你有沒有看過同事寫的英文郵件裡出現幾個”please” 或 "Can/could you please..."? 例如，下面這封：

Hi Guys,

Please see the attached for the changes we’ve made so far to the report. Could you please review them one last time and then fax the whole thing back to me along with any comments you may have please?

As we have a deadline to meet could you please send the pages as soon as possible?

Thank you very much for your help.

為了表示客氣，這是可以理解的，但短短一封email居然出現4個 ”please”，不僅單調，而且累贅。兩個作法：

1. 去除不必要的客氣，必非每句開頭都得加”please”才叫客氣。上面的郵件可拿掉幾個 ”please”也不失禮貌？
2. 避免重複內容。上面郵件劃線部份。
3. 換字。介紹另外兩種句型讓你變換使用：

• “Do you think you could…”
• ”I was wondering (or, I wonder) if you could…”

現在我用一封對公司內部的email示範如何使用上述句型：

Hello Joe,

I’m working on a new project for a client and was wondering if you could help me out with your marketing expertise. Do you think you could meet with me next Tuesday at 2 to go over it?

Thanks

Mark

試試看這兩種句型，希望你下封郵件更有變化。有其他寫法上的問題嗎？歡迎來信 editor@EnglishLab.tw。