Learn English – let me know or tell me

meaningword-choice

My work basically is to answer customers' questions by emails and I use the phrase' tell me' at my work, but my boss said it's too casual , I should use the phrase "let me know ", is it ture? I don't really understand what the difference is. For example, if I'm asking for a customer's address or his/her waist size, which one should I say?

Best Answer

"Let me know" is asking to be informed. As "let" means to allow, this is a polite way of asking to be kept informed, because you are asking for permission to know.

"Tell me" is a demand, and so less polite. You can certainly make it more polite by saying "please tell me", but you are still asking for information rather than asking to be allowed that information. "Please let me know" would be even more polite.