please then

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "please then" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward or unclear in context.
It could be used in a situation where you are asking someone to proceed with a request or suggestion after a previous discussion or agreement. Example: "If you agree with my proposal, please then let me know so we can move forward."

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

I said, "No, a regular ticket please," then proceeded on back, nose in the air.

The New York Times

No more questions and no more BBC coffee, please," then that is the place to be on a Sunday morning.

The Guardian - Sport

If you think women of all ages can be anything they please, then these photographs are exhilarating.

The New York Times - Arts

Please?' " Then Dr. Josephson put on their favorite Sarah McLachlan song, a wry love song called "Ice Cream".

The New York Times - Style

In the dining room we eat, with gusto, Tuscan soup (vat of that to take home, please), then a warm tart which, Vanessa says, is "packed with crab", and mine, a light and fragrant Asian-style plateful of steamed cod with pak choi, ginger, soy, chilli, and coriander and glass noodles.

The Guardian - Travel

And if it's not a civil liberty to ingest whatever you please, then why am I more 'allowed' to swallow bleach than smoke a joint?" In the UK, the simple consumption of illegal, or "controlled", drugs is not a criminal offence.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

"You know who I am?" He looked childishly pleased; then, again like a child, he pouted.

The New Yorker

Haslett was not pleased then, either, but did not supplement the N.F.L. fine.

The New York Times - Sports

Kurosawa would have been pleased, then, that this addition to Reaktion's Critical Lives series focuses primarily on his films.

The Guardian - Books

When we showed the result to Priya she gazed at it for a long while, pleased, then said: "Look, all the 'o's".

The Guardian

I was pleased, then, when I found a couple in addition to the 12 or so I'd filled in.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider replacing "please then" with a more direct and concise alternative like "so please" or simply "please" followed by the action.

Common error

Avoid using "please then" in situations where it sounds unnatural or redundant. Overuse can make your writing sound stilted. Instead, opt for simpler phrasing that gets straight to the request.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "please then" functions as a polite request made conditional on a preceding statement or action. It is generally used to indicate that a specific request should be carried out after something else has occurred. As Ludwig AI notes, the phrase can sometimes sound awkward.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "please then" serves as a polite request contingent on a preceding condition or action. While grammatically acceptable, Ludwig AI notes it can occasionally sound awkward, with simpler alternatives often being preferred. Its usage spans various contexts, most notably in news and media and wiki articles. When employing "please then", ensure clarity in the sequence of events and consider whether a more direct phrasing might enhance readability. Understanding its communicative purpose, formality level, and potential alternatives allows for more effective and natural communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

so please

Reverses the order, emphasizing the request more directly.

then kindly

Replaces "please" with a more formal synonym, maintaining the sequential implication.

if you would

Offers a more polite and indirect way to make a request, followed by the action.

therefore please

Emphasizes the logical consequence leading to the request.

in that case please

Introduces a condition upon which the request is based.

now please

Highlights the immediacy of the request in sequence.

go ahead then

Implies permission or encouragement to proceed after a condition is met.

after that please

Specifies that the request should be fulfilled after a certain action.

subsequently please

A more formal way to indicate that the request should follow after something else.

next please

Indicates the order or sequence in which a request should be addressed

FAQs

How can I use "please then" in a sentence?

"Please then" is used to make a polite request, often after a condition has been mentioned. For example, "If you have finished your work, "please then" submit it."

What can I say instead of "please then"?

You can use alternatives like "so please", "then kindly", or simply "please" depending on the context.

Is "please then" grammatically correct?

"Please then" is grammatically acceptable but might sound awkward in some contexts. Simpler alternatives are often preferred for clearer communication. Ludwig AI confirms the phrasing is valid, though possibly not the most elegant choice.

What's the difference between "please then" and "so please"?

"Please then" implies a sequence of events, where the request follows a condition. "So please" is a more direct request, indicating a cause-and-effect relationship. Ludwig AI suggests choosing the phrase that best fits the intended meaning and flow of your sentence.