please delete this message

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "please delete this message" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want someone to remove a message that you have sent, often because it contains incorrect or sensitive information. Example: "If you received my last email in error, please delete this message and disregard its contents."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Please delete this message.

The New York Times - Books

If you have received this transmission in error, please delete this message from your system".

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

"Please delete me from this chain, I never signed up to this," requested Diana Verde Nieto from Positive Luxury.

Independent

If you have a bot created specifically for damn (deviantART's Messaging Network) please delete it.

WikiHow

According to reports, when Chinese bloggers enter words deemed taboo by the Communist government words and phrases including "democracy," "freedom" and "human rights"–users receive a warning message: "Prohibited language in text, please delete".

Forbes

Please delete Gerrymandering.

The New Yorker

Could you please delete it?

The New York Times

Please delete that from your notebooks.

The New York Times

Please delete a few newspapers and try again.

The New Yorker

Please please please delete it.

TechCrunch

["Third Party?" People are going to think of Ralph Nader and Ross Perot with this. Please delete.].

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When sending a message in error, immediately follow up with "please delete this message" to minimize potential issues.

Common error

When using "please delete this message", briefly explain why the message should be deleted to avoid confusion or mistrust. For example, indicate that it was sent in error or contains outdated information.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "please delete this message" functions as a polite imperative. It's a direct request for the recipient to perform a specific action. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a usable request in written English for sensitive or incorrect information.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "please delete this message" is a polite imperative used to request the removal of a message, often due to errors or sensitive content. While grammatically correct and understandable, Ludwig AI classifies it as usable in written English. Its usage is relatively rare but appears in various contexts such as news and media. For increased clarity, briefly explain why the message should be deleted. For situations needing more formality, consider alternatives like "kindly delete this message".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Kindly delete this message

Uses a more formal tone by using the word “kindly”.

Please remove this message

Replaces "delete" with "remove", maintaining the same meaning.

Discard this message, please

Alters the sentence structure and uses “discard” instead of “delete”.

Could you delete this message?

Adds a polite request using "could you".

I ask you to delete this message

A more direct and slightly formal way to request deletion.

Please disregard and delete this message

Combines the request to disregard and delete for emphasis.

Please disregard this message

Asks the recipient to ignore the message rather than explicitly deleting it.

Erase this message, if you please

Uses "erase" and adds a touch of old-fashioned politeness.

I'd appreciate it if you deleted this message

Expresses appreciation for the action of deleting the message.

Please ensure this message is deleted

Emphasizes the importance of the message being deleted.

FAQs

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "please delete this message"?

It is appropriate to use "please delete this message" when you have sent a message in error, it contains sensitive information that should not be retained, or if the information is no longer relevant. It's often used in emails or other digital communications.

What can I say instead of "please delete this message"?

You can use alternatives like "kindly delete this message", "please remove this message", or "please disregard this message" depending on the context.

Is "please delete this message" a formal or informal request?

The phrase "please delete this message" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, more formal alternatives exist if a higher degree of politeness is required.

How can I ensure the recipient deletes the message after I've asked them to?

While you can request that the recipient delete the message, you cannot guarantee they will comply. It's best to follow up with a clear explanation and emphasize the importance of deleting the message. You may also want to use secure messaging apps that offer self-destructing messages.