10 Best Ways to Politely Ask Someone to Check (2024)

Being polite is fundamental in all situations (as long as you care about your manners). It’s important to know good ways to word certain requests to make sure you remain as friendly and polite as possible. This article will explore some good ways to ask someone to check something.

10 Best Ways to Politely Ask Someone to Check (1)

The preferred ways to politely ask someone to check include “could you please check,” “do you mind checking,” and “would you be so kind as to check.” They are all very simple phrases that don’t rely on overly formal language to convey the intention of the question.

Table of Contents

Could You Please Check

“Could you please check” is a simple question, but it’s one of the most effective ones on this list. It works so well because of how easy it is to use. It doesn’t use bloated language, and it doesn’t try to come across as more formal than it needs.

“Could you please” is a simple way to ask someone’s permission to do something. “Check” is then the order that you’d like them to carry out. In this case, you’re asking for someone to look into something.

  • Could you please check this for me? I want to make sure I know what I’m doing here before I commit to anything.
  • I’m sorry. Could you please check again? I’m sure I left it around here, and I’d really love it if you could humor me one last time.
  • Could you please check, though? I know it’s around here somewhere. I could really do with your help in finding this.

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Do You Mind Checking

“Do you mind checking” is a great question to remain polite, but it’s the most informal question on this list. “Do you mind” is an informal question starter that works really well when you’re trying to get someone to help you out with something.

“Checking” is also used here rather than “check.” The gerund form of the verb is much better suited for this question style.

  • Do you mind checking again for me? I feel like I must be in the system, so it must be an error on your part if I’m not.
  • Do you mind checking, then? I know you’re a busy guy, but this would really help me out if you could just look into it.
  • Do you mind checking to help me out? I would love to get to the bottom of this as soon as possible to make sure I’m not missing anything.

Would You Be So Kind As To Check

“Would you be so kind as to check” is the next best question you can use. “Would you be so kind” can work well in many situations, though it’s best to use it if you’re speaking to someone that answers to you (i.e. an employee you know isn’t currently busy).

  • Would you be so kind as to check, please? I have a feeling that it’s somewhere around here, and I could really do with somebody’s help.
  • Oh, sorry. Would you be so kind as to check again? I know you’ve done it already, but I’d really like to be here this time.
  • Would you be so kind as to check? I think my name should be in the records somewhere. I’ll wait for as long as you need.

Could I Kindly Ask You To Check

“Could I kindly ask you to check” is a great way of asking whether someone can help out. It works really well because you check for permission with “could I kindly ask you” before finishing with the order “to check.”

“Kindly ask you” can also be changed around to suit the sentence’s structure. You could change the position of “kindly” to make sure you’re wording it in the appropriate way.

  • Could I kindly ask you to check what time your friend is meant to be coming? That would be very helpful for me to know.
  • Could I kindly ask you to check? I don’t want to cause any problems, but you would be doing me a great service by checking.
  • Could I kindly ask you to check? I know I have no right, but it would really help me out if you could give me a hand with this.

Would You Be So Kind As To Find Out

“Would you be so kind as to find out” is a good choice, though some people think it can sound passive-aggressive. “Would you be so kind” is a simple way of checking whether someone can do something, but it usually takes for granted the fact that they’re not busy.

  • Would you be so kind as to find out more about this? I feel like there’s something missing here. I’d love to get to the bottom of it.
  • Would you be so kind as to find out, please? I’m sure you’re busy, but this is quite an important task that needs to be sorted out.
  • Would you be so kind as to find out? I know you’ve already looked into it, but I’m sure that someone around here will be able to help.

I Would Like To Kindly Ask You To Check

“I would like to kindly ask you to check” is another question that can be reworded, depending on where you want to place “kindly.” Adverbs can move around to modify different parts of a question like this.

The position of “kindly” won’t have a profound impact on the question. It will remain polite no matter where you put it.

  • I would like to kindly ask you to check again for me. I know you’re busy, but I’m sure you can spare some time to get this done.
  • I would like to ask you kindly to check. I want to get to the bottom of this, and I think you might be the only person who can help.
  • I would like to ask you to kindly check again. I want to know for certain whether my ring is here. One last look is all it will take.

Do You Have A Moment To Check

Do you have a moment to check” is a very polite way to ask someone to look into something. It works really well because it keeps with the simple questioning language of “do you have.”

“A moment” is also common in polite questions like this. It checks to make sure that someone has the time to look into something. You won’t be able to remain polite if you say “can you check” when someone is far too busy with another task to do anything to help you.

