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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask how literally you take these statements?

194 replies

KneadingKitty · 09/03/2022 10:28

If someone said to you "can you make a couple of copies of this please?" how many copies would you make?

If someone sent you an email and marked it as "urgent", what does urgent mean to you? How long would you think was acceptable to reply?

First thought of the top of your head rather than properly thinking it!

OP posts:
Original poster
KneadingKitty · 09/03/2022 10:28

Thinking over it*

OP posts:
goodforyounoonecares · 09/03/2022 10:29

2 copies
I would reply within the working day but it really depends on the context

Thatsplentyjack · 09/03/2022 10:29

A couple means 2
Urgent to me would mean do it now basically.

Etinoxaurus · 09/03/2022 10:29

2
within the day- I have my working days on my email signature and always put out of office on if I'm away

SleeplessInEngland · 09/03/2022 10:30

A couple of copies clearly means two copies on top of the original. "Urgent" means asap, and how soon that actually means depends on the nature of who's telling you.

TeaStory · 09/03/2022 10:30

A couple means 2.

Urgent means to be dealt with as soon as possible.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 09/03/2022 10:30

Couple- two.

Urgent- would depend completely on how many "urgent" requests there are. In DHs job he would often have a list of "urgent" requests that were being worked through... my job they were a rarity.

UnaLength · 09/03/2022 10:30

3 copies to be sure (couple means two to me).

Urgent - well that depends on my current workload and the context. What's urgent to someone probably isn't to most others. Unless it's my boss asking, then I'd do whatever I'm being asked to ASAP.

sadpapercourtesan · 09/03/2022 10:30

  1. A couple means two. So I'd make two. If they wanted more, they should have asked for a few.

  2. If it was marked urgent, I'd assume it needed to be dealt with immediately. And would be annoyed if I opened it and didn't consider the matter urgent.

WorraLiberty · 09/03/2022 10:30

2 copies

As soon as is reasonably possible.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 09/03/2022 10:31

Couple means two but I'd do 4 and keep 2 back incase I was asked for more.

Urgent means (to me) respond today, even if just to confirm that you are working on getting the answer if it takes time.

thelonggame · 09/03/2022 10:31

I'd say a couple is 2, and if it was marked Urgent at work I'd handle it as soon as I could that day.

Bubbles456 · 09/03/2022 10:31

A couple of copies = 2 or 3 copies

Urgent = action within the hour or as soon as is possible thereafter if in meetings etc. Certainly same day.

CruCru · 09/03/2022 10:31

I would say 2 copies.

The second depends. I’ve worked in places where everything was marked urgent (so it became meaningless). Otherwise I’d say do it today.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 09/03/2022 10:32

If someone needs an answer immediately then they need to put it into the email "can I have this data by 11am for my meeting please"

Ruinedwalks · 09/03/2022 10:32

2or 3 copies ( initially thought three as it sounds like they want roughly two so I’d do 3 to make sure.
Urgent - would be read immediately then depends on what’s in it. Definitely by end of day even if busy but some are more urgent so would be dealt with immediately. Depends on your profession though surely.

Chocoqueen · 09/03/2022 10:32

A couple means 2 but I'd probably do 3 just to be on the safe side.

With your second it would depend on what the email said - I'd probably read it straight as soon as I can and make a judgement call (though where I work you would put a deadline in the email, and if very urgent in the subject heading so the recipient knows to read and reply ASAP)

DetailMouse · 09/03/2022 10:34

A couple of copies I'd do four. I know it means two, but I'd also know they said "couple" because they don't really know how many they need Grin

Urgent emails it would very much depend who it was from, how often they send urgent emails and where I saw it as a priority in my day. If I agreed with them that it was the most urgent thing on my desk I'd do it now. However, I do think people misuse the word and also, you have to be careful not to spend so much time on "urgent" tasks that you don't have time for the important ones. Urgent and important are not the same thing.

Horriblewoman · 09/03/2022 10:34

3

I'd reply to the email acknowledging I'd received it straight away and was actioning it now.

AddictedToOlives · 09/03/2022 10:34

Definitely 2 copies

Urgent depends on context, but would communicate same day

SheWoreYellow · 09/03/2022 10:34

I’d ask how many, but do three.

Depends on how much work involved and the culture. My current workplace doesn’t over-use urgent and I’d hope for a reply within the hour.

KrisAkabusi · 09/03/2022 10:35

A couple means 2, but I'd probably do 3 to be safe.

For urgently, if I had time I'd do it immediately. If I had something else on, I'd check back to see which should take priority.

Original poster
KneadingKitty · 09/03/2022 10:35

Thank you! These are just things I've been told I was wrong for taking too literally and I couldn't understand it. Apparently for the "couple" they wanted around 5. Why didn't they specify then?! A couple is two. As for urgent, I always thought that meant put it to the top of your priority list and do it immediately.

I'm relieved now that the responses are what I thought too. Smile

OP posts:
Isaisa · 09/03/2022 10:36

A couple is 2 but I’d print 3 just in case a spare was needed for whatever reason

‘Urgent’..I’d make up my own mind how high to put it on my priority list. Some people at my workplace love to mark things as ‘urgent’ just because they want it done immediately before all the other jobs I have to do. It doesn’t mean it’s actually urgent a lot of the time IME but it definitely depends on context

RufustheFloralmissingreindeer · 09/03/2022 10:37

I’d do 3 copies

And id action the email as soon as I could (bearing in mind I might already have something urgent to do)