0
Usenet Posted 22 years ago
Usage
"Earliest Convenience"
I cringe every time I hear someone's answering machine message stating, "I will get back to you at my earliest convenience." I'm sure they mean this to be a polite statement of their good intentions, but what it REALLY says is that they will get back to the caller the first time it happens to be CONVENIENT for them. I think they INTEND to imply that they will get back to the caller as soon as possible, or at their earliest OPPORTUNITY.
To review, I think we would properly and politely ask OTHERS to get back to us at their "earliest convenience" but pledge ourselves to get back to others at OUR earliest OPPORTUNITY.
To date I have not been able to get anyone else excited about this misuse of a cliche', and hope someone on this board will understand what I am saying here!
To review, I think we would properly and politely ask OTHERS to get back to us at their "earliest convenience" but pledge ourselves to get back to others at OUR earliest OPPORTUNITY.
To date I have not been able to get anyone else excited about this misuse of a cliche', and hope someone on this board will understand what I am saying here!
Top answer
[nq:1]I cringe every time I hear someone's answering machine message stating, "I will get back to you at my earliest ... [/nq] I know what you're saying, but it really doesn't matter, as they will never get back to you anyway. You'll just have to keep calling again and again.
- [nq:1]I cringe every time I hear someone's answering machine message stating, "I will get back to you at my earliest ...
- [/nq] I know what you're saying, but it really doesn't matter, as they will never get back to you anyway.
- You'll just have to keep calling again and again.
- com/opus731/
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
72 Answers
0
[nq:1]I cringe every time I hear someone's answering machine message stating, "I will get back to you at my earliest ... excited about this misuse of a cliche', and hope someone on this board will understand what I am saying here![/nq]
I know what you're saying, but it really doesn't matter, as they will never get back to you anyway. You'll just have to keep calling again and again.
Skitt
I know what you're saying, but it really doesn't matter, as they will never get back to you anyway. You'll just have to keep calling again and again.
Skitt
00
I've never heard "earliest convenience" with the first person singular, or plural.
I'm sure they mean this to be a
[nq:1]polite statement of their good intentions, but what it REALLY says is that they will get back to the caller the first time it happens to be CONVENIENT for them.[/nq]
It's also kind of redundant. I already assume that my calls will be returned when it's convenient for
I'm sure they mean this to be a
[nq:1]polite statement of their good intentions, but what it REALLY says is that they will get back to the caller the first time it happens to be CONVENIENT for them.[/nq]
It's also kind of redundant. I already assume that my calls will be returned when it's convenient for
00
...
} I know what you're saying, but it really
} doesn't matter, as they will never
} get back to you anyway. You'll just
} have to keep calling again and again.
This does not rise to the level of an "Oy!" on several levels, but I'm just wondering if you (who have left me with the impression that an initial "Now" wants a comma after in some cases) think that that "anyway" shoul
} I know what you're saying, but it really
} doesn't matter, as they will never
} get back to you anyway. You'll just
} have to keep calling again and again.
This does not rise to the level of an "Oy!" on several levels, but I'm just wondering if you (who have left me with the impression that an initial "Now" wants a comma after in some cases) think that that "anyway" shoul
00
[nq:1]} I know what you're saying, but it really } doesn't matter, as they will never } get back to ... but I would appreciate if they would include a statement of the reasons (like structural, from authority, pause-related, or tone=contour-cueing).)[/nq]
I don't think a comma belongs there. I don't know why; it just doesn't.
Skitt (in Hayward, California)
www.geocities.com/opus731/
I don't think a comma belongs there. I don't know why; it just doesn't.
Skitt (in Hayward, California)
www.geocities.com/opus731/
00
[nq:2]} I know what you're saying, but it really } ... of the reasons (like structural, from authority, pause-related, or tone=contour-cueing).)[/nq]
[nq:1]I don't think a comma belongs there. I don't know why; it just doesn't.[/nq]
This hardly seems worth discussion. A comma after "Now" clearly indicates a pause. There's no structural need for a comma before "anyway" here, and certainly n
[nq:1]I don't think a comma belongs there. I don't know why; it just doesn't.[/nq]
This hardly seems worth discussion. A comma after "Now" clearly indicates a pause. There's no structural need for a comma before "anyway" here, and certainly n
00
}
}>
}> >} I know what you're saying, but it really
}> >} doesn't matter, as they will never
}> >} get back to you anyway. You'll just
}> >} have to keep calling again and again.
}> >
}> > This does not rise to the level of an "Oy!" on several levels, but I'm }> > just wondering if you (who have left me with the impress
}>
}> >} I know what you're saying, but it really
}> >} doesn't matter, as they will never
}> >} get back to you anyway. You'll just
}> >} have to keep calling again and again.
}> >
}> > This does not rise to the level of an "Oy!" on several levels, but I'm }> > just wondering if you (who have left me with the impress
00
[nq:1]} This hardly seems worth discussion. A comma after "Now" clearlyindicates a } pause. There's no structural need for a comma before "anyway" here, and } certainly no pause before it. Why would anyone even consider it? Oy! Oy! Oy! Oy! Oy![/nq]
I think there's a song that goes like that...
You don't happen to sport a mohawk do you?
I think there's a song that goes like that...
You don't happen to sport a mohawk do you?
00
[nq:1]} This hardly seems worth discussion. A comma after "Now" clearlyindicates a } pause. There's no structural need for a comma before "anyway" here, and } certainly no pause before it. Why would anyone even consider it? Oy! Oy! Oy! Oy! Oy![/nq]
I think there's a song that goes like that...
You don't happen to sport a mohawk do you?
I think there's a song that goes like that...
You don't happen to sport a mohawk do you?
00
[nq:1]I've never heard "earliest convenience" with the first person singular, or plural. I'm sure they mean this to be a[/nq]
Thank you in advance for your prompt attention to this important matter.
Mike Nitabach
Thank you in advance for your prompt attention to this important matter.
Mike Nitabach
00
Because in this particular case "anyway" may be construed as "in any possible way":
"As they will never get back to you anyway, either by phone, or fax or email, or yodelling etc".
Since the author said that he didn't need a comma, maybe he meant "any possible way", including yodelling.
"As they will never get back to you anyway, either by phone, or fax or email, or yodelling etc".
Since the author said that he didn't need a comma, maybe he meant "any possible way", including yodelling.
0
Related Questions