Which one is correct, "best wishes to you" or "best wishes for you"?
asked Jan 1, 2011 at 15:43
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1Typically in such a greeting, the addressee follows to and the occasion follows for or on. 'Best Wishes to the Bride & Groom'; 'Best Wishes for the New Year'.– KrisCommented Dec 26, 2011 at 11:03
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I asked a related question recently: english.stackexchange.com/questions/93272/…– Ben LeeCommented Feb 22, 2013 at 20:27
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4 Answers
They have slightly different meanings.
Best wishes to you
means I am sending you my best wishes, while
Best wishes for you
means I have best wishes in my heart for you.
The first form is the standard in letters and cards, for example.
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@Amirouche -- I agree with this one; they technically mean different things, but they serve the same purpose. Commented Jan 1, 2011 at 17:59
Best wishes to you is correct. I've never heard a native English speaker say "best wishes for you", and there are no examples of "best wishes for you" in the British National Corpus.
"Best wishes for 2011" or "best wishes for the new year" are fine. For more examples, see Google or the British National Corpus.
answered Jan 1, 2011 at 19:20
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1+1 Thank's for your response, I want just tell you that one times I have helped using google I was downvoted :( english.stackexchange.com/questions/4419/… Commented Jan 1, 2011 at 20:39
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Best wishes to you
- is the more usual construction of the two.
You can wish for something (using wish as a verb) or you can send a wish to someone (using wish as a noun). Combining these constructions is an error.
Simply:
- ".. best wishes to you..."
- "best wishes for your..."
In the first instance, towards is the connotation that to is meant to take. (It so happens also to be an annotated meaning.)
In the second, for has no connoted sense of directionality but, instead, connotes application or bestowal--hence the change to possessive of "your..."
In one instance "wishes" extend towards the second person; in the second to something possessed or conferred by the second person.
Word meaning, not grammar, is the more fitting tag. Possibly syntax as well.
