“Please kindly” is understandable, but in most emails one politeness marker is enough. “Please send…,” “Could you please…,” or “Would you mind…” usually sounds more natural than combining “please” and “kindly.”
Choose a Polite Request That Sounds Natural
- Please
- Kindly
- Could you please…
- Would you please…
- Could you…
- Would you mind…
- I’d appreciate it if you could…
- When you have a moment, could you…
- Please could you…
- May I ask you to…
- I’d be grateful if you could…
Please
Usually the simplest replacement: keep “please” and remove “kindly.”
Example: Please send the signed form by Friday.
Kindly
Can stand on its own in formal or administrative writing, though it may sound stiff in some varieties of English.
Example: Kindly return the completed document by 5 p.m.
Could you please…
A polite, standard form for direct requests in professional emails.
Example: Could you please confirm the delivery address?
Would you please…
Polite and slightly formal, especially for a clear action.
Example: Would you please review the attached draft?
Could you…
Often polite enough on its own when the surrounding email is friendly and respectful.
Example: Could you send me the latest version?
Would you mind…
A softer request, normally followed by an -ing form.
Example: Would you mind checking the figures once more?
I’d appreciate it if you could…
Useful for a courteous request that matters to you, without sounding commanding.
Example: I’d appreciate it if you could reply by Wednesday.
When you have a moment, could you…
Softens a non-urgent request by acknowledging the recipient’s time.
Example: When you have a moment, could you look over the agenda?
Please could you…
Common and natural in British English, though less typical in some other varieties.
Example: Please could you send the invoice again?
May I ask you to…
Formal and courteous, useful when requesting a specific action.
Example: May I ask you to update the contact details on the form?
I’d be grateful if you could…
Polite and fairly formal, suitable for requests in business or administrative correspondence.
Example: I’d be grateful if you could confirm your attendance.
Why “Please Kindly” Can Sound Overdone
“Please” and “kindly” both soften a request, so using them together can sound redundant or overly formal. In most modern business emails, one is enough.
Politeness also comes from the whole sentence. A clear request, reasonable deadline, and brief thanks can sound more considerate than adding extra courtesy words.
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Search for another way to say it or find the opposite.