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In the thread titled [usage cases for
「ありがたい」?](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/questions/17584/usage-cases-
for-%E3%81%82%E3%82%8A%E3%81%8C%E3%81%9F%E3%81%84) many very good answers were
given. However, one issue that was not addressed was (when speaking formally)
whether ありがたい _brings an end to the thought_. What I mean is that

  * "ありがとう" might mean "thank you very much. and whatever i am thanking you for is a done deal. reneging is not acceptable."
  * "ありがたい" seems more like "i fully expect you to do what i am thankful for. but, stuff happens and you can renege without any hard feelings."

So, that is why in the thread titled [how do you politely and gratefully reply
to an invitation to be
published](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/questions/18771/how-do-you-
politely-and-gratefully-reply-to-an-invitation-to-be-published), I would say:

"ご掲載になってくださって、 **ありがたい** です。これからも、よろしくお願いします"  
rather than  
"ご掲載になってくださって、 **ありがとう** ございます。これからも、よろしくお願いします。"

The _usage cases for 「ありがたい」_ thread already answers every question I have
about 「ありがたい」。 But, with regard to the very specific usage case given in this
thread, is that difference between **ありがたい** and **ありがとう** there?
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2014-09-23T04:05:43.617
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after saying "ありがとう" to someone, they can't renege without hard feelings?
ありがたい is used when something is convenient/beneficial/welcome to the speaker.
And it's very often used with "if/もしも-clause" or 仮定形 conjucation.

> 論文を掲載していただければ、ありがたいです。 (before your article is reviewed)
>
> 教えてくれればありがたい(です)。(before someone actually teaches you something)

And yes, sentences like these mean that your offer may or may not be accepted.
(By the way, in the cover letter of a scientific article, I recommend
replacing ありがたいです with 幸い【さいわい】です, which is even politer.)

I'd say 連用形 + ありがたい (present tense) is very unnatural:

> (*) 間違いを教えてくれて、ありがたい(です)。  
>  (*) 論文を掲載していただき、ありがたいです。

But using ありがたかった after something was already done is OK:

> 間違いを教えてくれて、ありがたかった。(≒ It was kind of X to point out ...)

On the other hand, ありがとう(ございます) is _Thank you_ , and it's usually used when
something was already done, or determined to be done.

> 論文を掲載していただき、ありがとうございます。(after your article was successfully published)
>
> 教えてくれてありがとう(ございます)。(after someone actually taught you something)
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