Questions tagged [politeness]
This tag is for questions regarding the polite use of words or phrases.
316
questions
0
votes
1answer
39 views
Social question for using titles before name
I'd like to ask about English culture.
IF an (elementary) teacher address a parent without using Mr. Or Ms., but with first and last name only on their first email , what does it mean?
Isn't this ...
1
vote
1answer
44 views
Does it sound rude to say “you'd better…”?
When I want to make some suggestions to others, does it sound rude to say "you'd better..."? I feel like it contains the implications that I am bossing people around.
If so, what are some ...
1
vote
1answer
42 views
Is it proper to say “welcome back” to my colleague
I want to say "Welcome back" to my team mate who is at the same level in the organisation, when he came back to work after the new year holiday. But it sounds like a message sent from a boss ...
-1
votes
0answers
13 views
Saying Sir/Ma'am With Names and Initials
Which of these are wrong, in Indian English or others, assuming they're not knighted:
Sir Alfred
Sir Mann
Sir Alfred Mann
Sir AM
Sir Mr. Alfred
Sir Mr. Mann
Sir Mr. Alfred Mann
Sir Mr. AM
Alfred sir
...
3
votes
2answers
50 views
What should I say in response to “I hope next year is better”?
How should I reply to this statement without using a bland "me too"? I want the conversation to keep going past this, but I'm not sure how to respond well.
2
votes
0answers
37 views
How do I ask someone his/her position in his family(among his siblings)? [duplicate]
I want to learn a person's order/position in his family i.e., among his siblings. So can I say:
"Where do you rank among your siblings?"
Is this usage correct? If not, can anyone provide ...
1
vote
1answer
38 views
Asking politely for a meeting
I would like to politely ask my professor to meet me sometime soon. Could someone please let me know (1) whether my sentences are grammatically correct and also not weird to the ears of a native ...
0
votes
1answer
13 views
“Can you do this” or “Can you please do this” or “Could you please do this”?
Which is the correct response to someone if they want you to do this?
0
votes
1answer
63 views
Would it be considered controversial to describe a character in my script as “black”? [closed]
Don't know if this is the wrong forum for this. I'm writing a script and I have described a character in it as "a tall black dude". Would that be considered controversial in the US?
0
votes
1answer
19 views
Who is being pleased, and why?
This is more of a curiosity than a full problem, but I was wondering who is being pleased, in common phrases using the term.
(At breakfast)
“May I have some jam, please?”
In this case the jam-...
0
votes
2answers
141 views
politely ask someone not to do something
I want to very politely ask someone (my professor) not to do something anymore, and I've been searching about how I should do it for more than 2 two hours, yet I could not find any useful answer.
To ...
2
votes
2answers
39 views
”Need to” and ”Would need to”
What is the difference between the following sentences?
(1) You/I need to do it
(2) You/I would need to do it
Do we use the second one for distancing from reality and being more polite?
0
votes
2answers
26 views
Tell me as a response
if someone ask your opinion just with your name, is it rude to answer “tell me”?
For example, during a meeting, your boss exposes an idea and just say, Mely?is it rude just answering tell me
0
votes
0answers
17 views
Polite way to ask salary
I'd like to know what is the most polite way to ask a university director/coordinator in a email how much is the stipend/salary of a graduate program.
Thank you very much!
0
votes
0answers
25 views
“My apologies for have not been able to talk to you as I was at office.”
Someone called me a hours ago and I was not able to talk to him as I was at office. Now, I receive an email from him and I want to reply it. How I can write him that I am sorry about not being able to ...
0
votes
1answer
60 views
What does “if you have anything else to say” mean?
if you have anything else to say
What does it mean? Is it offensive or respectful to use it?
0
votes
2answers
37 views
Dealing with unknown rude passenger
If in a train or bus some unknown elderly but rude passenger particularly a man, an old man, sitting on a seat which was already reserved by me, how to ask him to get up from there(the seat),
Is "...
