"a bottle of coca-cola" vs. "a bottle of coke"

[GoodTaste]

Suppose you are before a drive-thru mini shop and you want to buy a bottle of Coca-Cola (see the image attached), which sentence is correct?

(1) A bottle of Coca-Cola, please.
(2) A bottle of Coke, please.
(3) I would like a bottle of Coca-Cola.
(4) I would like a bottle of Coke.
(5) I want a bottle of Coca-Cola. (This is a direct translation from Chinese and appears to be rude. I am not very sure)
(6) I want a bottle of Coke. (The word "want" sounds rude here. I am not very sure)

 

[emsr2d2]

They're all grammatical and possible. As you've indicated, starting with "I want" can be considered rude. Most of us would go with #2.

 

[GoesStation]

Contract I would in 3 and 4 and they're good alternatives in American English.

 

[GoodTaste]

I wonder why "I want..." sounds so rude. Is it because the way of speaking was liked by one-eyed bandits?

 

[SoothingDave]

I'm only familiar with one-armed bandits.

 

[probus]

I'm only familiar with one-armed bandits.

And they don't talk. They just take your money :-D

 

[GoodTaste]

And they don't talk. They just take your money :-D

OK. Who would talk in the way of "I want..."?

 

[probus]

I wonder why "I want..." sounds so rude. Is it because the way of speaking was liked by one-eyed bandits?

It is not very rude. It's seen as a bit rude because it is so direct. "I'd like ..." and "I would like ..." are therefore preferred by most people.

By the way, this is not unique to English. It's the same in French. "Je voudrais ..." which means "I'd like ..." is preferable to "Je veux ..." "I want...".

 

[SoothingDave]

It's a matter of politeness. "I want chicken nuggets!" is how the little kid expresses himself. All about himself and his wants.

We soften that by asking politely.

 

[PeterCW]

I would say "please" with options 2 and 3 as well.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

They're all grammatical and possible. As you've indicated, starting with "I want" can be considered rude. Most of us would go with #2.

In the US, we're less likely to say "please" but very likely to say "Thank you" or "Thanks."

To us, please can imply impatience — which would be rude.

 

[GoodTaste]

In the US, we're less likely to say "please" but very likely to say "Thank you" or "Thanks."
To us, please can imply impatience — which would be rude.

A Coke. Thank you.
A Coke. Thanks.

 

[GoesStation]

In the US, we're less likely to say "please" but very likely to say "Thank you" or "Thanks."

To us, please can imply impatience — which would be rude.

I wouldn't say that's an American thing. It depends on where you are. In my region, "please" is pretty normal and means "This is a polite request."

 

[emsr2d2]

In the US, we're less likely to say "please" but very likely to say "Thank you" or "Thanks."

To us, please can imply impatience — which would be rude.

That's pretty much the opposite from the UK etiquette. Using "Thanks" with the request can sound impatient. In the UK, you can't go wrong if you use "Please" with a request and "Thank you" when it has been fulfilled. It's a bit like forum etiquette - don't thank us in advance. Wait until we've done something to actually thank us for.

 

[SoothingDave]

Whether "please" sounds impatient or not is entirely up to the tone.

 

[GoesStation]

Whether "please" sounds impatient or not is entirely up to the tone.

My southwest Ohio brain, which spent significant lengths of time in Toronto, Canada; Ann Arbor, Michigan; and northern and southern California, is having trouble imagining what an impatient "please" sounds like.

 

[SoothingDave]

Will you please take our order (we've been waiting 20 minutes).

 

[GoesStation]

Will you please take our order (we've been waiting 20 minutes).

OK, that works. I'd hear it as insistent or, if the rush wasn't warranted, as rude.