Please hold on ... please hold on the line...

sweetie_sneha · #1 (**permalink**) 19-Jun-2006, 05:11

Hi,

Suppose somebody is calling my boss and I am answering the phone. What should I say to the caller to wait for a moment?

Please hold the line.
Please hold on.

or something else.

Regards.

Sweetie_Sneha

rewboss · #2 (**permalink**) 19-Jun-2006, 05:28

Definitely not "hold on" -- that's informal English for "wait" or sometimes "stop" -- "Hey, hold on a minute, what was that you said?"

"Please hold the line" is much better; sometimes you'll hear it shortened to "Please hold". It's probably a good to idea to explain why the caller should hold the line: "Please hold the line a moment, I'm putting you through now." People generally hate being "put on hold", so it helps just to let them know that you're not just doing it because you don't like them.

Fazzu · #3 (**permalink**) 19-Jun-2006, 06:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by rewboss

"Please hold the line" is much better;

Can I tell "Please hold on the line"?Also, can I tell "Please hold on to the line"?

Ouisch · #4 (**permalink**) 19-Jun-2006, 07:19

I used to say either "Can you hold for just a moment?" or simply "One moment, please."

rewboss · #5 (**permalink**) 19-Jun-2006, 12:23

"Please hold on the line" doesn't make sense. No preposition is required here.

"Please hold on to the line" does make sense, but it's the wrong sense. It would mean that you are holding a line in your hand, or that you are hanging from a line (it could be, for example, a washing-line) -- and you shouldn't let go.