Usage and Grammar - The Chicago Manual of Style

Or, could you please close the door? A. I don't see much difference. But I would suppose that “would” is more polite, because it expresses the idea ... SubscribetoTheChicagoManualofStyleOnline Signupforfreetrial NEW!CMOSforPerfectItProofreadingSoftware CMOSMerch!StylishHolidayGiftsforYouandYours EverydayStylish Connect FollowonTwitter  LikeonFacebook  ContactUs Link Downloadthisicontolinkto TheChicagoManualofStyleOnline fromyoursite. Twitter Tweetsby@ChicagoManual UsageandGrammar Q.Whatistheproperuseof“would”or“could” insentencestructure?Forexample,wouldyoupleaseclosethedoor?Or,couldyoupleaseclosethedoor? A.Idon’tseemuchdifference.ButIwouldsupposethat“would”ismorepolite,becauseitexpressestheideaofprobability,andofwillingness,andofthedesirethatsomethingbedone,whereas“could”ismoreintherealmofability(yesIcan). AndaccordingtotheAmericanHeritageDictionary,“would”isusedtomakeapoliterequest.Butthenagain,asimilarthingissaidabout“could”:“Usedtoindicatetentativenessorpoliteness.Icouldbewrong.Couldyoucomeoverhere?” Now,asfarasI’mconcerned,itbecomesthenamatterofcontextandtone.Lookatthedifferencebetweenthesetwosentences,forexample: Wouldyoudomeafavor? Wouldyoupleasejustshutup. Andeven“will”couldbeusedinterchangeablywith“would”or“could.” Perhaps“could”and“would”arejustbothvyingforwhatisasortofawkwardsubjunctivemood,tryingtoputacommandintothemodeofthehypothetical,toincreasethepossibilitiesofexpression—towardeitherpolitenessorirony(e.g.,changingthetenorof“Pleaseclosethedoor”). TheCMOSShopTalkBlog CMOS editorssharewritingtips,editingideas,interviews,quizzes,andmore! SnowDay,ChicagoStyle NEWfromCHICAGO VisittheCMOSBookstore CharitableGivingHelpsAdvanceOurMission NewWebinars!TrainwithEditorsCanada BooksforStudents,Writers,andEditors