Kindly/kindness; Abbreviations

Kindly/kindness

Dear Dr English

I often see the words "kindly" and "kindness" in messages sent to me, for example: "Kindly send me … " or "Thank you for your kindness". Should we put "kindly" when we ask someone to do something? Please advise.

Thanks and best regards,

Katechuda Kijjaharn

In principle you are correct! Although not an actual requirement, the adverb "kindly" is so frequently used in this situation that it is virtually a standard form of request.

"Kindness", as an abstract noun meaning "the quality of being kind", is not a count noun; when used as a count noun, as here, it means a specific kind act and is frequently met with in expressions of appreciation.

Abbreviations

Dear Dr English

What do "aka", "RSVP" and "asap" stand for?

Wattana Uttarawiroj

The number of abbreviations seems to grow and grow, especially in this digital age. Many are created to make text messaging faster and easier on the thumb. Those you mention are common and have been around for quite some time. The first, "aka", comes from "also known as"; it is used to say that someone or something has an alternative name:

Henry Kent, aka "the computer guru".

Margaret Thatcher, aka 'The Iron Lady".

RSVP comes from the French "répondez s'il vous plaît", literally "reply if it pleases you", thus: "please reply". It is traditionally printed on invitation cards as a request to the recipient so that a hostess may get some idea of the numbers to expect. The English Channel poses no barrier to such borrowings, thought very sophisticated in either direction but perhaps a little snobbish in England, except for very common ones like RSVP itself.

Some of my older readers may remember telegrams. You paid for them by the letter, so you wrote as shortly as you could. "Asap", the initials of "as soon as possible", was one example of that "telegraphese" and is just as useful on today's mobiles:

Inform me of any changes asap.

Pls reply asap.

By Dr English

drenglish_7@hotmail.com