Forum: ell.stackexchange.com
Tags: <politeness><responses>
Title: Is it OK to respond to "thanks" with "sure"?
Question: When someone says   ..., thanks.   Is it appropriate to respond with   sure   If so, in which situations it would be OK, and what exactly would it imply?

Answers:
sents: text: Yes, this is a common, idiomatic response among English speakers where I live (California).
text: It's casual, so it's mainly used for the kind of casual situation where people would say "Thanks" all by itself, like in the following: "Could I have some of your sunscreen?"
text: "Sure, here you go.
text: "
text: "Thanks."
text: "Sure."
text: But in the following it would be out of place, because the context is not casual and the thank-you is a big deal: "After my wife died, I was really lost.
text: Your friendship meant a lot tome.
text: I don't know what I would have done without you.
text: Thanks."
text: "Sure."
text: Some people also have very strict ideas about manners, and might object to "sure" in all cases, even casual ones.
answer_details: author: ell.stackexchange.com/users/118305/Ben Crowell
score: 27
sents: text: It depends on the person you are speaking to and the way you say it.
text: I don't think sure is a common way to respond to thanks , because it's potentially ambiguous.
text: It could be interpreted as a shortened form of: Sure thing! , which is equivalent to Anytime! or You're welcome!
text: It could also be interpreted as: Sure you are... , which is a sarcastic (read: rude) way of expressing your doubt that they are really thankful.
text: I would strongly suggest you only reply with Sure in a casual setting.
text: You also want to make sure you say it with enthusiasm to avoid misinterpretation.
text: Note the differing punctuation in my two examples.
text: Even better, respond in full: say Sure thing! . '
text: Fewer words' does not always mean 'preferable'.
answer_details: author: ell.stackexchange.com/users/113846/Micah Windsor
score: 20
sents: text: in which situations it would be OK, and what exactly would it imply?
text: It would be okay in the USA.
text: If you said it in the UK, it would imply that you are using American English.
text: As has been said in comments, this may or may not be understood in other places than North America.
text: If it is understood, then it is through watching American TV and cinema.
text: In Britain, I would expect, "You're welcome", "No problem", "Not a problem", "
text: That's okay" or even just a smile or a nod of acknowledgement.
text: Depending on the exact context, some traditionally-minded people in Britain might say, "My pleasure" or "It was nothing", or (very old-fashioned)
text: "Think nothing of it".
text: In Australia (I'm not an expert), I might expect, "No problem", "No worries", "
text: You're welcome" EDIT See comment by @mdewey.
text: In Britain the phrase "No worries" is increasingly used.
text: If my memory serves, it came into use here after the release of the movie Crocodile Dundee where the phrase was used a lot by Australian characters.
text: You can search the script here http://www.allreadable.com/mv10758EEG8
answer_details: author: ell.stackexchange.com/users/21249/chasly - reinstate Monica
score: 10
sents: text: It is a perfectly normal response that people will understand if you say it to them.
text: I say of course when someone says Thank you, and I see that as a normal response also.
text: The same with no problem, you're welcome, yes, etc.
text: I see it is as a much better response than receiving no response at all.
answer_details: author: ell.stackexchange.com/users/118240/wilkvolk
score: 4
sents: text: I'm American, born and raised, and even I wouldn't say "sure" unless I'm using it dismissively.
text: Trying to get across that I don't care about their gratitude.
text: This is just a product of my childhood though.
text: When I was in Middle-school I had a teacher that would always send me out of class for responding with "sure" so to me (and her
text: I guess)
text: it has a negative annotation.
text: Now I just respond with "anytime", using various levels of sarcasm to get my feelings across.
answer_details: author: ell.stackexchange.com/users/121441/Joseph
score: 3
sents: text: It's only standard in parts of the USA, as far as I know.
text: In Eastern Canada * , "sure" comes across as rude.
text: We normally say "(You're) welcome" or "No problem" instead, or maybe "Don't mention it", "My pleasure", or "No worries".
text: But if it's an American saying "sure", I think most Canadians will know what they mean, and not be offended.
text: For context, there's a cultural aspect to this: in general, Canadians and Americans are equally nice, but Canadians take a polite angle, while Americans take a modest angle, downplaying their generosity.
text: *
text: I can't speak for anything west of Quebec
answer_details: author: ell.stackexchange.com/users/41600/wjandrea
score: 3
sents: text: While I would not consider replying with "Sure" to be polite, I have noticed that it is extremely common among Indian English speakers to reply with "Sure" in this context as a normal reply.
text: Here is an example: "
text: Thanks, I appreciate the explanation you gave.
text: " "Sure." For a frame of reference, I am a traditional fellow from the deep South and hearing "Sure" in response to an expression of gratitude in formal or business contexts comes across as shockingly improper at best, and dismissive or sarcastic at worst, depending on tone.
text: I personally would not ever say it.
text: In a very informal context with close friends and among the younger generations, saying "Sure, no problem," or "Sure, anytime," are more common.
text: I cannot think of a time I have heard "Sure" by itself without it being deliberately sarcastic or dismissive, however.
answer_details: author: ell.stackexchange.com/users/121488/calmpalm
score: 2
sents: text: I don't even get the "sure thing" example, actually.
text: You think it's a sure thing that I'm thankful?
text: I'm not sure what that would mean
text: but I don't think it's flattering.
text: If the OP finds themselves in a group for which this seems to be convention, then, fine, go with it.
text: If there's any chance that that the conversation partner is actually going to try to process its meaning, I'd avoid it...for sure.
answer_details: author: ell.stackexchange.com/users/46904/CCTO
score: 0

Summary of the answers:
This is a common, idiomatic response among English speakers where I live (California). Elsewhere, one might expect, "You're welcome", "No problem", "Not a problem".  It is a casual expresison, mainly used for the kind of situation where people would say "Thanks" all by itself, as in:  "Could I have some of your sunscreen?. "Sure".
Yes, it is possible to answer with "sure" in the USA although it can be considered to be dismissive both in the USA and Britain and is reserved for casual situations.