18
votes
9answers
5k views
Is it OK to respond to “thanks” with “sure”?
When someone says
..., thanks.
Is it appropriate to respond with
sure
If so, in which situations it would be OK, and what exactly would it imply?
14
votes
4answers
4k views
“Keep my mouth shut”…is it rude to say?
Today I had a lot of fun with a group of mums and kids in a muddy obstacle race. I fell into the muddy pool while my mouth was opened and drank some muddy water by accident. Then I said to the other ...
1
vote
2answers
29 views
would: polite request
I'm learning modal verbs, would!
I'll try for understanding how can 'would' be used for polite requests by approaching with a methodology.
The methodology is that we think 'would' is the past version ...
2
votes
1answer
69 views
Is it polite to word requests in a form “can I get X”?
For context, I have recently started a new job, it's a startup in the UK and most employees come from an academic background. I have lived in the UK for 4 years but didn't study here, and English is ...
0
votes
1answer
54 views
Alternative words for disturbing in semi-formal register for emails
I asked a few questions and sent a few emails to a customer service and I want to begin with a kind of apologizing to my last email I will send.
I do not think it should be too formal or too ...
0
votes
2answers
101 views
Formal alternative to 'what are you doing here?'
As far as I know, there is a fixed phrase/idiom for saying what are you doing here? but I have forgotten it.
It is a very formal and polite way of saying that.
What are you doing here? can sound ...
1
vote
3answers
94 views
Asking 'why are you asking this to me?'
Someone asks me a question in very formal conversation. And I want to know why he/she is asking me this question. Basically, I want to know the reason and purpose behind this question. How can I ask ...
1
vote
2answers
68 views
What is the attitude when you call someone with title Mr.?
Here is a part of the conversation in a movie I watched:
Bosley: Elena?
Elena: Hi.
Bosley: Welcome.
Elena: Uh, Mr. Bosley?
Bosley: Just Bosley.
Elena: Thank you for seeing me.
Two persons are ...
0
votes
1answer
58 views
Is this sentence impolite?
I came across this sentence while I reading some questions randomly. The question starts with this sentence:
This is a bit of a noob question so bear with me.
Obviously, the user wants to excuse ...
0
votes
1answer
44 views
an idiom about moving to somewhere
I want to ask someone why on earth he moved from A (a city with high standards of living) to B (a disastrous one), because it's unreasonable and I'm nosy, through a polite idiom. Is there anything for ...
48
votes
2answers
9k views
Is “cops” (= police) a slang/derogatory term?
So, I was with a friend getting Starbucks. While talking to him I used the term "cops" 💬. A customer waiting for their coffee said
"We don't say 'cops' honey, it's disrespectful."...
0
votes
2answers
176 views
Is 'boarding the plane' more formal than 'getting on the plane'?
When I go to an airport, the airport announcement announces 'boarding a plane' than 'getting on a plane'.
Because they say in public places all the time, I start to feel 'boarding' is a more formal ...
0
votes
1answer
52 views
When calling a company in the united states, how do you start a conversation?
How do you initiate the conversation? Should you use the phrase "How are you?" after or before introducing yourself? I assume it is after you introduce yourself?
"Hi, this is ... calling, how are you?...
0
votes
0answers
27 views
If I say “Well you have yourself a good bank Holiday” and they reply “Yeah” and don't turn round. Are they rude?
If I say "Well you have yourself a good bank Holiday" and they reply "Yeah" and don't turn round. Are they being rude?
A co-worker had their back to me. I said this as a way to say Bye. They ...
2
votes
2answers
46 views
Gentle synonym for stupid
How you can express that you felt stupid for a thing you told but without using the term "stupid", like in a nicer manner?
For example:
She felt "stupid" for the things she told to her friend.
0
votes
1answer
44 views
Does referring to a third person by their first name require you to be on a first name basis with that person?
Suppose you are talking to your friend about a third person called Mrs. Firstname Lastname. Suppose you are not on a first name basis with this third person; that is, if you spoke to this third person ...
