The acknowledgment page can either be a list or a more fluid paragraph. It would be fine to write, “I would like to thank Professor Henderson, Dr. Matthews, etc. " until you’ve worked your way through the list. It would also be perfectly acceptable to address each person individually and more personally: “I would like to thank Professor Henderson for her expert advice and encouragement throughout this difficult project, as well as Dr. Matthews for his brilliance in the lab. “[2] X Research source Some people feel uncomfortable emphasizing certain people’s help over other people’s help, in which case the list form in alphabetical order is a perfectly acceptable method of writing an Acknowledgment.
In general, it’s helpful to think in groups, even going to far as to format all the thank-yous of a particular group in a single sentence: “I would like to thank Dr. Stevens, Dr. Smith, and Professors Clemons for their extraordinary support in this thesis process. " If you worked with a small committee, it’s customary and thoughtful to thank each person for the specific things they contributed to your work.
If your scholarship at the University was supported by any fellowships or scholarships, it would also be appropriate to name them in this section: “This project would have been impossible without the support of the Katherine G. Katherine Foundation, the Reese’s Peanut Butter scholarship, and the Guggenheim Group. "
Remember that your friendships and romances may change over the years, so it might be best to keep particularly mushy romances and declarations of love out of your acknowledgment page, so you won’t have to see it later if it doesn’t work out. It’s generally best to avoid overtly personal anecdotes and inside jokes in an academic acknowledgements page. If you want to reference other students’ constant joking around in the lab, say, it would be better to say, “Thanks to Joe and Katherine for their friendship in the lab” than “Thanks to Joe and Katherine for dunking my slides in Jell-O when I was hungover. “[6] X Research source
Michael Jordan’s Hall of Fame induction speech was widely criticized for being tone deaf and spiteful, talking down to many former opponents and somewhat tarnishing his great legacy. Don’t fall in the same trap.
Like an academic publication, it’s also important to remember to address any financial support you received during the publication of your book. If you received any artist residencies, grants, or fellowships while working on your book, you need to list them in the acknowledgments. Use your writing skills to approach the acknowledgment creatively. Authors like Lemony Snicket, Neil Gaiman, J. D. Salinger, and others have used the form for witty and usually-self deprecating anecdotes about the friends and cohorts they choose to thank.
Friends and family Other bands who helped you along the way, lending gear or instruments Recording engineers and label folk Musical inspirations
In the letter, explain your desire to thank them and explain the publication or event at which you’d like to thank them. Express your gratitude for their assistance and encourage them to get in touch to approve your acknowledgment. More often than not, they’ll be flattered.
