OT – commands prepended with “please”

[edna_mode]

I’m reminded about a time when I asked the significant other (I almost wrote figure there, too much statistics) to hand me something while I was engrossed in some activity and got the query:

“What’s the magic word?”

My hands full, I fluttered my lashes and responded:

“Now?”

[CBad]

When I’m working with someone to complete a task, I want clear, direct verbiage. Tell me clearly what should be done in as few words as possible as long as the meaning comes across. ‘Please’ is always appreciated but other extraneous words and taking forever to get to the point annoys me.

So in choosing between, “Please sign this form and return it to me.”, or “Could you sign this form and return it to me?”, the first one wins. First, it shouldn’t be a question. It sounds like begging or that perhaps you aren’t sure of yourself. Second, like scaredy said, I don’t like the can/could use when I know I CAN do it. Will/would wouldn’t make it much better though. As the client, I already know the choice is mine. But you need to sound confident or I’m starting to get nervous.

I’m sure this really varies between people.

[CBad]

When I’m working with someone to complete a task, I want clear, direct verbiage. Tell me clearly what should be done in as few words as possible as long as the meaning comes across. ‘Please’ is always appreciated but other extraneous words and taking forever to get to the point annoys me.

So in choosing between, “Please sign this form and return it to me.”, or “Could you sign this form and return it to me?”, the first one wins. First, it shouldn’t be a question. It sounds like begging or that perhaps you aren’t sure of yourself. Second, like scaredy said, I don’t like the can/could use when I know I CAN do it. Will/would wouldn’t make it much better though. As the client, I already know the choice is mine. But you need to sound confident or I’m starting to get nervous.

I’m sure this really varies between people.

[CBad]

When I’m working with someone to complete a task, I want clear, direct verbiage. Tell me clearly what should be done in as few words as possible as long as the meaning comes across. ‘Please’ is always appreciated but other extraneous words and taking forever to get to the point annoys me.

So in choosing between, “Please sign this form and return it to me.”, or “Could you sign this form and return it to me?”, the first one wins. First, it shouldn’t be a question. It sounds like begging or that perhaps you aren’t sure of yourself. Second, like scaredy said, I don’t like the can/could use when I know I CAN do it. Will/would wouldn’t make it much better though. As the client, I already know the choice is mine. But you need to sound confident or I’m starting to get nervous.

I’m sure this really varies between people.

[CBad]

When I’m working with someone to complete a task, I want clear, direct verbiage. Tell me clearly what should be done in as few words as possible as long as the meaning comes across. ‘Please’ is always appreciated but other extraneous words and taking forever to get to the point annoys me.

So in choosing between, “Please sign this form and return it to me.”, or “Could you sign this form and return it to me?”, the first one wins. First, it shouldn’t be a question. It sounds like begging or that perhaps you aren’t sure of yourself. Second, like scaredy said, I don’t like the can/could use when I know I CAN do it. Will/would wouldn’t make it much better though. As the client, I already know the choice is mine. But you need to sound confident or I’m starting to get nervous.

I’m sure this really varies between people.

[CBad]

When I’m working with someone to complete a task, I want clear, direct verbiage. Tell me clearly what should be done in as few words as possible as long as the meaning comes across. ‘Please’ is always appreciated but other extraneous words and taking forever to get to the point annoys me.

So in choosing between, “Please sign this form and return it to me.”, or “Could you sign this form and return it to me?”, the first one wins. First, it shouldn’t be a question. It sounds like begging or that perhaps you aren’t sure of yourself. Second, like scaredy said, I don’t like the can/could use when I know I CAN do it. Will/would wouldn’t make it much better though. As the client, I already know the choice is mine. But you need to sound confident or I’m starting to get nervous.

I’m sure this really varies between people.

[LuckyInOC]

The relationship and context IMO has everything to do with whether or not it is commanding or requesting.

In the OP’s issue, the relationship is a mutual relationship to complete a common goal of a service nature. Both are on equal grounds. Both parties should assume that any request from the service provider is a requirement to complete the service and therefore adding ‘please’ would be just polite.

To be perfectly clear, the requester should have the obligation to the receiver to state whether or not the form is a requirement to provide the service or voluntary. Again, if it is a requirement then ‘please’ is just being polite.

