ask me to please

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ask me to please" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be used in informal contexts where someone is requesting another person to make a polite request. Example: "If you want something from me, just ask me to please help you with it."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

"He'd ask me to please speak normally".

The New York Times

I'll jump out of the bed when the dogs jump in, and this will make the girls laugh and ask me to please stay.

The New York Times

A total success that had us gnawing the bones, and it never even occurred to my husband to ask me to please pack my knives and go.

The New York Times

When Jasmine learns to talk, I'm sure she'll ask me to please stop singing😂.

Huffington Post

Talking Prince until my family would ask me to please change subjects.

Huffington Post

"When Jasmine learns to talk, I'm sure she'll ask me to please stop singing," Johnson wrote, in true dad fashion.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

The producer and the director asked me to please go".

The Guardian - Music

He asked me to please wait a few minutes.

The New York Times

"They asked me to please move to an area where people could look out for me".

The New York Times

At a high school reunion in 2005, a classmate who was a real estate agent asked me to please stop.

The New York Times

"They asked me to please take it outside, on their porch, and leave it there".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For formal writing, use more conventional phrasing such as "kindly request me to" or "politely ask me to" instead of the awkward "ask me to please".

Common error

Avoid stacking politeness markers unnecessarily. While being polite is important, using too many polite words can make your request sound insincere or even sarcastic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ask me to please" functions as an imperative construction where the speaker seeks to soften a request. Although understandable, Ludwig AI flags it as non-standard. Its grammatical role is to introduce a request, but its structure deviates from conventional English usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "ask me to please" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. Ludwig AI highlights that it's better to opt for more conventional alternatives like "kindly request me to" or "politely ask me to", especially in formal contexts. While it might surface in informal conversations, its non-standard nature can undermine the intended politeness. When aiming for clarity and grammatical precision, avoid "ask me to please" and choose clearer alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ask me nicely to

Adds "nicely" to emphasize the manner of asking.

politely ask me to

Adds "politely" to emphasize the manner of asking.

ask me if I would please

Rephrases the request as a question implying politeness.

ask if I could please

Changes the request into a question.

kindly request me to

Replaces "ask" with a more formal "request" and adds "kindly" for politeness.

ask whether I would please

Rephrases the request as an inquiry implying politeness.

request that I

Uses a more formal structure with "request" and a subjunctive clause.

request me gently to

Emphasizes the tenderness and politeness of the request with 'gently'.

formally request that I

Uses formal language for the request.

request that I be so kind as to

Adds extreme formality and politeness to the request.

FAQs

Is "ask me to please" grammatically correct?

No, the phrase "ask me to please" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's better to use phrases like "kindly "ask" me to" or "politely ask me to".

What's a more formal way to say "ask me to please"?

A more formal alternative is to use "request that I". This construction is more appropriate for professional or academic writing.

When is it okay to use "ask me to please"?

While generally not recommended, "ask me to please" might be acceptable in very informal conversation or when trying to sound intentionally naive or humorous.

What are some alternatives to "ask me to please" that still sound polite?

You can say "ask me nicely to" or "ask me if I would "please"". These options maintain a polite tone without sounding awkward.