please hold on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "please hold on" is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used when you're asking someone to wait or pause before continuing. Example sentence: "I'll check with my supervisor on this issue; please hold on while I ask them."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

"Please hold on for a moment while I locate the reservation".

The New Yorker

"But we've got this group that says [to the US]: 'Please don't let our hand go, please hold on to us'".

The Guardian

"Oh, mister, please hold on," Norwood says in footage from the family's security cameras, as he frantically tries to straighten the downed ladder and save the dangling dummy.

Vice

"Australia/New Zealand promoters ask ticket-holders to please hold on to their tickets until further notice.

The Guardian - Music

"I know how dark and endless that tunnel can feel," she wrote, "but if happiness seems impossible to find, please hold on to the possibility of hope, faint though it may be".

Independent

The songs are more often about fading hopes, strained love and the inexorable passage of time -- songs like the extended centerpiece of Thursday's set, "Please Hold On While the Train Is Moving".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Please hold for a hands-on.

TechCrunch

Rather than being "museum curiosities," he wrote, they would be able to come and go as they pleased, holding on to however much of the past they wanted.

The New York Times

Also (though I greatly appreciate it) please hold off on sending thank yous, just want to limit it to information/links or I'll be overloaded.

Huffington Post

Please hold your fire on this one, for a moment.

Huffington Post

If you have a myki please hold the myki card on the green myki reader until you hear a beep and see a green light to touch on.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "please hold on" in customer service, follow it with an estimated time or reason for the wait to enhance user experience.

Common error

Avoid using "please hold on" with close friends or family. More casual phrases like "wait a sec" or "hang on" are often more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "please hold on" functions primarily as an imperative, directing the listener or reader to wait or pause. Ludwig AI indicates that it's a grammatically correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Wiki

21%

Science

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Social Media

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "please hold on" is a polite and grammatically correct way to ask someone to wait, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It's most commonly found in news and media, wiki, and science contexts, reflecting its versatility. While alternatives like "please wait" or "hold on a moment" exist, "please hold on" is a standard and effective way to request someone's patience in various situations. Remember to be mindful of the context and audience to ensure the level of formality is appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

please wait

This is a more direct and simple request for someone to wait.

hold on a moment

This specifies the duration of the wait as a brief period.

just a moment, please

Similar to "hold on a moment" but emphasizes brevity and politeness.

bear with me

This asks for patience, often implying a slight inconvenience or delay.

please be patient

Directly requests patience, suitable for situations where delays are expected.

kindly wait

Adds a touch of formality to the request for waiting.

one moment, please

Indicates a very short waiting time.

wait a second

An informal way to ask someone to wait briefly.

hang on a sec

A very informal, almost casual way to ask someone to wait.

give me a minute

Asks for a short amount of time to complete a task before continuing.

FAQs

How to use "please hold on" in a sentence?

You can use "please hold on" when you need someone to wait briefly, such as when checking information or transferring a call. For example: "Please hold on while I check your account details."

What can I say instead of "please hold on"?

You can use alternatives like "please wait", "hold on a moment", or "just a moment, please" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "please hold on" or "hold please"?

"Please hold on" is grammatically correct and more polite. "Hold please" is sometimes used informally, but "please hold on" is the preferred usage in most situations.

What's the difference between "please hold on" and "bear with me"?

"Please hold on" is a direct request to wait, usually for a short period. "Bear with me" asks for patience, often implying a slightly longer delay or potential inconvenience.