please identify

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "please identify" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when requesting someone to specify or recognize something, such as a person, object, or concept. Example: "In your report, please identify the key factors that contributed to the project's success."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

28 human-written examples

And can we please identify the closet nudist in the advertising business and get rid of him or her?

The New York Times

Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) Could the MI5 chief please identify the Al Qaeda elements at the OAS, Petrobras & Ministry of Mines and Energy?

The Guardian

If you're going to join the supply-siders and argue otherwise, please identify some people who decided to work harder only after their take-home pay went up.

The New York Times

Early this year, the Book Review's editor, Sam Tanenhaus, sent out a short letter to a couple of hundred prominent writers, critics, editors and other literary sages, asking them to please identify "the single best work of American fiction published in the last 25 years".

The New York Times - Books

The organizer brought the proceedings to a sudden stop, saying, "I've just been told that the inventor of PowerPoint is in the audience — will he please identify himself so we can recognize his contribution to the advancement of science?" Gaskins stood up.

The New Yorker

Please identify yourself.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

Such as the biologist Desmond Morris, whose 2004 book The Naked Woman (oh, please!) identified not one but four spots with which we should all be getting to grips: the A, C, G and U-spots.

Independent

Semi-structured interview guide 1. Please describe your current procedure for identifying smoking patients.

BMC Family Practice

Governments tend to grow as they age: coalition allies and satraps demand posts, or the ruling party installs ministers to please voters identified by caste or region.

The Economist

We were also pleased to identify completed and on-going interventions that are tailored for sub-groups of MSM with unique needs such as MSMW, drug-users, and youth.

BMC Public Health

They commented on the value of identifying latent system risks, but were also pleased to identify '… all the things we're doing to stop potential harm…' They considered the TRM as having at least as much value as other quality improvement methods and having the potential to complement existing tools such as significant event analysis (SEA) and clinical audit.

BMC Medical Education

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "please identify" in formal correspondence, ensure it is followed by a clear indication of what needs to be identified. For instance, "Please identify the key stakeholders in this project."

Common error

Avoid using "please identify" without specifying what needs identification. For example, instead of saying "Please identify", specify "Please identify the source of the error" to avoid confusion.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "please identify" is as an imperative phrase used to make a polite request. This is supported by Ludwig's examples, which show it commonly used in contexts where information or clarification is needed.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

36%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "please identify" is a commonly used and grammatically correct phrase for politely requesting specification or recognition. As confirmed by Ludwig, it appears frequently in news, scientific, and formal business contexts. While alternatives like "kindly specify" or "could you identify" exist, "please identify" offers a balance of politeness and directness, making it suitable for various professional communications. When using "please identify", it's important to be clear about what you need to be identified to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

specify

Direct request to provide detailed information.

please indicate

Similar in formality but slightly less direct.

kindly specify

More formal and polite.

could you identify

More polite and indirect question.

can you specify

Less formal, framed as a question.

list

A simple and direct request to provide a list.

state your name

Direct, often used in formal settings.

designate

Focuses on assigning or pointing out something specific.

name yourself

More informal and can sound demanding.

enumerate

Requests a list of items or points.

FAQs

How do I use "please identify" in a sentence?

Use "please identify" to politely request someone to specify or recognize something. For example, "Please identify the main issues in this report" or "Please identify yourself before entering the building".

What can I say instead of "please identify"?

You can use alternatives such as "kindly specify", "please indicate", or "can you specify" depending on the context.

Is it more polite to say "could you identify" or "please identify"?

"Could you identify" is generally considered more polite because it is framed as a question, offering the recipient more perceived autonomy. However, "please identify" is also perfectly acceptable in most contexts.

What's the difference between "please identify" and "specify"?

"Please identify" is a polite request for someone to recognize or point out something. "Specify" "specify" is a more direct instruction to provide detailed information.