Polite phrase to ask for details [closed]

Question

Usually, I send to a client "Cover Letter" with phrase "May I get the details?", if I need to get more information about his project. Suddenly, I have discovered that it is not very polite. And now I can not understand - which phrase is best to polite and formal request for the information?

I found some variants:

1. Could you please give me the details?

2. Could I please get the details?

3. May I please get the details?

4. Do you mind if I get the details?

I can not decide which is best to use in this situation, and will be acceptable both in US and British English.

Answer 1

The first seems most polite, because it draws attention away from your own needs.

Answer 2

'I should be grateful if you would send me the details.'

Answer 3

I see nothing wrong with "May I get the details?"—but customs differ in different environments.

I'm fond of "Would it be possible for me to get . . .?"

This does my correspondent the courtesy of recognizing that what I'm requesting is something of an imposition and may not be "possible" (or, more likely, convenient) for him with his busy schedule.

At the same time it presents a mild challenge: nobody likes to admit that anything is impossible—unless, of course, it actually is impossible, for reasons which he will be happy to supply, in order to displace my disappointment on some third party.

Answer 4

The context would affect it; but for e.g. in a case where you are asking them to file a ticket:

Note that you can file a bug report here{link to url}, please include all relevant details to help us in our investigation.

This points out why you are asking for the info. If there is specific information that people tend to leave out, you should refer to that (include ... details such as X, Y & Z) to assist them in figuring out what is pertinent.

Answer 5

In American English, there is nothing impolite in your statement.

The term get might, just might, be though of as a bit demanding, but it would have to be a very sensitive recipient to take offense at it.

The word have is slightly gentler. Adding please almost always helps.

"May I please have the details?"

As noted in other answers, adding reasons and how this will benefit the responder can also help achieve a positive reaction.

Answer 6

"Pass along" is a good alternative to give or get.

Answer 7

In my opinion "I/We would appreciate more details" is a good substitute. Treating the "details" linguistically as a physical object that someone "gives" to you, and as something that you "get", seems to be a source of the informality; the phrasing I am offering avoids doing this, at least explicitly.

Note also that this is not a request, but rather a statement of what you would prefer. This (in my mind) adds formality.