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Ruby0116 Posted 20 years ago
Letter Writing
How can I be polite...while correct? (Just one sentence please!)
My boss and I have disagreements over the following sentence (both of us are not native English-speaking persons.)
He insists: "Please be reminded that the privilege is limited to company staff only, and the property right is respected." He believes that passive form is "softer" and less commanding.
I suggests: "Please be reminded that the privilege is limited to company staff only, and please respect the property right." I think "please" is polite already and I dislike passive forms.
Can anyone help? Thank you in advance.
He insists: "Please be reminded that the privilege is limited to company staff only, and the property right is respected." He believes that passive form is "softer" and less commanding.
I suggests: "Please be reminded that the privilege is limited to company staff only, and please respect the property right." I think "please" is polite already and I dislike passive forms.
Can anyone help? Thank you in advance.
Top answer
Hi Ruby, Welcome to the Forum. " He believes that passive form is "softer" and less commanding. " I think "please" is polite already and I dislike passive forms.
- Hi Ruby, Welcome to the Forum.
- " He believes that passive form is "softer" and less commanding.
- " I think "please" is polite already and I dislike passive forms.
- You are both right in your understanding.
- It's really a matter of using your judgement to make a choice.
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5 Answers
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Hi Ruby,
Welcome to the Forum.
My boss and I have disagreements over the following sentence (both of us are not native English-speaking persons.)
He insists: "Please be reminded that the privilege is limited to company staff only, and the property right is respected." He believes that passive form is "softer" and less c
Welcome to the Forum.
My boss and I have disagreements over the following sentence (both of us are not native English-speaking persons.)
He insists: "Please be reminded that the privilege is limited to company staff only, and the property right is respected." He believes that passive form is "softer" and less c
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CliveI don't know what 'Please respect the property right' means. 'Rights' is normally used in the plural in this kind of context. 'Rights' belong to people, or perhaps in this case to the company. Do you mean 'Please respect the company's property rights'? Why don't you just say 'Please respect the company's property', since I think that's what you mean? (In other words,
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Hi Ruby,
OK. So, your choices are basically these.
Choice A: "Please be reminded that the privilege is limited to company staff only, and the copyright is to be respected."
Choice B: "Please be reminded that the privilege is limited to company staff only, and please respect the copyright."
Like you,
OK. So, your choices are basically these.
Choice A: "Please be reminded that the privilege is limited to company staff only, and the copyright is to be respected."
Choice B: "Please be reminded that the privilege is limited to company staff only, and please respect the copyright."
Like you,
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Thank you Clive, and thank you for your vote.
Though my boss insists that the passive form is more formal and polite (he quotes that many sample letters use "please be reminded..."), at least you make it clear for me.
Though my boss insists that the passive form is more formal and polite (he quotes that many sample letters use "please be reminded..."), at least you make it clear for me.
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Hi,
Though my boss insists that the passive form is more formal and polite (he quotes that many sample letters use "please be reminded..."), at least you make it clear for me. Yes, it's business jargon, but to be simple and clear is better. But . . . you can't argue too much with the boss, can you?
Good luck, Clive
Though my boss insists that the passive form is more formal and polite (he quotes that many sample letters use "please be reminded..."), at least you make it clear for me. Yes, it's business jargon, but to be simple and clear is better. But . . . you can't argue too much with the boss, can you?
Good luck, Clive
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