  • Do you have a moment to check this for me? I’m sure you know what you’re doing, but it just doesn’t seem to make sense.
  • Sorry, but do you have a moment to check? I wanted to get this done so that my wife wouldn’t scream at me for it.
  • Do you have a moment to check? I’m sure you know what you’re doing, but I just want to clarify a few things.

Could I Ask You To Check That

“Could I ask you to check that” is a simple question that works well when you need help. “Could I ask you” is a way of getting someone’s permission to find out whether they’re going to be able to help you out.

Technically, “could I ask” is asking permission to ask a question. Since “ask you to check that” is already a question, it seems a bit counterintuitive to ask for permission for a question you’re already asking.

However, permission actually comes when someone responds. They will either say “yes” (they can check) or “no” (they can’t check). That’s how this question differs from the rest.

  • Could I ask you to check that again? I don’t think the system was working the way it was supposed to when you checked it the first time.
  • Could I ask you to check that, please? I’m quite busy, so the quicker you can get it done, the better off I’ll be.
  • Wait, could I ask you to check that? It doesn’t seem to be scanning me in, and I know that my card should still be registered to my account.

If You Don’t Mind, Could You Check

“If you don’t mind, could you check” is the last polite question you can use in this situation. “If you don’t mind” is always a polite way to set up a question if you want to build a good rapport with the person you’re asking.

Some people think that “if you don’t mind” is a bit uncertain. In most formal contexts, you’ll want to avoid sounding uncertain for any reason. In any other situation, a question like this is perfectly acceptable.

  • If you don’t mind, could you check this out for me? Something isn’t quite right about it, and I’d like to get to the bottom of it.
  • If you don’t mind, could you check again? I have a feeling that there’s something we’re missing here. I’d love to figure it out.
  • If you don’t mind, could you check for my ring one last time? I know I left it around here, and I’m just praying someone handed it in.
10 Best Ways to Politely Ask Someone to Check (2024)

FAQs

How do you politely ask for a check? ›

I would like to kindly ask you to check ... Would you be so kind as to check ... If, on the other hand, you want to ask whether somebody has already checked your file, you should go with: Would you be so kind as to tell me if/whether you have checked …

How do you politely ask someone to do something fast? ›

'As Soon As Possible' Synonyms
  1. “... by [date and time] because [reason]” ...
  2. “When you have a chance [in the next day, before tomorrow, this week]” ...
  3. “I apologize for the urgency, but could you please [do X, send me Y, complete Z] at your soonest possible convenience?” ...
  4. “EOD”
Aug 5, 2018

Which request is more polite? ›

Would you / Would you like to / Could you …? The most common polite way is to use Would you/Would you like to/Could you to ask other people to do somethings. We use it to suggest or request something more polite than Do you want to …? Would you please give me the file on the table?

How do you ask someone if they are busy or not? ›

You should do one on “suggestions for a busy person” that includes:
  1. “F*ck those other people — I'm important! ...
  2. If you're too busy to respond please tell me and suggest a time to chat about my issue.
  3. Make sure you let me know you're busy and that it's not personal — some people can feel slighted and marginalized.
Mar 8, 2018

How do you politely ask someone to check their email? ›

Tip: Be brief. Be polite by asking if they've looked it over rather than accuse or point out that you haven't received it yet. Add value by giving them context for the urgency if needed or urgency about the next steps. Finish with a call to action so they know what you want them to do and why it's important.

Could you please and would you please? ›

“Would you” and “Could you” are equally polite and valid ways to make a request. “Could you” sounds more polite than “Would you.” “Would you” sounds more insistent and is more often used in angry requests, such as “Would you please hurry up!”

How do you politely urge someone? ›

The Direct Method
  1. I need you to get a move along.
  2. You're a bit behind schedule and need to get moving.
  3. Please, can you speed up, you are holding everyone up!
  4. You need to go faster.
  5. Please try to finish up in the next few minutes.
  6. We need it no later than the end of (date/time).
  7. You need to have it finished by (time).
Jan 16, 2018

Can polite request example? ›

A third modal for making polite requests is could. For example, “Could I please have some water?” Could is the past tense of can. However, when asking for permission, could does not have a past tense meaning.

What can I say instead of ask? ›

ask
  • catechize,
  • grill,
  • inquire (of),
  • interrogate,
  • query,
  • question,
  • quiz.

What is simple polite request? ›

Making Polite Requests in English with Examples (Formal) I Was Wondering If You Could/Would It Be Possible For You To. I Would Be Grateful If You Could/I Would Appreciate It If You Could.

How do you say please formally? ›

Different Ways to Say Please and Thank You in English - YouTube

Could you please check or can you please check? ›

Both are correct. The first is more direct, and the second is more polite. Could you please . . . gives slightly more room for refusal than Can you please . . .

