Make a polite, clear request

A useful workplace request tells the reader what you need and, when relevant, when you need it.

Start with “Could you …?”

“Could you send me the report, please?”

Use the base form of the verb after “could”: send, not “sent” or “sending.”

Add a specific time

“Could you send me the report by 3 pm today, please? I need it for the team meeting.”

The time and reason help the other person understand your request. Check that the deadline is reasonable.

Compare the tone

Direct: “Send me the file.”

Polite: “Could you send me the file, please?”

A direct instruction can be appropriate in some situations. When asking a colleague for a favour, the polite version is often a better fit.

Reply honestly

If you cannot meet the request, offer a realistic alternative:

“I can send it by 4 pm. Would that work for you?”

Your turn

Rewrite “Give me details” as a polite request. Specify which details you need and add a deadline only if one is necessary.

See a possible answer

“Could you send me the meeting time and location, please?” This identifies the details clearly. After “could,” use the base form “send.”