May I request

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "May I request" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when politely asking for something or making a formal request. Example: "May I request your assistance with this project?"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

"May I request a beverage?" Floyd said.

The New Yorker

May I request you send The Economist to my home in a plain brown wrapper, for now anyway?

The Economist

-- Mr. Chairman, may I request the opportunity to get instructions from the secretary of the army? A. You may.

The New York Times

By way of a fightback against this barbaric tide, may I request you find/invent some less violent verbs.

The Guardian - Sport

In a soft voice, amplified by a microphone, he said, "A very warm special greeting from India," and, after a few remarks, added, "May I request all of you to stand, and just laugh with me".

The New Yorker

It's a contribution to the ratcheting up of executive pay across FTSE 100 companies … I really think the remuneration committee has let shareholders and UK plc down in agreeing this massive package for the CEO and may I request an apology from the remuneration committee?" Gould replied: "All decisions around Mr Lund's … package were made by the board as a whole.

The Guardian - Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

That's why back in May during Q1 2013 earnings coverage and again last month I requested that Facebook provide mobile user counts by geography.

TechCrunch

"In mid-December I requested a full meeting of the board of directors of the club where I informed them that they needed a figure of just over £500,000 to cover the funding shortfall to the end of the 2011-2012 season, four times what I had initially been led to believe," he told BBC South West.

BBC

In August I requested that the military provide me with a treatment plan consistent with the recognized professional standards of care for trans health.

Huffington Post

"So I informed them, in December I would request to the judges of the International Criminal Court to open an investigation and that is the process established by the Rome Treaty," Mr. Moreno-Ocampo said.

The New York Times

Viv Nelson Darlington Now that we have a charter saying public finances must be in surplus by 2019-20 (Report, 15 October), I'm requesting a charter saying all Sundays be warm and sunny by 2019-20.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "May I request" in formal situations such as business correspondence, official requests, or when addressing someone of authority to show respect and politeness.

Common error

Avoid using "May I request" in casual conversations with friends or family; it can sound overly formal and stilted. Opt for more relaxed alternatives like "Can I ask for" or "Could you pass me".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "May I request" functions as a formulaic expression for making a polite request. It is a performative utterance that seeks to obtain something or solicit an action, used often to maintain decorum. As supported by Ludwig, it is usable and correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Formal & Business

29%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Science

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "May I request" serves as a polite and formal way to ask for something. According to Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and usable in written English, best suited for professional and official settings. While versatile, it's important to consider the formality of the context. More casual alternatives, such as "Can I ask for", may be more appropriate for informal conversations. Ludwig's examples illustrate the contexts in which the phrase is commonly used.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Could I request

Offers a slightly less formal alternative using "could" instead of "may".

May I ask for

Similar in meaning but uses "ask for" instead of "request".

I respectfully request

Emphasizes the respectfulness of the request.

Might I ask for

Presents a more tentative and polite way to make a request.

I would like to request

States the request more directly but still politely.

Can I request

A more casual alternative, using "can" instead of "may".

Would you mind if I requested

Adds an extra layer of politeness by asking if the request would be an imposition.

Is it possible to request

Shifts the focus to the possibility of fulfilling the request.

I'm requesting

More direct and less formal; suitable for less formal settings.

I seek permission to request

A very formal and somewhat archaic way of phrasing a request, implying the need for explicit permission.

FAQs

How to use "May I request" in a sentence?

"May I request" is typically followed by the item or action you're seeking. For example, "May I request a copy of the report?" or "May I request your presence at the meeting?"

What can I say instead of "May I request"?

You can use alternatives like "could I request", "might I ask for", or "I would like to request" depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is "May I request" formal or informal?

"May I request" is considered a formal way to make a request. It's best suited for professional or official settings where politeness and respect are important.

What's the difference between "May I request" and "Can I request"?

"May I request" is more formal and polite, implying a greater degree of deference. "Can I request" is less formal and more commonly used in everyday conversations.