How do you say I know you are busy politely? ›

Hey [name], I know you're super busy, so just floating this back to your inbox in case it slipped through.” “Hey [name], checking back on this. Let me know if you're interested in [brief 5-7 word summary of my initial ask].” “Hey [name], what do you think?

How do you tell someone you need to talk to them? ›

Alternatives to texting someone “we need to talk”

For example: “Hey, when you have a moment would you mind meeting/calling me to discuss [insert topic]?” Another alternative they suggest is, “Hey, I've got a couple of questions about [insert topic] – do you mind giving me a call when you have time to discuss it?”

How do you ask someone to hang out without sounding needy? ›

Don't sound desperate

If you are planning to ask someone to hang out, don't make it direct. Calm down and ask them out without being pushy or desperate. You can start the conversation with something like, “It's nice talking to you. Would you mind catching up later or sometime?”

What can I say instead of just follow up? ›

1. Be Direct
  • “I'm following up on the below” or “Following up on this [request/question/assignment]”
  • “I'm circling back on the below” or “Circling back on this [request/question/assignment]”
  • “I'm checking in on the below” or “Checking in on this [request/question/assignment]”
Mar 1, 2022

Can you say gentle follow up? ›

In many cases, gentle follow-ups and friendly reminders are far more effective. Without your presence and ability to use nonverbal cues, aggressive sales pitches can often come across poorly. However, there's something to be said for being blunt and direct, especially if you've sent multiple emails that were ignored.

Is it correct to say please kindly? ›

Both the adverbs are used in polite requests, and one of the meanings of kindly is please. In a sentence like "please kindly send me a copy of your paperwork," please and kindly are redundant. In a sentence like "will you kindly sign the enclosed copy of this letter," kindly is often used ironically.

What to use instead of could you please? ›

Show activity on this post.
  • Will you be so kind..(as to help me)
  • It would be really great if you..(could help me / helped me)
  • I'd be grateful if you..(could help me / helped me)
Mar 21, 2016

Is Can you please polite? ›

“Can you please” and “could you please” can only be used in the context of requesting something. This is because of the “please” directly after the “can you” and “could you” which suggests it is a polite request. There is no difference in meaning between “can you please” and “could you please”.

How do you send a gentle reminder politely? ›

How do you write a gentle reminder email?
  1. Choose an appropriate subject line. A solid email subject line is a must. ...
  2. Greet the recipient. Like a subject line, a salutation is a must when you're sending a polite reminder email. ...
  3. Start with the niceties. ...
  4. Get to the point. ...
  5. Make a specific request. ...
  6. Wrap it up and sign your name.
Nov 4, 2021

How do you politely remind someone over text? ›

Be short, clear, and genuine: Short message reminders are easy to read, understand, and get a response. Like a quick text from a friend, these messages can be effective and non-intrusive.

What are the examples of polite expressions? ›

Words that are polite include "Please," "Thank you," and "Excuse me." "Excuse me" is what I say when I would like the attention of another person.

How do you say will do professionally? ›

Ways of saying that you are willing to do something - thesaurus
  1. yes. adverb. used when you are agreeing to do something.
  2. all right. interjection. ...
  3. no problem. phrase. ...
  4. I'd love to. phrase. ...
  5. I suppose (so) phrase. ...
  6. with pleasure. phrase. ...
  7. it would be an honour. phrase. ...
  8. no sooner said than done. phrase.

What is another word for politely? ›

In this page you can discover 38 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for politely, like: gently, thoughtfully, solicitously, concernedly, cordially, amiably, kindheartedly, compassionately, benignantly, urbanely and affably.

How do you ask formal time to talk? ›

How To Ask If Someone Is Available
  1. Expressions. Examples. Are you…? Are you free tomorrow? ...
  2. Are you. free. available. at this time? ...
  3. Can you. give me. a second? a minute? ...
  4. Do you. have. time? a second? ...
  5. Is this. a good time. to talk? ...
  6. May I. have a word. with you? ...
  7. Let me know. when you are. free. ...
  8. Is your schedule open. at this time? now?

What is an example of a request sentence? ›

Request sentence example. His request gave her an idea. Without looking away, he addressed his request to Connie. Codes mingled with names and addresses in a request for medical assistance.

Can you please check synonym? ›

yes , eg please verify , please counter check , please examine , please take a look carefully , please confirm ( all can substitute the word please check depending on the situation )

Is saying please advise rude? ›

In the end, there's nothing grammatically wrong with “please advise.” It's just a question of usage and style. Some people don't like it because it can be interpreted as rude or demanding. Other people think it's redundant: just ask your question and call it a day.

