# Grammar that DOESN'T bother you

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-that-doesnt-bother-you/381196
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [November 20, 2006, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-that-doesnt-bother-you/381196 "2006-11-20T19:43:03Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Page:** 3

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### Author: ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)
#### Post date: [November 21, 2006, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-that-doesnt-bother-you/381196/41 "2006-11-21T18:35:10Z")

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[QUOTE=Pygmy Rugger]  
I agree with ATM machine and Pin number being “okay”. The thing that bothers me (or perhaps it’s my own confusion) is that, IIRC, RSVP is french for “reply if you please.” As in, if you feel like telling me you’re coming, that’s cool, but it’s not necessary. So, when they say please RSVP, does that mean, please respond even if you _don’t_ feel like it?  
[/QUOTE]

Yes, RSVP is literally, “respond if you please,” but “if you please” is the exact construction in English that has been shortened to simply “please.” (People still say it the old way in English from time to time, when we feel like sounding fancy, but it just means please.)

“Please RSVP” = “Please respond please.” :mad:

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