Politeness is the key to social interaction. In formal settings, such as job interviews or meetings with clients and coworkers, you don’t want to come across as rude. When requesting information or requesting assistance, it is also important to be courteous and respectful.
Words and phrases of politeness are abundant in the English language. In most cases, when you begin to speak English, people will realize that you are not being intentionally rude. When meeting new people, it is important to learn proper English etiquette in order to make a good impression.
To sound more polite, use polite English phrases and soft voice tones. Here, you’ll brush up on how to be polite in English. These tips will help you avoid sounding rude when requesting a help or making a request. It’s possible some of these tips will surprise you, but this lesson is critical. You’ll benefit greatly from learning how to be polite in English. Being polite in English may help you:
– make a good impression when you meet someone new
– create a positive reputation
– avoid offending others
– get information you need
– build positive relationships more easily
– be more successful in conversations
The following are ten expressions that will help you sound more polite in English.
1. “Could you…?”
When making a request in English, “could” is frequently used. This makes the request seem less like an order and more like a suggestion. “Can” is, however, more commonly used by friends and family. “Could” is a great word to use if you’d like to appear more polite to someone you don’t know very well.
So, instead of saying:
“Send me the report” or “open the window”.
You could say:
“Could you send me the report? Or “Could you open the window, please?”
2. “I was wondering if …”
In spoken English, this phrase is commonly used to ask someone politely for help. It follows this pattern: Subject + was wondering if + subject + past verb.
For examples:
– I was wondering if you had time to help me.
– Angel was wondering if you could lend her your luggage.
“Would you like to…?” is also used to ask someone politely if they would like to do something. For example:
I was wondering if you wanted to join me for dinner tonight.
3. “By any chance…”
This is a common expression that can be used to ask for information. “By any chance” means “possibly,” and it’s used as a polite emphasis in questions or requests. This can be used at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end of the sentence.
See the examples below:
– By any chance, do you know where the library is?
– Do you, by any chance, know where the library is?
– Do you know where the train station is by any chance?
4. “Do you mind if…?”
It is a great way to ask for permission, and it follows this pattern: Do you mind if + subject + present verb
For examples:
– Do you mind if I use your phone?
– Do you mind if we park here?
5. “What if…?”
This expression is used to suggest something indirectly. Generally speaking, when someone proposes an option and you’d like to suggest an alternative, offering your suggestion in the form of a question will help you sound more polite.
For instances:
– What if we took a bus instead?
– What if you tried a different design?
This phrase can also be used as an informal way of suggesting something that you can do to help someone:
For example: What if I checked your essay?
6. “Pardon me?”
It is polite to ask someone to repeat what they’ve just said by saying, “Pardon me.” In some situations, the phrase “What?” can be rude and overly direct, so “pardon me?” or simply “Pardon?” is an excellent alternative to asking for clarification.
For examples: Pardon me? I didn’t quite catch what you were saying.
7. “Sorry to bother you…”
This expression can be used to show politeness when we interrupt someone, or when we need their attention. For example, if you have to interrupt someone because you need their help, you can say, “Sorry to bother you, but I really need your help.”
Here are a few other examples:
– Sorry to bother you, but do you know where the mall is?
– Sorry to bother you, but do you know the way to go to the hospital?
8. “I would like …” or “I’d like…”
“I would like…” is a more polite alternative to “I want” as “I want” can be too direct and impolite. When using “I would like…” follow one of these structures:
I would like + infinitive verb (to + verb)
I would like + noun
For instance, instead of saying:
“I want another tea”, say:
– I would like another tea.
– I’d like to have another tea.
9. “I would love to, but …”
This expression is a polite way to say “no” in English. For example, if someone invites you to do something and you want to decline their invitation nicely, you can say:
– I’d love to, but I can’t. I have another errand tomorrow.
– We’d love join you, but we’re going away next week.
10. “I’d love to hear more, but …”
This expression is often used when you’re in a hurry and you need to end a conversation politely.
For instance:
– I’m so sorry. I’d love to hear more, but I’m late for work!
– I’d love to hear more, but I have to see my sister.