How Do You Spell Please? — A Quick Spelling Guide

Please‘ is frequently used when crafting emails, texts, letters, and even in creative writing. How do you spell please? To use the word effectively in writing, you should be able to spell it correctly. Learn the correct spelling of the word from this article and begin to use it the right way.

History and Variant

The word ‘please’ originates from the Middle English word plesen, plaisen, borrowed from Old French word ‘plaisir’ (which means ‘to give pleasure or satisfy). Also, from Latin placere (which means ‘to seem good’). It first appeared in the English language in the early 13th century; it meant ‘to give pleasure.’ In the 14th century, the meaning changed to; ‘to delight.’ In the 15th century, it meant ‘to be pleased.

The word ‘pleace‘ was used in place of ‘please‘ until the 15th century, when it became obsolete. However, the word persisted in Scots until the 17th century.

Definitions of Please

The word please has several definitions. Let’s look at a few definitions and examples.

1. As an adverb

The word ‘please‘ is an adverb that functions as an interjection in polite requests. You can use the word in the following ways.

  • To make a polite request – Could you please hand me my bag?
  • Used to add force to a demand or request – Oh, please, keep quiet!
  • To agree politely to a request – “May I come in?’ ‘Please do.”
  • Used to ask someone to discontinue doing something – ‘James, please – people are watching.’
  • To add emotion and urgency to a request – ‘please, please don’t do this!’
  • Used to accept something enthusiastically or politely – “Would you like some potatoes?’ ‘Yes, please.”

2. As a verb

The word ‘please’ take the following verb forms: present tense – pleases, past tense – pleased, present participle – pleasing. It is used in the following ways:

  • To give pleasure, satisfaction, or enjoyment; to make contented. Example: I’m doing everything to please my boss; I don’t want to get fired.
  • Used to show that someone can do or have what they want. “When should I start working on the project?” “Do as you please.”

More Sentence Examples

  • Please do not forget to close the doors before going to bed.
  • Could you please get me some groceries from the store?
  • Mary does as she pleases; it’ll be useless talking to her.
  • You keep pleasing this child!
  • Please do not forget to come to work on Monday.
  • June, I am pleased with your work!
  • Please sit down!
  • “Do you care for some ice cream?’ ‘Yes, please.”
  • “Should I get your car ready?’ ‘Please do.”
  • Please stop being dramatic.
  • Oh, please! He can’t possibly mean that.
  • Please wait a minute.
  • It’s difficult to please Tom; he complains too much.
  • Please reply to my message as soon as you can.

How do you spell please?

The accurate spelling of the word is P-L-E-A-S-E. The word ‘pleace’ is an obsolete spelling and is unacceptable and inappropriate in writing. PLEASE is a six-lettered, monosyllabic word with three vowels and three consonants. The phonemic pronunciation of the word is /pli:z/.

brown wooden blocks with 'please forgive me' inscription on white surface
Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash

To Wrap Up

Learning how to spellplease will make your writing look good and increase your chances of being understood by your readers. Explore the definitions and sentence examples highlighted in this article, and you’ll begin to use the word pleasethe right way!

How do you spell please? The only acceptable spelling of the word is P-L-E-A-S-E.

Pam is an expert grammarian with years of experience teaching English, writing and ESL Grammar courses at the university level. She is enamored with all things language and fascinated with how we use words to shape our world.

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