Could you please check meaning? ›

“can you please check” and “could you please check” are actually asking, “are you able to check.” “would you please check” communicates that the asker knows the person is able to check.

How do you send a message to a busy person? ›

Here are 8 tips for contacting a busy person:
  1. Try to Connect Before You Ask for Anything. ...
  2. Keep Your Communications Brief. ...
  3. Do Your Research First and Ask Specific Questions. ...
  4. Make Your Pitch Something to Which They Can Say Yes or No. ...
  5. Show Up in Person. ...
  6. Keep Bringing Value. ...
  7. Assert Yourself. ...
  8. Follow Up (Within Reason)
Mar 26, 2015

How do you say professionally busy? ›

10 great words to use instead of “busy”
  1. Tied up. Example: I'm a little tied up with this new project. ...
  2. Occupied. Example: She's a bit occupied today dealing with new staff. ...
  3. Overstretched. ...
  4. Over-extended. ...
  5. Overloaded. ...
  6. Swamped. ...
  7. Snowed under. ...
  8. To have enough/rather a lot/too much on one's plate at the moment.
May 13, 2019

What can I say instead of Im busy? ›

OCCUPIED/OTHERWISE OCCUPIED

The word 'occupied' or the phrase 'otherwise occupied' can substitute 'I'm busy' as it conveys that you are busy with something else. Example: We can use this time to play as mother is otherwise occupied.

How do you communicate with someone who doesn't want to talk? ›

What to do when someone doesn't want to talk to you anymore: 16 practical tips
  1. 1) Be honest. ...
  2. 2) Be respectful. ...
  3. 3) Do not pressure them. ...
  4. 4) Give them time to think about It. ...
  5. 5) Be proactive. ...
  6. 6) Respect their decision. ...
  7. 7) Accept their decision but be optimistic. ...
  8. 9) When they first say it, don't react quickly at all.
Apr 17, 2022

How do you ask for a conversation? ›

Conversation Starters For Any Situation
  1. Tell me about yourself.
  2. Have you done anything exciting lately?
  3. What made you smile today?
  4. How did you meet the host?
  5. What's your favorite form of social media?
  6. What was the last good book you read?
  7. Do you listen to any podcasts?
Mar 26, 2022

How do you ask for a minute to talk? ›

They would be used in more professional situations, but if you're in a more informal situation, like with your friends, then you would probably ask somebody like this: “Could I talk to you for a minute?” or “Could I talk to you for a second?”

How do you ask someone out without saying it? ›

To ask someone out, start by striking up a casual conversation with them in person or over text. Then, say something like "What are you doing this weekend?" If they aren't doing anything, invite them to do something they'll be interested in, like going to a concert or grabbing some coffee. If they say no, that's OK!

How do you invite someone without pressure? ›

How to ask someone to hang out
  1. Gauge their interest in hanging out with you. ...
  2. Gauge their interest in a specific activity. ...
  3. Offer them an easy way to say no. ...
  4. Have a plan in mind. ...
  5. Nail down a day, time, and place. ...
  6. Offer to help them with something. ...
  7. Ask to talk further over lunch or coffee. ...
  8. Invite them to contact you.
Mar 30, 2021

How do you say speed up the process? ›

expedite Add to list Share. To expedite something is to make it go faster or speed up the process. Expediting that package might get it to Alaska by tomorrow, instead of next Tuesday. If someone says, "Let me expedite the process," that's probably a good thing: they're offering to speed things up.

What is another word for as soon as possible? ›

What is another word for as soon as possible?
quickfast
right awayat once
straight awaywithout delay
nowdirectly
forthwithinstantaneously
151 more rows

How do you ask someone to do something for you? ›

How to Ask for Favors
  1. Be direct but polite. ...
  2. Don't make it sound bad. ...
  3. Avoid guilt. ...
  4. Don't cross the line. ...
  5. Show respect. ...
  6. Avoid constant one-sided favors. ...
  7. Be personal but straightforward. ...
  8. Take "No" for an answer.
Sep 3, 2021

What is a fancy word for fast? ›

Some common synonyms of speedy are expeditious, fast, fleet, hasty, quick, rapid, and swift.

What is another word for super fast? ›

What is another word for extremely fast?
breakneckquick
rapidfast
swiftspeedy
briskhasty
lightningfleet
95 more rows

How do you use speed in a sentence? ›

The tortoise crept along at an agonizingly slow speed.
  • The car was travelling at a very slow speed.
  • Slow down - you're breaking the speed limit.
  • He reduced speed and turned sharp left.
  • The truck picked up speed slowly.
  • There are speed restrictions on this road.
  • Our speed averaged out at 50 km an hour.
Jul 24, 2020

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