please help to assist

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "please help to assist" is not correct and is redundant in written English.
It can be used when requesting assistance, but it is better to simplify the expression. Example: "Could you please help to assist with the project?"

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Please help to rectify this kneejerk overreaction".

The Guardian - Sport

Please help to stop injustice.

Vice

Please help to reward her".

BMC Health Services Research

He prayed, "Please, God, help me to cross.

The New Yorker

Please also help me to socialize with other dogs.

WikiHow

Please note that this active strategy helps to provide load balancing to applications.

Journal of Cloud Computing

"Life and Death in Assisted Living" helps to explain why.

The New York Times

RW assisted in interviewing and helped to draft the manuscript.

BMC Psychiatry

Please, Daddy, help me.

The New Yorker

"Please, somebody help me".

The New York Times

(Readers, please feel free to help out on comments below).

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid redundancy. Choose either "please help" or "please assist" for a clearer and more direct request.

Common error

Don't use both "help" and "assist" together. Pick the word that best fits the context to keep your writing concise.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "please help to assist" functions as a request for aid or support. Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect and redundant. The primary intention is to solicit assistance, but its effectiveness is diminished by its awkward construction.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "please help to assist" is flagged by Ludwig AI as grammatically incorrect due to its redundant nature. While the intention is clear—to request assistance—it's better to use either ""please help"" or ""please assist"" for clarity and conciseness. There are no direct examples of the phrase in Ludwig's database, indicating its infrequency. For more formal requests, "assist" is preferable, while "help" is suitable for general use. Politeness can be added with phrases like "could you please help". Avoiding redundancy makes your request more impactful and professional.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

please assist

Removes the redundancy by using a single verb to request help.

please help

Directly asks for help, simpler and more common.

could you please help

Adds politeness through a modal verb.

can you assist

A more direct question asking for assistance.

your assistance is needed

Formal way of requesting assistance by highlighting the need.

help is needed

Emphasizes the need for assistance without directly addressing someone.

require assistance

A more formal way to say that assistance is needed.

need a hand

An informal way of asking for help.

lend a hand

Offers to help someone by providing assistance.

give assistance

Offers assistance, emphasizing the act of providing help.

FAQs

What's wrong with saying "please help to assist"?

The phrase is redundant because "help" and "assist" have similar meanings. It's more concise and grammatically sound to use either "please help" or "please assist".

How can I make a polite request for assistance?

You can use phrases like "could you please help" or "can you assist" to add politeness to your request. Starting with "please" is always a good practice.

Is "assist" more formal than "help"?

Yes, "assist" is generally considered more formal than "help". Use "assist" in professional or formal contexts, and "help" in more casual settings.

What are some alternatives to "please help to assist"?

Instead of "please help to assist", you can use simpler phrases like "please assist", "please help", or "need a hand" (informal) depending on the context.