At my earliest convenience should never get used in any business setting. Using the phrase "at a suitable time" allows for the person we are speaking to, to make a decision for themselves, as opposed to an imposed deadline. However, avoid using it for specific deadlines. Could someone please let me know (1) whether my sentences are grammatically correct and also not weird to the ears of a native English speaker and (2) whether they sound polite. Such phrases help us make requests or suggestions that are not urgent. These tasks can be accomplished over a longer period of time and without haste. vs on your convenient time. This allows someone to feel relaxed while completing a task. "My convenience" says, "I'll get back to you when I'm good and ready." The idiom "as soon as possible" is another one that needs to be handled with care. #1 is the best choice. You can do that without haste or any urgency. Im going to get it to you. "At your earliest convenience" is an idiom we use to show that we have an important task lined up. Now, Mary knows what John needs and when he needs it. I would be grateful if you could call me back at your earliest convenience. You can feel free to come over whenever you like! What should be the subject line to use in an email asking to join a research lab? I'm quite used to using the phrase " at your earliest convenience " to express urgency but also polite sensitivity to others' schedules and . An alternative and variation of saying, at your earliest convenience. Typically, this phrase does not provide any sense of urgency. Fact checked:Content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. there are better ways to express that a request isnt urgent. You dont want to create pressure for your reader or listener: they might react negatively to the pressure and never complete what youve asked them to do! I would like to politely ask my professor to meet me sometime soon. At your convenience is an idiom that means when it suits you. Many other common prepositional phrases we use in English mean something different from what we may immediately assume. You can use at your earliest convenience in a conversation or written communication, although it most often appears in emails or messages related to work, school, and/or ongoing projects. Perhaps it should have been stated differently, such as , " I . We are not hurrying someone and are giving them the appropriate amount of independence. However, when it suits you gives you the option to be more polite, allowing you to direct your request to a superior. I think youll help us out here. Id appreciate it if you could complete that job when you have a spare moment. This not only creates a less stressful situation, but it is considerate to the person from whom we are requesting something. Is it polite to use "at my earliest convenience?" When you make a phone call to request a meeting, be sure to have the following information ready: -Your name. Oops! Go beyond words when generative AI comes to Grammarly. This would be considered incredibly polite. You often use the phrase because you are asking for something and want the person to know that they can do it when it suits them and that you arent demanding it immediately. con los Telfonos Informacin disponible. This article was written for strategiesforparents.com. All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. "As soon as possible" is more polite than using the acronym ASAP. So, when we use earliest, we indicate that wed like you to do it when its convenient for you, but still as soon as possible. Please respond at your earliest convenience, Remit payment at your earliest convenience, Please do the needful at your earliest convenience. Please could you send it. You might consider using "would be" instead of "is", as well, since the conditional is often more polite than the declarative. At your earliest convenience. Or At my earliest convenience.. Is the amplitude of a wave affected by the Doppler effect? Saying that someone can do something when youre able to is considered to be quite considerate, especially when someone is already busy or overwhelmed by other tasks. Update the question so it can be answered with facts and citations by editing this post. at your earliest convenience All those are correct answers. Furthermore, he has teaching experience from Aarhus University. I would love a personal interview at your earliest convenience to further discuss my credentials with you. Its a polite expression we use semiformally to say whenever its suitable for you.. You can use at your convenience to politely say that the person you are speaking to can do something whenever it suits them. With the phrase at your earliest convenience, the speaker shifts the focus away from the tasks urgency and onto the listeners schedule or availability. For example: The more demanding the sentence, the less polite the phrase becomes. Add at your earliest convenience to one of your lists below, or create a new one. 4 likes, 0 comments - Sparwood Dental Clinic (@sparwooddental) on Instagram: "A common belief is that having your teeth cleaned at the dentist every 6-8 months will keep your ." Sparwood Dental Clinic on Instagram: "A common belief is that having your teeth cleaned at the dentist every 6-8 months will keep your smile healthy. Am I reading too much into this? Sona Digital Media LLC is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. It certainly sounds rude to me. Why don't objects get brighter when I reflect their light back at them? When we express to someone that they can complete something at your convenience, we are saying that they may do so when it appeals, suits, or works best for them. Example for scheduling a meeting: I would like to discuss before (date). No one would be so perverse as to use polite language to demand that someone else accommodate the speaker. -The reason for your call. Highly competent in formulating and enforcing plans tailored to meeting customer and client needs, while efficiently addressing and . You should use the phrase at your convenience in polite environments where you want to show respect semiformally. The second is an accommodating way to obligate yourself. What does this mean? Telling a client or customer that you will reply when it's convenient to you is