A: Can you give me a pen?
B: Yes, take it.
A: Thanks much OR Thanks a lot
Is there any difference between these two phrases? Which one is preferred to use?
A: Can you give me a pen?
B: Yes, take it.
A: Thanks much OR Thanks a lot
Is there any difference between these two phrases? Which one is preferred to use?
Thanks a lot is the ordinary use in conversation, or bare thanks! Many thanks is more frequent in writing, particularly in formal writing. Thanks much is unusual.
Here's a Google NGram. Keep in mind that the underlying corpus here is printed works, so the more formal phrase is significantly overrepresented.
I have never heard thanks much used anywhere.
Thanks muchly or, more often, ta muchly are used occasionally but they are both highly informal. Also, I would doubt if they are used outside British English.
Thanks a lot is far more widely used.
In my experience (U.S. English; Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee and Florida) "Thanks much" is a quick informal expression similar to "Thanks!" On the other hand, "Thanks a lot" would be taken as sarcasm unless context and the tone of voice made it very clear that it was sincere. Better to avoid "Thanks a lot" unless you intend to be sarcastic.
'Thanks a lot' is now mostly used ironically, so it means something like 'That was no help at all, and I want you to know it!'. If you really want to emphasize your thanks say 'Many thanks'.
'Thanks much' is not English whereas 'thanks a lot' is perfectly acceptable.