This tag is for questions regarding the polite use of words or phrases.
Questions tagged [politeness]
350 questions
12
votes
4 answers
What should I answer to "after you"
What is the polite way to show your appreciation when someone waits for you to enter an entrance before they do?They usually say "after you"? What I am supposed to answer?
Maryam
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12
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3 answers
Will you find someone saying "at your convenience" annoying and impolite?
I was writing an invitation email to a female principal who has a higher social status. She is a busy woman, so I would like to ask her to arrange a time and place for a meeting instead.
Given that situation, (if you were the female principal),…
kitty
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11
votes
3 answers
Is it rude to start a sentence with "First off"?
Imagine somebody is trying to achieve something, and explains you what the task is. At some point, you need to make clear what it needs to be done, since the person talking to you doesn't seem to understand what you previously said.
Is it rude to…
apaderno
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10
votes
5 answers
The difference between "I am" and "My name is" in a face-to-face meeting
Not all my English language teachers are native speaker, but they told me that "never use I'm FirstName LastName when you introduce yourself".
Instead they told me that when trying to introduce yourself to new people, I may say "Hi, my name is…
kitty
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7
votes
4 answers
Where in the letter should you write "Merry Christmas" formally?
I was writing an email to the principal of my former school, and came up with a question. The letter is to be read by the principal, so I should be more polite,
I need to be careful about the etiquette.
But how and where in the letter should I…
kitty
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6
votes
1 answer
How to ask "If you have any problem then ask me" in polite manner
How to ask "If you have any problem then ask me" in polite manner.
While discussing problem with my brother in chat, he most of the times ask me how you get to the solution and then I have to explain each step. And in between he keep on asking me…
Singh
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6
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2 answers
How much more polite does the word "please" make a request?
When I learnt "could you possibly" pattern, my friend said to me this is very polite form to use when I make a request.I said 'how about if I use the please also with it" and he said ' it is a bit too polite that almost in a begging manner'. I can…
Mrt
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5
votes
3 answers
Which is more polite, "Would you" or "Could you"?
Suppose you want to ask someone to do something, say to tell you the way to a station.
Which is more polite, "Would you tell me the way to the station?" or
"Could you tell me the way to the station?"?
Makoto Kato
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5
votes
3 answers
Wishing Merry Christmas or Happy New Year on Dec 28th?
It's 28th of December.
Between the two holidays, Should you say "Merry Christmas" or "Happy New Year" to your friends?
I am so confused of what time of day it is right now and so the festivals.
kitty
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5
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1 answer
What is a polite way to return a greeting like "Happy holidays and blah blah". A flat: "Likewise"?
When someone wish you good things like "Happy holidays and blah blah" Is a correct and polite way to answer a flat:
"Thank you, likewise"
Or It should be better to respond:
"Thank you, I wish you the same"
A teacher taught me the "likewise"…
Ruben
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4
votes
2 answers
Is this sentence considered rude in English
I am writing to a client, and I finished my email by:
Please let me know at your earliest convenience.
Do you consider this rude in English culture? I wrote it as an exact translate from my language.
Marco Dinatsoli
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4
votes
3 answers
British Person or English Person?
Are there grammatical etiquette guidelines as to whether to refer to a person from Great Britain as a British person or an English person? Is referring to a person as a Brit insulting, even if no insult was intended?
JimM
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4
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1 answer
How to say just want to let you know politely
I am not a native speaker, is it not polite if I say
Just want to let you know
I am not sure if I told my friend before so I want to make sure she knows where the lesson will take place.
Will it be more polite if I say
Just making sure I let you…
Elsa
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3
votes
1 answer
Is it ok to use 'you' for a person older than me?
I have a question about talking to an older person.
In my home language, I can use a special word for 'you' for a person older then me. There are other ways also. Aunty and uncle or lady and sir. Instead of saying "How are you?" I would say "How is…
Anna
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3
votes
1 answer
Is "this man" not polite phrase?
I am talking with my colleague at work and I said "this man" told me, and I referred to the third highest colleague in functional class is with us. Is "this man" is not polite phrase?
Ahmed Elsabbagh
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