simply rude and not what the phrase was intended for think people! If could suggest a date and time that would suit you, even later in the day/week/month/year, that would be much appreciated', @F.K your professor might want to know what timeframe you have in mind depending on what you need to discuss, so to make a judgement and evaluate what time slot can be arranged for that discussion, Improving the copy in the close modal and post notices - 2023 edition, New blog post from our CEO Prashanth: Community is the future of AI. Id appreciate it if you could help me with something when youre able to. Get this work done for me at your earliest convenience. You should use at your earliest convenience when you want to very politely express that a task has a time limit. @bobie, The difference between convenience and opportunity is that opportunity only requires the ability to do it, while convenience also requires it be pleasing to you to do it. This phrase is used in formal situation, especially used in letters. You should also not use at your convenience when you mean to say for your convenience. These two idioms have entirely different meanings, though there is just one small word that differs between them. Plus 1, though. What does Canada immigration officer mean by "I'm not satisfied that you will leave Canada based on your purpose of visit". How could it possibly be impolite to say that youll do something just as soon as its convenient for you? I would be grateful if we could meet. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Copyright 2023 Strategies for Parents | Trellis Framework by Mediavine. I think youre the only person who can help. Why don't objects get brighter when I reflect their light back at them? "Your convenience" means that the person leaving the message hopes to hear back when the other person is ready. As a result, this is not considered a polite way to say as soon as you can., Alternatively, the mechanic could say, You can come get the vehicle at your earliest convenience. Or, you can use the prepositional phrases on Thursday or in a minute to describe a time relative to now. Here, on and in are the prepositions. When Tom Bombadil made the One Ring disappear, did he put it into a place that only he had access to? Is It Correct to Say As Per Our Conversation? Its easy to turn into a rude phrase if you dont include polite and positive words like please.. We use phrases like at your convenience to be polite to people without appearing demanding. This article was written for strategiesforparents.com. being active or happening at night rather than during the day, Quirky and novel: ways of saying that something is unusual (1), Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. 5 usefulness, comfort, or facility. We do not encourage using whenever works professionally. Well, thats certainly a question thats worth answering. After talking to you, I've decided to do it as soon as possible. It is much better to keep it conversational, as it is far too indirect for most business contexts. As a phrase on its own, at your earliest convenience is polite. If you could redo the filing system when youre able to, that would be a huge help. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. You can send me those files at your leisure. There is no pressure or implication of a necessary deadline.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'grammarhow_com-box-3','ezslot_1',105,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-grammarhow_com-box-3-0'); When we say to someone that they may complete a task at your leisure, we are attempting to say that they can do so at their own convenience, or when it is easiest for them to do so. . For all we know, it could be just after "surf English.stackexchange for 3 hours" but before "take a 2 hour lunch". Usage explanations of natural written and spoken English. At your earliest convenience also adds a sense of politeness to a request and implies respect and deference for the other persons schedule. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. I think the writer ( the professor ) may have turned around the phrase " Please get back to me at your earliest convenience.'' inadvertantly causing him/herself to sound as if s/he could not be bothered. Thank you for your time and consideration. Here is an example business letter using proper grammar and language for the phrase, at your earliest convenience.. Though you may understand the individual words, the idiom will mean something different. Also, you would use it when you dont need them to do something at a specific time or place. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. We could really use more printer paper. It comes across as inconsiderate, if not outright rude. There are many alternatives to the phrase, earliest convenience. When writing friends, colleagues, or general letterstry one of the following alternatives. The term is conversational, so you would generally use it in polite conversation or correspondence rather than formal speaking. Its urgent. Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. Its starting to smell and causing a situation in the garage. I would like to discuss the project proposal, Could you please print and file that report, She said that shed complete the transaction, By tomorrow / by next week / by the 15th of November. It adds a level of politeness and formality to the request and gives responsibility for the timing of the task to the other person. Please reply at your earliest convenience is what you want to say. You can use it in business contexts to request someones attention or help quickly. Id like to get you to come along whenever works. To read more about idiomatic prepositional phrases, visit Is It Correct to Say As Per Usual? Is much better to keep it conversational, so you would generally use it when you have spare... Digital Media LLC is compensated for referring traffic and business to these.! Made the one Ring disappear, did he put it into a place that only he had to... Did he put it into a place that only he had access to show respect semiformally other... To the other person to do something at a specific time or place to! By `` I 'm not satisfied that you will leave Canada based on your of... 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