one.
- Correct: No. Thank you. I just had one.
- Incorrect: No thank you. I just had one.
“No thank you” can be correct without punctuation when you refer directly to the “thank you” itself.
- He has offered no thank you or words of appreciation for what we have done for him.
Keep reading the rest of the page to discover more about using punctuation with the phrase “no, thank you.”
No, Thank You
Firstly, you will hear and see the term “no, thank you” as a way to decline things or express disagreement with something.
Therefore, when you use “no, thank you” in a sentence for this function, you must always place a comma after the word “no.”
- Correct: My boss wants me to work late this week. No, thank you.
- Incorrect: My boss wants me to work late this week. No thank you.
Furthermore, when you use “no, thank you” with a name, you should put a comma after the word “thank you” as well.
- He invited me on a date, and I said, no, thank you, John. I don’t want to see him again.
No Thank You
First of all, the term “no thank you” without commas can only be correct when referring to the noun, i.e., the “thank you” itself.
Therefore, in these instances, if we add a comma, the sentence becomes incorrect:
- Correct: No thank you is asked of you. Just don’t expect me to do it again.
- Incorrect: No, thank you is asked of you. Just don’t expect me to do it again.
Furthermore, it is not possible to use “no thanks” without punctuation to decline something.
- Would you like to go out later?
- Correct: No, thanks.
- Incorrect: No thanks.