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  #1  
Old 27-Aug-2008, 11:39
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Default insistent but polite request

Dear all,

I'm trying to make a polite formal request for the permission to send my paper later. I wrote it like this:

Would you not mind my sending the paper later?

Does it make any difference if I write:

Would you mind my sending the paper later?

Maybe there is another, more insistent but at the same time polite, way of saying it?
  #2  
Old 27-Aug-2008, 13:28
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Default Re: insistent but polite request

It would help to know more about who you are planning to ask

What about

Could I possibly let you have my paper at a later date /after the official deadline
Would it be possible at all to hand in my paper...
Would you mind if I handed in/sent on..


Would you not mind my sending the paper later?
will probably earn you a "Well, dear,as a matter of fact,I would."

Would you mind my [sending the paper] handing in my paper later?
is definitely much better.

Let me know if you need help with this.
beascarpetta
  #3  
Old 27-Aug-2008, 14:53
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Default Re: insistent but polite request

I'm addressing an organizer of a scientific meeting.

Quote:
Originally Posted by beascarpetta View Post
Could I possibly let you have my paper at a later date /after the official deadline
I like this phrase very much, but it seems to be a little bit more colloquial than "would you mind" and "would it be possible", does it? Then I will probably pick "would you mind" because the style of my letter is quite formal.

Quote:
Originally Posted by beascarpetta View Post
Would you not mind my sending the paper later?
will probably earn you a "Well, dear,as a matter of fact,I would."
Would you mind my [sending the paper] handing in my paper later?
is definitely much better.
Interesting, in our language we say just the opposite. In response to "Would you not mind ...?" we expect "No, I don't ..." and "Would you mind ...?" may earn both yes and no.

Last edited by kvvic; 27-Aug-2008 at 15:21.
  #4  
Old 27-Aug-2008, 15:20
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Default Re: insistent but polite request

Quote:
Originally Posted by kvvic View Post
I like this phrase very much, but isn't it a little bit colloquial?
What about

Would it be at all possible to let you have my paper ...+
(go for a date such as : around December 24
the second week of September )




Quote:
Originally Posted by kvvic View Post
Interesting, in our language we say just the opposite. In response to "Would you not mind ...?" we expect "No, I don't ..." and "Would you mind ...?" may earn both yes and no.
Well, to mind (when used in questions and negatives) means to be annoyed or worried by something

So this would then translate as

"Would you not be annoyed...?" , which would , at least to my mind, be quite a provocative question.

bea

Last edited by beascarpetta; 27-Aug-2008 at 15:30.
  #5  
Old 27-Aug-2008, 15:43
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Default Re: insistent but polite request

Thanks again. Now I understand the meaning of "would you mind".

Quote:
Would it be at all possible to let you have my paper
I think it suits quite well.
  #6  
Old 27-Aug-2008, 15:50
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Default Re: insistent but polite request

You are most welcome. Good luck!
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