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Questions tagged [politeness]

This tag is for questions regarding the polite use of words or phrases.

Examples of questions using this tag:

464 questions
20
votes
9 answers

What does "No Thanks!" mean?

Alice: Do you want some cookies? Bob: No thanks! Does it mean that Bob doesn't want cookies but still is thankful or its just opposite of thanks?
Pratik Deoghare
  • 1,096
18
votes
5 answers

I would like to kindly ask you could you check......?

I just want to know I would like to kindly ask you could you check......? could be a right structure for asking question? regards
HOsseiNSA
  • 301
17
votes
8 answers

Is "grammar nazi" politically correct?

I'm not a native English speaker and I'm puzzled where the use of grammar nazi would be appropriate. I have seen it numerous times around the SE network and was wondering when the use would be appropriate and whether it is likely that someone might…
Trufa
  • 409
16
votes
2 answers

Beginning a question with "Say,"?

Since English is not my native language, I have a hard time understanding some expressions I hear in movies. From what I gather, it's possible to start a question with "say", such as "Say, do you know any good restaurants around here?" What is the…
nicbou
  • 261
14
votes
11 answers

Polite way to refuse to answer a question

It sometimes happens that I am asked a question which I am uncomfortable answering for a variety of reasons (it invades my privacy, the answer may hurt the person asking, it is painful for me to discuss, it would violate a confidence etc.). I may…
BlueWhale
  • 865
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9
votes
5 answers

What is a polite way to decline an invitation to hang out with someone?

If someone asks me to do something with them and I don't want to do that activity, how can I tell them "I don't want to hang out with you tonight" and not hurt their feelings? Normally I say something like, "Not really". I once had a friend say "We…
FarFigNewton
  • 201
8
votes
7 answers

Response to "God Bless" when parting company

What should the correct response be (from someone not overtly religious) if someone says "God bless" when parting company? "Bye now" or "Bye" doesn't seem an adequate response.
kguest
  • 688
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8
votes
6 answers

How to say "I'm sorry for such a bother"

I am in the middle of constructing my email to my colleague and I am out of words on how to say "I'm sorry for such a bother". Is there any other way of saying it politely?
user75134
  • 81
8
votes
0 answers

Is 'friendly reminder' a positive word? What is an alternative with a friendly undertone?

I send reminders to my customers all the time. And, I hesitate to use the word 'friendly reminder'. I interpret it as a soft reminders before aggressive reminders. It brings up an image of a thug asking me to payup before his next visit, This might…
Khaja Minhajuddin
  • 189
7
votes
2 answers

Ending a note with "Thanks regardless"

While wanting to properly close a question and thank its participants on one of Stack Exchange's other sites-the question had resolved itself–I started wondering if "Thanks regardless" is a proper way to end such a note.
oKtosiTe
  • 391
6
votes
2 answers

polite way to ask someone to be patient?

I have seen the following line in mail replies from customer care executives - Thanks for your patience They write this when they are not yet ready with a desired solution. They write in the mail that it will be ready after some more time.…
Sandeepan Nath
  • 267
6
votes
5 answers

When is Mr/Mrs appropriate?

I often receive business emails starting with "Dear Daniel..." or "Hello Daniel..." although I haven't been into contact with the sender before. As an Austrian citizen (thus german speaking) this is quite unusual to me, I always write "Dear Mr.…
Daniel Lang
  • 171
6
votes
5 answers

How are you spelling, or how do you spell?

I have just given my surname to someone on the telephone, and they asked me as do most people these days How are you spelling the name? It always sounds as if they think I change my name every day and they would like to know how I am spelling it…
WS2
  • 64,657
5
votes
4 answers

Is it right to say "Thank you" in the response of "Thank you"?

When two persons help each other and one said "thank you" then is it right to say "Thank you" in the response.
Rupesh Pawar
  • 161
5
votes
1 answer

Do "Care to do something" and "Would you care to do something" sound equally polite?

Today on one of other stackexchange sites I've been reached with following comment: "Care to add some references for your claims?". This sounds to me not only formal but a bit rude, so I've mistakenly initiated some unpleasant discussion, so shame…
shabunc
  • 1,441
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