We call on speakers, writers, and educators to remove the word “please” from the English language.

For many of us, “please” has stopped feeling polite and started feeling sharp. It can come across as a command dressed up as kindness, or as a pressure word that makes everyday requests feel tense and uncomfortable. Instead of creating respect, it can add stress and make ordinary communication feel worse.

Language should help people speak clearly and treat each other well. If a word repeatedly causes discomfort and feels like a trigger, it is worth asking why we keep using it as if it were harmless. Politeness should come from tone, respect, and the way we treat one another, not from one small word that can carry the wrong feeling.

We believe English can be just as courteous without “please.” We can ask for things directly, calmly, and with genuine care. That would make everyday conversation simpler, less stressful, and more honest for everyone.

By signing this petition, we ask for a shift away from using “please” as a default part of English and toward clearer, kinder ways of speaking that do not cause stress to the people who hear them.