1
vote
1answer
38 views
Is saying “is this (name)'s phone?” rude in business conversation?
Is the following sentence rude in business conversation?
Is this (name)'s phone?
I want to ask if the speaker is the person who I'm looking for.
-1
votes
1answer
53 views
Why do people call you a nickname when you introduce yourself with a proper name
As a rule, I always introduce myself using my proper first name, "Thomas". With this I expect people to refer to me and call me by that name. However, there are a significant number of people who go ...
0
votes
1answer
33 views
Asking for update
I want to get an update on COVID-19. So can I post in a group like" As a precautionary measure against COVID-19, the state government has declared one week shut down of offices and colleges. It would ...
0
votes
1answer
23 views
A request to the boss
When I have something I want to ask my boss, is it appropriate to say it like this?
• I have a request to you. Would you please ...?
Is there any more appropriate or polite way to say that?
-1
votes
1answer
34 views
Is “if” with “will” possible in this case?
I would like to know if you will stock this record
I would like to know if you stock this record
I think the first one sounds better because the record I am talking too is not out yet but I also ...
1
vote
0answers
190 views
How to ask for apologies when you have already sent an email by not pressing the reply to all feature?
Three days ago I replied to an email that I was in BCC list by pressing only reply to feature.Now I realized that I haven't pressed the reply to all feature,that I was supposed to do so.
Now I ...
1
vote
1answer
41 views
Is this expression informal?
My boss asked me the send him some documents, I immediately attached the documents and send him an email with the following body:
Dear Thomas,
I hope all is well with you. Thank you very much for ...
0
votes
4answers
210 views
Should I apologize for addressing a female with Ms + her first name?
I'm not a native English speaker so I wasn't exactly aware of the Mr/Ms + last name rule. I addressed the HR Director of a potential employer with Ms + her first name. My native friend then told me ...
0
votes
1answer
4k views
Is “I'll be waiting for your call” polite in a professional setting?
Someone says: "I'll call you later." What is a polite way to say "I'll be by my phone when you call, so that I won't miss it." Some people suggests that "I'll be waiting for your call" sounds a bit ...
1
vote
1answer
37 views
I might want you to
Is this No.1 a valid sentence to make a request politely?
I might want you to include these items in the agenda.
Or is just saying like this a lot better?
I would like you to include ...
10
votes
7answers
6k views
What is the polite way to tell taxi driver that he can stop here?
My question is I want to primarily give the driver a choice. The secondary consideration is not being rude.
I take taxi to home. My home is in a community. I often tell taxi driver "You can stop ...
2
votes
1answer
91 views
Does the question sound rude? how to ask in English?
How to form a question without sounding rude. If I see someone coughing, should I say:
Is it rude to wear a mask?
or
Is it rude if I wear a mask?
And is it rude in the American culture?
1
vote
1answer
6k views
How to reply a “Happy New Year” email?
This is the quote from the email I receive after New Year.
"I would like to wish you a good 2020. I hope you had a good Christmas
and New Year’s eve."
What is the best and formal way to reply to ...
1
vote
1answer
59 views
How would you ask opinions for differences between two things?
I want to ask politely for an in-depth explanation of how these two apparently similar things A and B are different when closely looked at.
Eg: "In which way A and B are different from each other?"
2
votes
2answers
194 views
Is the sentence “I want a [insert noun] now” rude?
On two separate incidents, I have been told that the sentence below (without any context) is rude.
I want a chocolate now.
Question:
Is this an absolute interpretation? Where is the argument ...
1
vote
2answers
85 views
Is it correct saying “buy something hand-to-hand”?
In trades I really need to know if is correct the use of this idiom. If its ok or not, would you tell me what are the common ways to express when we need to buy or sell some goods when the buyer and ...
0
votes
1answer
39 views
Proper way for asking to leave
I am about to take an assesment for responsible service of alcohol licence. There is a video question and I need to tell someone to leave in that video.
Once I saw a scene in The Simpsons and there ...
