please to see

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "please to see" is not correct in modern written English.
It is an archaic expression that may be used in literary or poetic contexts, but it is generally not used in contemporary language. Example: "It is a pleasure to see you again after all these years."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Please to see – what kind of place she has, and write me what thou thinks of it".

The New York Times

Laura Barton Taken from my favourite Steeleye album Please to See the King, and in memory of Tim Hart who died on Christmas Eve.

The Guardian - Music

Steeleye Span Please to See the King ( (1971) It's easy to dismiss Steeleye Span because of their singalong hits, but this early album was a subtle folk-rock classic.

The Guardian - Music

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Not everyone was pleased to see him.

Independent

I was pleased to see Lundqvist exalted.

The New Yorker

She was pleased to see him laughing.

The New York Times

I'm pleased to see them.

The New York Times

They are pleased to see him, right?

The Guardian

"It is extremely pleasing to see".

The New York Times

Pleased to see recovery firmly underway.

The Guardian - Business

They were just pleased to see me.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "please to see" in modern English writing. Instead, opt for grammatically correct alternatives such as "pleased to see", "glad to see", or "happy to see".

Common error

Don't use the base form of the verb "please" where the past participle "pleased" is required to form the adjective. Remember that "pleased" describes the feeling of the person experiencing pleasure.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "please to see" functions as an attempt to express happiness or satisfaction upon seeing someone or something. However, as Ludwig AI points out, this is grammatically incorrect. The correct construction involves using the past participle "pleased."

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "please to see" is not considered grammatically correct in modern English. While the intention is to express happiness or satisfaction, it is advisable to use alternatives such as "pleased to see", "glad to see", or "happy to see". As highlighted by Ludwig, these options are grammatically sound and more appropriate for contemporary writing. Despite some appearances in news sources, it's best to avoid "please to see" in both formal and informal contexts. The register of "please to see" tends to be perceived as incorrect or archaic.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

pleased to see

Replaces "please to see" with the correct past participle form of the verb, fixing the grammatical error.

glad to see

Offers a more common and straightforward way to express happiness at seeing someone or something.

happy to see

Similar to "glad to see", this is a simple and widely used alternative.

delighted to see

Conveys a stronger sense of pleasure or joy than "glad" or "happy".

it's a pleasure to see

Formalizes the expression, emphasizing the positive experience of seeing someone or something.

nice to see

A more casual and less intense way to express that it's good to see someone or something.

good to see

A more casual way to express that it's good to see someone or something.

I'm happy to see

Expresses personal happiness at seeing something or someone.

I'm glad to see

Expresses personal pleasure at seeing something or someone.

it warms my heart to see

More figurative and emotive, implying a deep sense of satisfaction.

FAQs

Is "please to see" grammatically correct?

No, "please to see" is not grammatically correct in modern English. The correct form is "pleased to see", "glad to see", or "happy to see".

When is it appropriate to use "please to see"?

It's generally not appropriate to use "please to see" in contemporary writing. It might be found in older literary works, but it sounds archaic in modern contexts. Use "pleased to see" or another similar phrase instead.

What's the difference between "please to see" and "pleased to see"?

"Please to see" is grammatically incorrect. "Pleased to see" uses the past participle of "please" correctly as an adjective to describe someone's feeling of happiness or satisfaction.

Can I use "please to see" in formal writing?

No, "please to see" should not be used in formal writing, as it is considered incorrect. Use more appropriate and grammatically sound alternatives such as "it's a pleasure to see" or "I'm pleased to see".