Would vs. Could

[kkookk2003]

How do you decide which would be more appropriate in a sentence, like - "Would you read it out to me please?" or "Could you read it out to me please?"

Alternatively, is it better to say "Would you read it out for me please?" or "Could you read that out for me please?"

Is there a general rule that one could follow, when deciding whether to use could or would?

[MikeNewYork]

How do you decide which would be more appropriate in a sentence, like - "Would you read it out to me please?" or "Could you read it out to me please?"

Alternatively, is it better to say "Would you read it out for me please?" or "Could you read that out for me please?"

Is there a general rule that one could follow, when deciding whether to use could or would?

Either word is acceptable. Both are polite forms.

Either "it" or "that" is acceptable.

However, "out" should be "out loud".

[BobK]

Would and could have more-or-less equivalent meanings in these polite questions. There's a[n] (I think) juvenile tendency to make a clever-clever distinction along these lines:

Could you give me some more paper?
Well I could, but I'm not going to.

Some teachers do it, to emphasize their position of power. It never impressed me much.

b

[kkookk2003]

Hi,

Thanks a lot for the replies.

Regards,

Benjamin

[rewboss]

However, "out" should be "out loud".

In British English at least, "out" is perfectly acceptable.

[MikeNewYork]

In British English at least, "out" is perfectly acceptable.

Thanks. I'll add that to my list.

[kkookk2003]

Thank you