If you do someone a good turn today, don't expect a thank you. 'Cheers', 'ta' or even 'wicked' is the more likely response, if a survey is to be believed.

Research among computer users suggests that the traditional expression of gratitude has fallen by the wayside.

Almost half of those polled said they now use 'cheers' more often than 'thank you'.

Four out of ten said 'thank you' sounded too formal - so they used more catchy, chatty words such as 'fab', 'lovely' or 'wicked'.

A third said they would often just resort to a quick wave instead of saying 'thank you'.

And 77 percent said that any of the words used to say thanks were irrelevant, believing a pleasant gesture works just as well.

The poll of 3,000 people was carried out by the online gift store Me to You.

Spokesman Caroline Weaver said: 'While the great British public might feel uncomfortablesaying thank you these days, they do like to show their gratitude in other ways.

'Respondents felt it didn't matter how you thanked someone for their kind actions, as long as you did so in a friendly and polite way.

'At the end of the day everyone knows that a big smile and some form of acknowledgment is all it takes to show we are grateful.'

According to the survey, two thirds of respondents believed Britain was a 'rude' nation and 84 percent think others should make more of an effort to show appreciation.

(Read by Renee Haines. Renee Haines is a journalist at the China Daily Web site.)

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(Agencies)