Would you mind

USAGE SUMMARY

'Would you mind' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when politely requesting or asking someone to do something for you, for example: "Would you mind passing me the salt?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Would you mind that?" "No.

The New Yorker

"Would you mind?" I asked.

The New York Times

"Would you mind doing that?

The New Yorker

Would you mind?

The New York Times

"Would you mind making room?

The New Yorker

Would you mind not!" "Sorry," he mutters.

The Guardian - Film

Would you mind getting up and going?

The New York Times - Arts

"Would you mind making the rice?

The New York Times

Would you mind being in it?

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Would you mind awfully if I don't?

The New Yorker

Would you mind — " I SAID NO PROMISES.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "Would you mind", follow it with either a gerund (e.g., "Would you mind closing the door?") or an 'if' clause (e.g., "Would you mind if I opened the window?") for grammatical correctness.

Common error

Be aware that a 'no' answer to "Would you mind...?" actually means that the person is willing to do what you asked. Confirm their understanding to avoid misunderstandings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "Would you mind" functions as a polite interrogative, used to make a request or ask for permission. It's a way of softening a request to make it less direct. Ludwig AI confirms its common use in this way.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Wiki

12%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

1%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "Would you mind" is a highly versatile and polite phrase used for making requests or seeking permission. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage. It functions as a softened interrogative, showing respect for the other person's autonomy. Examples from Ludwig demonstrate its use across diverse contexts, primarily in News & Media. While it maintains a generally neutral to formal tone, it's crucial to be aware that a negative response ("No, I wouldn't mind") actually indicates agreement. Remember to follow it with a gerund or 'if' clause for grammatical precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Could you please

More direct but still polite request.

Would you be willing to

Focuses on the willingness of the other person.

I'd appreciate it if you would

Expresses gratitude in advance for the requested action.

I was wondering if you could

A tentative and polite request.

Would it be possible for you to

Emphasizes the possibility of the action being performed.

Do you think you could

A less direct way of asking for assistance.

Is it okay if you

Inquires about permission with a focus on the other person's comfort.

Is it too much to ask you to

Acknowledges the potential burden of the request.

Can you

A less formal way to ask someone to do something.

Perhaps you could

A suggestion framed as a question.

FAQs

How do you politely use "Would you mind" in a sentence?

Use "Would you mind" to make a polite request. For example, "Would you mind closing the window?" is a polite way to ask someone to close the window.

What does it mean when someone says "No, I wouldn't mind"?

Saying "No, I wouldn't mind" means the person is agreeing to do what you asked. It's a polite way of saying they are willing to help or comply with your request.

Is "Do you mind" the same as "Would you mind"?

"Do you mind" and "Would you mind" are similar, but they have subtle differences. "Would you mind" is generally considered more polite. "Do you mind" can sometimes sound more abrupt depending on the context and tone.

What are some alternatives to "Would you mind" for making requests?

You can use alternatives such as "Could you please", "Can you", or "I was wondering if you could" to make polite requests.