The phrase “thanks in advance” is starting to bug me. It just seems condescending. Typically, the person saying it is asking for a favor, and the conversation goes like this:
Hello,
Would you do me a favor? It would really help me out. Thanks in advance.
And here is how I read it:
Hello,
Would you do me a favor? It would really help me out. But unfortunately I don’t have enough time to write you again and thank you for the favor after you have performed it. Or I’ll just forget to thank you when I receive the favor. Plus, If I thank you now then I’ve essentially paid you for the favor so you have no choice but to do it anyway.
Now I know people don’t mean it that way, and I’m not going to be insulted if a friend (or anyone) uses it. But it really rubs me the wrong way and I think what it insinuates is rather rude.
