Requests / Questions

There are many ways to make requests or ask questions. We always talk about the magic word PLEASE, and how PLEASE and THANK YOU go a long way, but sometimes we can make requests and ask questions without using please, and most importantly, without forgetting to be polite.

Here is an example.

Would you mind explaining your experience of data classification?

In this typical question, the format is easy: Would you mind + verb + -ing.

No need to say please, as the politeness is contained in the phrase Would you mind..?

If formality is not necessary, we could use How about..?

How about..? is an informal way to ask for information or an opinion. It’s often used in small talk, when we ask how somebody is or how their work is going. It can also be used to make suggestions or offers.

How about the Critical Processes Management Procedure?

In this sentence, we’re asking for information, but we could also be suggesting that we discuss this procedure. A typical way to follow up this question is with another question.

How about the Critical Processes Management Procedure? Shouldn’t we be thinking about that?

We’re asking a second question using shouldn’t to begin the sentence. Perhaps the procedure in question is not going well and the speaker feels they should be thinking more about it. Starting a question with shouldn’t adds more formality and balances the use of How about..?

Modal verbs are very common in requests and questions.

Shall we discuss the issue of Personal Data Security?

We use shall instead of will to be more formal when the subject of the sentence is I or we.

Remember, you can never really go wrong with PLEASE, but how about trying some different ways?