How to Sign a Card for Someone You’re Not Close To: 50 Short & Polite Examples

Monday, September 22, 2025

Sometimes you’re handed a card at work, a family gathering, or a social event and asked to “just sign something.” But what if the card is for someone you barely know? You want to be polite and respectful, but you also don’t want your words to sound forced or overly personal.

That’s where a little preparation comes in handy. With the right phrases, you can sign any card—whether it’s for a birthday, wedding, farewell, or sympathy—without the awkwardness. To make things easier, we’ve put together 50 examples of what you can write for every occasion. Use them as-is, or tweak them to match your voice.

General Tips Before You Sign

• Keep it short. A sentence or two is more than enough.
• Match the tone to the occasion. Cheerful for celebrations, gentle for condolences.
• Avoid overly personal language. Stick to neutral, respectful phrases.
• Don’t overthink. The act of signing itself shows kindness.

Top 20 Universal Card Messages

Sometimes you’re asked to sign a card but you don’t even know what the occasion is (maybe it’s being passed around the office, or it’s a family card where no one gives context). In those cases, the safest approach is to stay neutral, warm, and general.

• Best wishes

• Wishing you all the best
• Warm regards
• With kind thoughts
• Take care
• Thinking of you
• All the best, always
• Sending my very best
• With warmest wishes
• Cheers!
• Wishing you happiness and good things ahead
• Sending you positive thoughts
• Hoping today brings you something good
• With warm wishes for you and yours
• Take care and stay well
• Wishing you joy and peace
• Always wishing you the best
• Thinking of you with kind regards
• With every good wish

Birthday Cards (10 Examples)

You don’t need to know someone well to wish them a happy birthday. A short, cheerful message works perfectly.

1. Wishing you a wonderful birthday!
2. Hope your day is filled with happiness.
3. Happy Birthday—enjoy your special day!
4. Best wishes for the year ahead.
5. Wishing you health, happiness, and success.
6. Have a fantastic birthday celebration.
7. Many happy returns of the day!
8. Cheers to another great year ahead.
9. Wishing you a joyful year full of good things.
10. Happy Birthday and best wishes always.

Wedding & Engagement Cards (10 Examples)

When celebrating love, your message should be warm but not overly personal if you’re not close.

1. Congratulations on your wedding day!
2. Wishing you a lifetime of happiness together.
3. Best wishes on this beautiful journey ahead.
4. Congratulations to you both!
5. May your marriage be filled with love and joy.
6. Wishing you many happy years together.
7. Cheers to your new chapter in life!
8. May your days together be as special as today.
9. Congratulations and warmest wishes.
10. Wishing you both a future full of happiness.

Farewell & Retirement Cards (10 Examples)

Whether someone is leaving a job or retiring, polite and encouraging words are perfect.

1. Best of luck in your next adventure.
2. Wishing you success wherever life takes you.
3. Congratulations on your retirement!
4. Enjoy this exciting new chapter.
5. All the best as you move forward.
6. Wishing you happiness in your next role.
7. Thank you and best wishes for the future.
8. Good luck—we’ll miss you around here!
9. Congratulations and best of luck.
10. Wishing you many fulfilling years ahead.

Sympathy & Condolence Cards (10 Examples)

Here, the goal is to express support in a gentle and respectful way.

1. With deepest sympathy.
2. My thoughts are with you during this difficult time.
3. Sending you strength and comfort.
4. So sorry for your loss.
5. With heartfelt condolences.
6. Wishing you peace and healing.
7. My deepest sympathies to you and your family.
8. Keeping you in my thoughts.
9. Wishing you comfort in the days ahead.
10. With caring thoughts and sympathy.

Get Well & Encouragement Cards (10 Examples)

Simple, uplifting words can bring comfort even if you don’t know the person well.

1. Wishing you a speedy recovery.
2. Hope you feel better soon.
3. Sending positive thoughts your way.
4. Take care and get well soon.
5. Thinking of you and wishing you strength.
6. Hoping each day brings you closer to recovery.
7. Wishing you brighter days ahead.
8. Get well soon—you’re in my thoughts.
9. Sending healing wishes your way.
10. Take things easy and feel better soon.

Wrapping It Up

You don’t need to be close to someone to write a kind message in their card. The key is keeping things short, sincere, and appropriate to the occasion. The 50 examples above give you ready-made phrases you can use anytime you’re unsure what to say.

The most important thing? Signing the card at all. Even a simple “Best wishes” and your name shows thoughtfulness—and sometimes, that’s all that really matters.