I was in a conversation with a client who asked me, "How are you?" I responded with "I am fine, thank you." I then followed up with, "How are you? Please."
My manager asks why I append "please" and says it is not standard. Is she correct or is it OK to use please after my question?
Best Answer
As a native speaker of Northeastern US English, I would normally only add please after a question if I was asking for a specific favor or for an object from the person I am questioning.
For example:
But it is not used when asking simple factual questions, matters of opinion, or idiomatic phrases:
To put it briefly, "please" is used when one asks a question which solicits a favor. In the questions that have been struck out, one solicits a piece of information (and not a favor).