please countersign and return

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'please countersign and return' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want someone to review something you have written and sign off on it so that it can be returned to its point of origin. For example, you might write, "Please countersign and return the attached document to confirm your acceptance of the job offer."

✓ Grammatically correct

Formal & Business

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Please read and return the reply slip to school whether Yes or No.

The Guardian

View it, please, and return to us here for further information.

TechCrunch

Please do return and engage here, of course.

The New York Times

Please upgrade your browser and return soon!

WikiHow

Pidgeon smiles, pleased, and we return to our chat.

The Guardian

"Please please please return," Hart writes.

The Guardian

Please describe your return processes.

Business Research

Please not to return".

Vice

Please return and check for changes.

TechCrunch

Two warriors volunteer to capture a child to please their gods, and they return with Madoc and the child Hoel.

Wikipedia

If this is not the case, please return it and I will put it under my mattress for safe keeping".

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "please countersign and return", always specify the document or item to be returned for clarity. For example: "Please countersign and return the attached contract."

Common error

Avoid using "please countersign and return" without specifying what needs to be countersigned and returned. Ambiguity can lead to confusion and delays.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "please countersign and return" functions as an imperative request, directing the recipient to both sign (countersign) a document and then send it back. Ludwig AI indicates this is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Formal & Business

30%

News & Media

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "please countersign and return" is a grammatically sound and useful directive for requesting a signature and the return of a document. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is suitable for professional and formal communication. While examples are relatively rare, the phrase is most frequently encountered in business, news, and scientific contexts. When using this phrase, be sure to specify the exact item to be returned to avoid any confusion. Consider alternative phrases like "kindly sign and send back" or "please endorse and return" if a different nuance is desired.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Kindly sign and send back

Replaces "countersign" with a more common synonym and uses "send back" instead of "return".

Please endorse and return

Substitutes "countersign" with "endorse", implying approval in addition to signing.

Please approve and return the attached file

Replace the verb "countersign" with approve and specifying the attachment.

Sign and return the document

Omits "countersign" assuming that a signature implies agreement or acknowledgement, less polite.

Sign and return to sender

It's a more specific instruction on returning the document to its original source.

Please validate and send it back

Uses "validate" instead of "countersign", suggesting a check for accuracy before returning.

Acknowledge and return

Focuses on acknowledgement of receipt or understanding, rather than formal agreement.

Sign, date, and return

Adds the explicit instruction to date the document alongside the signature.

Your signature and return are requested

It's a more formal and less direct approach to requesting signature and return.

We kindly request your signature and the return of this document

A more elaborate and polite version of the original phrase.

FAQs

How do I properly use "please countersign and return" in a sentence?

Use "please countersign and return" when you need someone to officially approve a document by signing it and sending it back to you. For example, "Please countersign and return the attached agreement by Friday".

What's a more formal alternative to "please countersign and return"?

A more formal alternative could be: "Your signature and return of this document are respectfully requested". Alternatively, you can use: "We kindly request your signature and the "return of this document"".

Is "please sign and return" the same as "please countersign and return"?

While similar, "please sign and return" is more general. "Please countersign and return" implies that another signature or approval is already present, and you need a secondary signature for confirmation or agreement.

When is it appropriate to use "please countersign and return"?

It's appropriate in formal contexts such as contracts, official letters, or any document requiring a second level of approval. It's commonly used in business, legal, and academic settings.