I was writing an invitation email to a female principal who has a higher social status. She is a busy woman, so I would like to ask her to arrange a time and place for a meeting instead.
Given that situation, (if you were the female principal), would you find someone saying "at your convenience" annoying and impolite?
(1). Please arrange a time and place to meet at your convenience.
Learn English – Will you find someone saying “at your convenience” annoying and impolite
politeness
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Best Answer
No, saying "at your convenience" is generally understood to be a polite way of saying that you recognize that the other person is very busy, and so asking them to choose a time for a meeting instead of you selecting a time.
Like almost any statement, a polite statement can be made rude by the context, or if spoken, by the tone of voice. Like if you said, "Well, given that you've failed to show up for the last four appointments we schedule despite your promise that you will attend, and as you apparently have no regard for the time of other people, perhaps you could let me know when you would like to meet, at your convenience", well, that would be deliberately rude. But a simple, "I would like to get together with you to discuss this. Please select a time at your convenience and let me know when we can meet" or something to that effect would be considered very polite.