At Durée & Company, we understand that whether it’s personal cards for loved ones or corporate greetings for clients, holiday cards are a chance to make a lasting impression. As the holiday season approaches, it’s the perfect time to start planning greetings with polished grammar and style. Casual messaging can add warmth, but paying attention to grammar and style ensures these greetings come across as polished and professional. Here’s a guide to help every holiday card shine with proper punctuation and flawless grammar.
- Keep Those Apostrophes in Check
Apostrophes should be reserved for showing possession, not for making a name plural. To keep things straightforward and professional, consider using “The [Last Name] Family” when signing a card from the whole family. For example:
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- Correct: “Happy holidays from the Ross Family.”
- Incorrect: “Happy holidays from the Ross’s.”
- ’Tis the Season for Season’s Greetings
The phrase “Season’s greetings” is a popular way to wish well to a broad audience. When using it, don’t forget the apostrophe, as the greetings belong to the season.
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- Correct: “Season’s greetings from the Williams Family!”
- Incorrect: “Seasons greetings.”
- Avoid Apostrophe Mistakes with Family Names
A well-crafted holiday card should end on a high note, without any spelling errors in the family name. If a last name ends in “s” or “z,” add “-es” for pluralization:
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- Correct: “Happy holidays from the Joneses” or “from the Lopezes.”
- To simplify, opt for “Happy holidays from the Jones Family.”
- New Year’s Greetings: Keep It Clear
When crafting a New Year’s card, keep it straightforward:
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- “Happy New Year” is simple and clear.
- “Happy New Year’s Eve” and “Happy New Year’s Day” are also correct.
Avoid saying “Happy New Years” – the apostrophe in “Year’s” makes a difference.
- Talking About Children’s Accomplishments
In holiday letters that highlight family updates, only the last name in a list should carry the possessive “’s”:
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- Correct: “We’re proud of Mary and Joseph’s achievements this year!”
- Incorrect: “Mary’s and Joseph’s achievements…”
- Perfecting the Sign-Off
When signing off with phrases like “Warmest wishes” or “Much love,” only the first word should be capitalized. Treat these closings like sentences, followed by the family name.
By following these grammar tips, holiday cards can convey warmth while maintaining professionalism—perfect for spreading holiday cheer with a polished touch. Durée & Company is here to ensure that holiday greetings reflect a keen eye for detail and a commitment to quality.
As the holiday season approaches, ensuring that each greeting reflects a polished and professional touch can make all the difference. For expert guidance on all things communication and PR, reach out to Durée & Company. Whether it’s crafting the perfect holiday card or developing a tailored PR strategy, our team is here to help bring messages to life with clarity and style.
About Durée & Company, Inc.
Founded in 1999, Durée & Company is a full-service, well-respected and highly creative public relations and marketing agency serving a diverse client base of local, national and international consumer brands, landmark industries, business leaders, and philanthropists from its offices in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Aspen, Colorado. Practice areas include nonprofit, hospitality, business, lifestyle, health and wellness, legal, real estate, yacht and marine as well as cannabis, psychedelics, and other emerging industries. Durée & Company is a member of some of the nation’s most elite professional organizations including PR Boutiques International™ (PRBI) and The Cannabis Marketing Association, and is a corporate partner of Cannabis LAB. To learn more, call 954-723-9350; go to dureeandcompany.com; cannabismarketingpr.com; or psychedelicpr.com. Join the social conversation and follow Durée & Company on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube and LinkedIn at @DureeCoPR
