So, you’re looking for a more formal way to ask someone to do something for you.
Are you a little concerned that “can you please” might be informal or rude when asking such a thing?
Luckily, this article is here to help you.
We’ll teach you how to say “can you please” in an email to help you understand the right tone.
Is It Rude to Say “Can You Please”?
It is not rude to say “can you please.” In fact, it’s a polite way to start a question.
It’s professional and works well in most business settings. So, feel free to use it in a formal email to find out whether someone is happy to do something for you.
Check out this email sample if you still need help seeing it in action:
Dear Mr. Tate,
Can you please respond to my previous email when you get a moment?
It contains fairly sensitive information for your eyes only.
Yours,
Sarah Harding
Pros
- It’s very polite.
- It’s great as a professional phrase to include at the start of a question.
Cons
- It’s fairly generic.
- It can seem a little over-the-top, depending on the question you ask.
For the most part, “can you please” is correct to include in your questions. But that doesn’t mean it’s the only formal option you have.
Keep reading to learn how to professionally say “can you please.” We’ve gathered a list of some of the best synonyms to show you what your options are.
What to Say Instead of “Can You Please”
- Would you kindly
- Could you please
- Would you be so kind as to
- I would appreciate it if you could
- I kindly request that you
- Might I ask that you
- Could I trouble you to
- Would it be possible for you to
- Do you mind
1. Would You Kindly
There’s nothing wrong with asking “would you kindly” at the start of a formal question. After all, it doesn’t get more professional and polite than this.
Generally, this is a great choice when replacing “can you please.” It shows that you’d like someone to take action and do something for you.
Try using it when reaching out to a supervisor. It suggests that you’d like them to help you with something, but you’re worried that your request might be a bit too demanding or bossy.
This phrase is a chance to take away from the bossy nature of your request.
Feel free to review this email sample to learn more about it:
Dear Michaela,
Would you kindly come to my office and help me with this situation?
I need your input, as I think you’ll be able to solve what I’m trying to do.
Best regards,
Danny Trilby
2. Could You Please
“Can you please” already works really well. So, you can use “could you please” to stay close to the original and ask someone nicely to help you with a situation.
For the most part, this works best when writing to employees. It shows that you have a specific task for them, and you’d appreciate it if they could get on top of it quickly to help you.
Generally, employees will be willing to help if you phrase it like this. After all, it shows that you’re asking nicely and trying to sound as respectful as possible.
You can also check out the following sample email to learn a bit more:
Dear Adrian,
Could you please elaborate on this for me?
I see what you’ve done, but I’d like to know more about why you chose this process.
All the best,
Suzie Dent
3. Would You Be So Kind as To
For what to say instead of “can you please,” you can write “would you be so kind as to.”
It’s a great way to ask for help from someone. Generally, it shows that you don’t want to burden them, but you have a request to make.
We recommend using this when asking your boss for help. After all, it’s a great way to get in their good books and let them know that you respect them and their busy schedule.
Hopefully, your boss will respond positively. It doesn’t get more polite than this phrase, so you’re setting yourself up for success.
Check out this email sample if you still need help with it:
Dear Mr. Parker,
Would you be so kind as to help me and look into it, please?
I’m sure you’ll be able to advise me better. Then, I can get back to the customer.
Yours,
Jodie Heath
4. I Would Appreciate It if You Could
You can use “I would appreciate it if you could” as a more polite way of saying “can you please.”
Sure, it might be a bit wordier. But sometimes, this is a great way to let someone know you’re asking nicely and remain as polite as possible.
This keeps things professional, as well. So, it’s a great way to ask employees to do something without antagonizing them.
After all, as their boss, it can be easy to sound too bossy when asking for their help. That’s why this phrase works well if you’re trying to sound more friendly.
Feel free to review the following email example to learn more:
Dear Doris,
I would appreciate it if you could send the invoice to the customer.
Can you send me the confirmation once this has all gone through?
Thank you so much,
Carla Backshaw
5. I Kindly Request That You
If you’re wondering how to say “can you please” in a formal way, you really can’t go wrong with “I kindly request that you.”
It’s a professional and respectful way to start a question.
Usually, it comes before making a demand. So, you can use it when reaching out to a client. It suggests that you don’t want to sound bossy, but you really need them to do something.
Feel free to review this sample email if you still need help with it:
Dear Ms. Schumacher,
I kindly request that you confirm receipt of this email when possible.
It’s important for us to discuss what comes next.
All the best,
Joanna Marie
6. Might I Ask That You
Another way to say “can you please” is “might I ask that you.” This one is a very formal option that tends to work well in professional letters.
You might need to write a letter to someone you’ve not met before. So, this is great to use when you’d like to ask for them to do something but don’t want to appear demanding or needy.
It’s respectful and polite. You can’t go wrong with it, really.
So, check out this letter sample to learn more:
To Whom It May Concern,
Might I ask that you reply to this letter at your earliest convenience?
I would certainly like to hear what you think about its contents.
Yours,
Marley Morrison
7. Could I Trouble You To
It’s good to stay polite when asking someone to do something for you.
That’s where “could I trouble you to” comes in. It’s friendly and respectful, so it works best when you have a good relationship with whoever you’re asking for help.
For instance, you can use it when requesting help from a coworker. It shows that you don’t want to sound bossy, but you still need them to help you with a situation.
This email sample should also clear things up for you:
Dear Jade,
Could I trouble you to meet with me to discuss this team project further?
I have some ideas that I’d like to ask you about.
Yours,
Carla Blank
8. Would It Be Possible for You To
You can write “would it be possible for you to” as another way to say “can you please.” This is a professional and polite alternative that ensures you start your questions in a nice way.
Generally, this is a good way to see whether someone is able to help.
Asking “would it be possible” suggests that you’re unsure whether someone can offer you what you need. So, it’s good to ask a question like this to see whether it’s in their skill set.
Try using it when contacting a customer. You can use this to ask whether they’d be happy to leave a review, but only if they have enough time to do so.
Feel free to review this email sample to learn more:
Dear Miss Moritz,
Would it be possible for you to leave a review?
I’m excited to hear what you have to say about our latest product.
Yours,
Madison Built
9. Do You Mind
It’s also good to use “do you mind” instead of “can you please.”
This formal question starter allows you to be as polite and respectful as possible.
Generally, people prefer this in slightly more friendly settings.
So, you can use it when requesting something from a coworker. It implies that you already have a good relationship with the recipient and would like to see if they can help you.
Of course, you can check out the following sample email to learn more:
Dear Harold,
Do you mind going through the latest invoices with me?
I need to know more about the accounts and what’s happening.
Yours,
Gyles Moore