Speaking · Free lesson
Accept a compliment and share the credit
A friend praises your poster. You designed the layout, and Mina made the illustrations. Your reply should respect both contributions.
Professor Scott MendozaThe short answer
Start with “Thank you” or “That’s kind of you.” If someone helped, add a specific true detail: “Mina created the illustrations.” You can accept praise and share credit at the same time.
Thanks first; accurate credit next.
Thanking someone accepts their kindness; it does not require you to claim perfection. If the work was shared, say who did what. Avoid “I did everything” when that is untrue, and avoid erasing your own contribution with “I did nothing.”
Compare the examples
Thank you. I’m glad you like it.
Mina created the illustrations.
Thanks! I designed the layout, and Mina created the illustrations.
Sharing credit does not mean denying your contribution. A warm thank you can stand on its own.
Build the meaning step by step
Acknowledge the compliment
Thank you. That’s kind of you.
Add a true contribution
Mina helped with the illustrations.
Try it now
Choose a truthful response
Read all answers and explanations
Accept “Your poster looks great” without denying the praise.
Thank you. I’m glad you like it.Thanks acknowledges the kind comment. The other replies directly reject it.
You wrote the text; Mina drew the pictures. Which shares credit accurately?
I wrote the text, and Mina drew the pictures.This states each person’s actual role without taking or erasing credit.
Someone compliments your scarf. Acknowledge it warmly without denying the praise or making a comparison.
Thank you. That’s nice of you.A brief thank you fits. Nothing special plays down the compliment; much nicer shifts to a comparison. These can occur in conversation, but they do not meet this specific goal.
Put it into practice
Respond to Alex
Accept the praise. You designed the layout; Mina made the illustrations.
- Alex
Your poster looks great!
See a model answer
- Alex
Your poster looks great!
- You
Thanks! I’m glad you like it.
- Alex
Did you make all of it yourself?
- You
I designed the layout, and Mina made the illustrations.
Thanks and truthful detail can work together. You do not need to reject the whole compliment to be fair.
A little more clarity
Common questions
A few useful details before you move on.
Is accepting praise the same as bragging?
No. A thank you acknowledges the other person’s kindness. You can keep the reply brief and truthful.
Thank you. I appreciate that.
Must I give a compliment back?
No. Add one if it is sincere and appropriate; a simple acknowledgment can stand on its own.
Thanks. That’s kind of you.
Take it into your day
Accept the kindness. Share the credit truthfully.
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