It could best said:

“Please sign and return this required form.”
or
“Please sign and return this voluntary form.”

The adjective ‘required’ or ‘voluntary’ provides the context to the verbs ‘sign and return’ as to whether or not it is a command (requirement) or a request (voluntary). Either way, the receiver should not be offended but would understand the importance of the form.

‘Please’ is just an polite adverb.

Luck In OC

[LuckyInOC]

The relationship and context IMO has everything to do with whether or not it is commanding or requesting.

In the OP’s issue, the relationship is a mutual relationship to complete a common goal of a service nature. Both are on equal grounds. Both parties should assume that any request from the service provider is a requirement to complete the service and therefore adding ‘please’ would be just polite.

To be perfectly clear, the requester should have the obligation to the receiver to state whether or not the form is a requirement to provide the service or voluntary. Again, if it is a requirement then ‘please’ is just being polite.

It could best said:

“Please sign and return this required form.”
or
“Please sign and return this voluntary form.”

The adjective ‘required’ or ‘voluntary’ provides the context to the verbs ‘sign and return’ as to whether or not it is a command (requirement) or a request (voluntary). Either way, the receiver should not be offended but would understand the importance of the form.

‘Please’ is just an polite adverb.

Luck In OC

[LuckyInOC]

The relationship and context IMO has everything to do with whether or not it is commanding or requesting.

In the OP’s issue, the relationship is a mutual relationship to complete a common goal of a service nature. Both are on equal grounds. Both parties should assume that any request from the service provider is a requirement to complete the service and therefore adding ‘please’ would be just polite.

To be perfectly clear, the requester should have the obligation to the receiver to state whether or not the form is a requirement to provide the service or voluntary. Again, if it is a requirement then ‘please’ is just being polite.

It could best said:

“Please sign and return this required form.”
or
“Please sign and return this voluntary form.”

The adjective ‘required’ or ‘voluntary’ provides the context to the verbs ‘sign and return’ as to whether or not it is a command (requirement) or a request (voluntary). Either way, the receiver should not be offended but would understand the importance of the form.

‘Please’ is just an polite adverb.

Luck In OC

[LuckyInOC]

The relationship and context IMO has everything to do with whether or not it is commanding or requesting.

In the OP’s issue, the relationship is a mutual relationship to complete a common goal of a service nature. Both are on equal grounds. Both parties should assume that any request from the service provider is a requirement to complete the service and therefore adding ‘please’ would be just polite.

To be perfectly clear, the requester should have the obligation to the receiver to state whether or not the form is a requirement to provide the service or voluntary. Again, if it is a requirement then ‘please’ is just being polite.

It could best said:

“Please sign and return this required form.”
or
“Please sign and return this voluntary form.”

The adjective ‘required’ or ‘voluntary’ provides the context to the verbs ‘sign and return’ as to whether or not it is a command (requirement) or a request (voluntary). Either way, the receiver should not be offended but would understand the importance of the form.

‘Please’ is just an polite adverb.

Luck In OC

[LuckyInOC]

The relationship and context IMO has everything to do with whether or not it is commanding or requesting.

In the OP’s issue, the relationship is a mutual relationship to complete a common goal of a service nature. Both are on equal grounds. Both parties should assume that any request from the service provider is a requirement to complete the service and therefore adding ‘please’ would be just polite.

To be perfectly clear, the requester should have the obligation to the receiver to state whether or not the form is a requirement to provide the service or voluntary. Again, if it is a requirement then ‘please’ is just being polite.

It could best said:

“Please sign and return this required form.”
or
“Please sign and return this voluntary form.”

The adjective ‘required’ or ‘voluntary’ provides the context to the verbs ‘sign and return’ as to whether or not it is a command (requirement) or a request (voluntary). Either way, the receiver should not be offended but would understand the importance of the form.

‘Please’ is just an polite adverb.

Luck In OC

[scaredyclassic]

But “pretty please” is universally regarded as excessive

[scaredyclassic]

But “pretty please” is universally regarded as excessive

[scaredyclassic]

But “pretty please” is universally regarded as excessive

[scaredyclassic]

But “pretty please” is universally regarded as excessive

[Author]

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