Thanks in advance VERSUS Thanks beforehand

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Hello

Are they same?

“Thanks in advance” and “Thanks beforehand”

Tom

2

Hi Tom

“Thanks in advance” is a “standard expression” and is what I would recommend using.

The meaning of the second one is understandable, but I would never use it.

Amy

3

Hi all of you,

Are the following expressions correct?

If you ever decide to do something like that again, please tell us well in advance.
I will book my tickets well in advance.
I will book my tickets long in advance.
I will book my tickets long beforehand.

Thanks

4

i choose the third one though i do not know why and also do not know if it is correct.

5

Who changed the original title of my message? That’s what I would really like to know. Yankee, I found a sentence in Collins-Cobuild: ‘Kathleen Wild got married without telling anyone beforehand.’ I found the other sentences in the same dictionary. They were not marked as ‘old-fashioned’.

6

Hi Detlef,

I would say:

If you ever decide to do something like that again, tell us beforehand.
I will book my tickets well in advance.

You wouldn’t say or write “long in advance”. I see where you are coming from, because it is correct to say something like, “It was a long time ago.” Why can’t "long’ be associated with time, in this case? It’s one of the many vagaries of the English language, and another reason I’m glad it’s my native language. My hat is off (idiom!) to anyone who tries to learn it.

7

Neither is correct and both come across as presumptive and rude in business correspondence. By thanking someone in advance, you’re essentially saying, “I really need your help, but I’m not willing to take the time to thank you properly after you’ve helped me”. Why not just say, “I appreciate any assistance you can offer”, then after they have helped you, say thanks the traditional way?

8

Hello,

Thank you very much in advance for your reply.
Thank you very much in advance for your response.

Can I put ‘in advance’ at the end of the sentence?

Thank you very much for your reply in advance.

Thanks.

9

It doesn’t make much sense because it gives the idea that the reply is made in advance (first the reply, then the question).

10

Thank you, I got it.

It shows me that I cannot think in English.