Please standby

USAGE SUMMARY

"Please standby" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is commonly used in instructions or commands to ask someone to wait or be on hold for a short period of time. Example: "Please standby while we transfer your call to the next available agent."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Please standby.

The Guardian - Sport

Please standby for possible ice hockey history.

The Guardian - Sport

"The site is looking spectacular so please standby for further information about Saturday night's event.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Likewise, Audrey was pleased with that old standby Beefeater, while I found the flavors indistinct.

The New York Times - Food

Finally, let's please put a moratorium on all mentions of "supporting the troops --a favoritroops --a of politroops --ad pundits alike that not only is vague but also just sounds stupid.

Huffington Post

Please head to CAP and help clear the pitch for tomorrow," Blues supporters appealed, saying they had the RAF on standby to help in the event of overnight snow.

BBC

"Please, please, please... .. "Down".

The Guardian

"Dad, please, please, please".

The New York Times

Please ".

TechCrunch

Thus, please beware of docking!

Trends in Pharmacological Sciences

Please report.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "Please standby" when you need someone to temporarily pause or wait, especially in professional or formal settings where a direct command might seem impolite. It softens the instruction and shows respect for the other person's time.

Common error

While "Please standby" is perfectly acceptable, avoid using it excessively in casual conversations. In informal settings, a simpler "Just a moment" or "Hold on" might be more appropriate to maintain a relaxed tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "Please standby" functions as an imperative, delivering a polite command or request. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is commonly used to instruct or ask someone to wait or be on hold, evident in the examples provided.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "Please standby" is a grammatically sound and polite imperative phrase used to request a temporary pause or wait. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's commonly employed in professional and neutral contexts, as well as news and scientific domains. While correct, alternatives like "please wait" or "hold on" might be more suitable for informal settings. Remember to use it when you need someone to pause politely, but avoid overuse in casual conversation. High-authority sources such as The Guardian and The New York Times confirm its use in reputable content.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Kindly hold on

Replaces "please" with "kindly" and uses "hold on" instead of "standby", implying a temporary wait.

Please wait a moment

Specifies the wait as "a moment", suggesting a short duration.

Please hold the line

Commonly used in telephone conversations, asking the person to remain connected.

Just a moment, please

Inverts the structure but conveys the same request for a brief pause.

Please be patient

Emphasizes the need for patience during the wait.

Please remain available

Suggests staying ready for further instructions or action.

Hold on, if you please

A more polite and slightly formal way of asking someone to wait.

A moment, if you will

A very formal and polite way of requesting a brief pause.

Please give us a second

Indicates the need for a very short amount of time.

Stand by for further instructions

Emphasizes that more information or actions will follow.

FAQs

How to use "Please standby" in a sentence?

You can use "Please standby" when asking someone to wait or hold their attention. For example: "Please standby while I check your account details" or "The presentation will begin shortly; please standby".

What can I say instead of "Please standby"?

You can use alternatives like "please wait", "hold on", or "just a moment" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "Please standby" or "Please stand by"?

"Please standby" and "Please stand by" are both correct, but they have slightly different nuances. "Please standby" is more commonly used to ask someone to wait, while "Please stand by" can also mean to be ready or prepared for something.

What's the difference between "Please standby" and "Please hold"?

"Please standby" generally means to wait for a short period, often for something to become available or for further instructions. "Please hold" is typically used in phone conversations to ask someone to remain on the line.