Suppose I am having a conversation with someone. I ask a question like "Can we meet at place A?". They reply "It's ok, you can just come to place B". I would much rather prefer to meet at place A, since this person is a stranger, so I wish to meet in public.
How can I word my reply to insist on meeting at place A, without offending this person?
(By the way, if you feel I have mistagged this, please feel free to edit to correct)
Best Answer
This question is as much, if not more, about etiquette and avoiding giving offence as it is about English usage. However, for what it's worth, an appropriately "polite" response would be simply and neutrally worded - "I'd rather meet at place A if you don't mind/if that's all right with you/if that's OK/as long as that's not too much trouble." This last italicised section shows "polite insistence". If they persist in trying to get you to go to place B, then they are being impolite and have forfeited the right to any further politeness on your part.