We often take to our pens or keyboards on New Year’s Eve to craft a heartfelt New Year’s greeting message. However, even the best intentions can stumble over common pitfalls in writing a New Year wish if the greeting content is erroneous. Here’s a guide to avoid these errors, ensuring your message rings in the New Year with clarity and warmth.
Confusion Over Capitalisation
One of the most frequent mistakes is the misuse of capitalisation in phrases like “Happy New Year.” Remember, when referring to the holiday or the greeting, it’s “New Year” with both words capitalised. However, when talking about the year ahead in general, it should be “new year” in lowercase. Look at the below examples:
- Mistake: “Happy new year!”
- Corrected: “Happy New Year!”
- Example: “Wishing you a Happy New Year filled with joy and success!”
Here’s another example for you:
- Mistake: I have a three-step learning agenda for the New Year.
- Corrected: I have a three-step learning agenda for the new year.
- Example: I have set my goals for this new year and will strive towards achieving them.
Apostrophe Misuse
A standard error is the misuse of the apostrophe in “New Year’s.” This possessive form is correct when referring to something belonging to the New Year, like “New Year’s Eve” or “New Year’s resolution.” However, simply wishing someone a “Happy New Year” requires no apostrophe.
- Mistake: “Happy New Years Day!”
- Corrected: “Happy New Year’s Day!”
- Example: “May your New Year’s Day be as wonderful as you are!”
Similarly, there is confusion over ‘seasons greetings’ or ‘season’s greetings’. It should ideally be the Season’s Greetings since you are greeting or wishing for the season of celebration and holiday. Precisely, the apostrophe in ‘season’s’ depicts that you are extending wishes for this season and not too many seasons together.
- Mistake: “Seasons Greetings!”
- Corrected: “Season’s Greetings!”
- Example: “Season’s Greetings to you and your loved ones!”
Overcomplicating the Message
While it’s tempting to be elaborate, the best New Year wishes are often simple and heartfelt. Overcomplicating the message with flowery language, difficult words, or lengthy reflections can sometimes cause you to lose the essence of your message. A New Year’s wish is about communicating your love and care, not your vocabulary test.
- Mistake: An overly complex poem full of archaic language.
- Simplified: “Here’s to a splendid New Year!”
- Example: “Cheers to new beginnings and another chance for us to get it right.”
If you use any of the Generative AI tools, ensure that you prompt the tool to keep it simple, crisp, and catchy so that the result isn’t too complicated.
Forgetting Personal Touch
We receive many messages on WhatsApp or Social Media, which makes our work easier. However, forwarding a message can feel impersonal. Preferably copy and tailor it to your writing style before sending it to someone. Copy-paste isn’t a great idea here. A simple addition of the recipient’s name, a personal note, or an emoji makes it more meaningful. Try using graphic design tools like Canva to add that personal touch to the graphics.
- Generic: “Happy New Year to all.”
- Personalised: “Happy New Year, Vandana! May your 2024 be extraordinary.”
- Example: “Hey John, may the New Year bring you closer to your dreams.”
Neglecting Cultural Sensitivity
In our global community, being mindful of cultural practices and traditions is essential. An inclusive message, or at least sensitive to the recipient’s cultural background, can make a significant difference.
Ensure not to send a flashy New Year message to someone who just lost a job or a loved one or is going through a tough time. Be sensitive to their circumstances and write a subtle wish motivating them to look forward to the times ahead.
- Mistake: “Wishing You a very Happy New Year.”
- Correct: I hope this New Year brings you peace, prosperity, and strength to recollect, regain, and bounce back!
- Example: “Wishing you a good year ahead to overcome the past struggles.”
Timing of the Message
Sending your New Year’s greeting message too early or too late can affect its impact. Timing it close to the New Year ensures it’s relevant and timely. Not everyone is partying till midnight on New Year’s Eve. Don’t send text messages at midnight to people you are not too close to, and avoid calling if you are high.
- Too Early: A New Year wish sent on Christmas.
- Timely: A message sent on New Year’s Eve or the first day of the New Year.
- Example: “As the clock strikes midnight, here’s to a fabulous 2024!”
Overlooking Proofreading
Typos and grammatical errors can detract from your message’s sincerity. A quick proofread before sending can save you from embarrassing mistakes. Use a grammar check tool before sending.
- Mistake: “Hapy new Year!”
- Proofread: “Happy New Year!”
- Example: “Happy New Year! May it be filled with love, laughter, and prosperity.”
Ignoring the Medium
The medium of your New Year’s greeting message, whether it’s a text, card, or e-mail, should influence its tone and length. A lengthy e-mail may be too much for a text message, and vice versa.
Stick to graphics and less text on WhatsApp, use no graphics or only text on e-mails and adhere to the content mix considering the respective social media platforms.
Forgetting to Reflect and Look Forward
A New Year’s greeting message is an excellent opportunity to reflect on the past year and express hope or plans for the future. Missing this element can make your message feel less connected to the occasion.
- Missed Opportunity: “Happy New Year.”
- Reflective and Forward-Looking: “Happy New Year! 2023 was memorable, and here’s to making 2024 even better.”
- Example: “As we welcome 2024, let’s cherish the lessons of the past year and embrace the possibilities of the new one.”
Writing a New Year’s greeting message is not just about following grammatical rules; it’s about conveying your sentiments clearly, personally, and thoughtfully. By avoiding these common mistakes, your message will be grammatically correct and carry the warmth and sincerity that genuinely reflects the spirit of the New Year.
A New Year’s greeting message or wish is about creating a connection or building the lost ones. A well-thought-out, personalised, and timely message can make a world of difference in how your sentiments are received. Here’s to writing New Year wishes that are grammatically spot-on, warm, genuine, and resonant with the spirit of new beginnings!