"Veuillez" vs. "s'il vous plaît" vs. "merci de" vs. impératif vs. "nous vous invitons à" for saying/implying "please"

Damo E.C1Kwiziq community member

"Veuillez" vs. "s'il vous plaît" vs. "merci de" vs. impératif vs. "nous vous invitons à" for saying/implying "please"

How would you rank the above-mentioned 5 alternatives in order to ask someone politely to do something?


For example:

1. Veuillez laisser un message.

2. Laissez un message.

3. Laisser/ez un message, s'il vous plaît.

4. Merci de laisser un message.

5. Nous vous invitons à laisser un message.

Asked 1 year ago
Jim J.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer

Bonjour Damo,

I have seen "veuillez" used in a number of situations where the intention is to make a very polite request.

The others may work but I see number two as being quite curt. Maybe a native French speaker may not agree that this is curt.

Bonne journée

Jim

g. j.B1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor
No valid answer

"Veuillez" vs. "s'il vous plaît" vs. "merci de" vs. impératif vs. "nous vous invitons à" for saying/implying "please"

How would you rank the above-mentioned 5 alternatives in order to ask someone politely to do something?


For example:

1. Veuillez laisser un message.

2. Laissez un message.

3. Laisser/ez un message, s'il vous plaît.

4. Merci de laisser un message.

5. Nous vous invitons à laisser un message.

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