please what

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "please what" is not correct and usable in written English.
It appears to be an incomplete or unclear request and lacks proper context for effective communication. Example: "Could you please what I asked you to do?"

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

42 human-written examples

Please, what a dreadful idea!

Independent

Please, what a shitty country!

The New Yorker

Please – what the fuck is that?

Independent

Dave's like, please, what is it Lynton?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I mean please, what a year.

The Guardian - Film

"Please what?" "I was gone for one night.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

18 human-written examples

And what they pleased — what he pleased, anyway — was to move to Cambridge, Massachusetts.

The New Yorker

And do what they please is what they have done.

Vice

Can you please describe what you think HPP is? Can you please describe what you think HIA is? Can you please describe what you think HPP is trying to achieve and how this can be achieved?

BMJ Open

Please give what you can...".

The Guardian

So please advise what to do now..

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When seeking clarification, use grammatically complete questions like "Could you please explain what you mean?" for better clarity and politeness.

Common error

Avoid using incomplete phrases like "please what?", as it lacks grammatical structure and may sound impolite. Always frame your questions as complete sentences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "please what" primarily functions as an interrogative expression used to seek clarification or repetition. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase doesn't follow standard grammar rules and is more common in spoken rather than written communication.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Science

13%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "please what" is used to ask for clarification or repetition, but Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. It appears mostly in informal contexts, such as news articles quoting speech or casual conversations. For formal settings, it's advisable to use complete and grammatically sound alternatives like "Could you please clarify?" or "What do you mean, please?" to maintain clarity and politeness. The most frequent sources for this phrase are News & Media.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

what do you mean please?

Directly asks for the meaning, adding a touch of politeness.

could you clarify please?

Substitutes with a request for clarification to ensure understanding.

what was that please?

Seeks confirmation of what was previously said, maintaining politeness.

can you say that again please?

Asks for a repetition in a straightforward, polite manner.

could you repeat that please?

Replaces the directness with a polite request for repetition.

excuse me, what did you say?

Uses an excuse to politely inquire about a missed statement.

what's your meaning please?

Inquires about the intended meaning with added politeness.

can you elaborate on that please?

Offers a more formal way to ask for additional details.

pardon me, what did you say?

Uses "pardon me" as a polite interjection before asking for clarification.

i beg your pardon, what was that?

More formal and polite way of asking for a repetition.

FAQs

How can I politely ask for clarification instead of saying "please what"?

Instead of "please what", use phrases like "could you clarify please", "what do you mean please", or "can you elaborate on that please" for a more polite and clear request.

Is it correct to use "please what" in formal writing?

No, "please what" is generally considered grammatically incorrect and informal. In formal writing, it's better to use complete and grammatically correct sentences like "could you repeat that please" or "excuse me what did you say".

What's a more sophisticated way to ask someone to repeat themselves?

Instead of a direct question, you can use "I beg your pardon, what was that" for a more formal and sophisticated approach. Alternatively, "what was that please" also works well.

Are there situations where "please what" might be acceptable?

While generally discouraged, "please what" might be acceptable in very informal contexts or casual conversation where brevity is prioritized. However, for clarity and politeness, it's always better to use a full sentence such as "can you say that again please".