If you could just.....

[redhatnoknickers]

If you could just fill this in.
If you could just put in your PIN number.
If you could just introduce yourself.

Am I the only one who hates this? If....then..... Surely there has to be a consequence!

[Hassled]

I see it more as "only" - so if you can do nothing else, could you at least enter your PIN?

[redhatnoknickers]

Hmmm I see what you mean Hassled, though doesn't that signal exasperation? I have visions of shop assistants despairing over the card machine now!

[WorldWildWifeFund]

Could the implied consequence be something like "that would be good", or "I would be pleased"?

[redhatnoknickers]

Yes exactly World, it's half a sentence!

[redhatnoknickers]

Yes exactly World, it's half a sentence!

[flukeshot]

"PIN number" bothers me more!

[prism]

I remember remarking on this very thing in the mid-80s (I am an old pedant with a long memory- terrible combination), and it did seem to go away, so with any luck it will do so again. Of course it will only be replaced by some other linguistic sore thumb.

[wowfudge]

Half a sentence doesn't bother me as we do it all the time; it's the indirect, trying-too-hard to be polite way of asking. There's nothing wrong with, 'please fill this is', or, 'please enter your PIN'.