Do whatever you want
This sentence can carry a negative tone (highly probable). Making it sound that someone is fed-up and/or simply doesn't care. Especially after one has had a heated discussion/argument.
How can I tell that in a manner that it carries a neutral and preferable a positive tone?
Plenty of options for this one. All of the following can be made to sound snarky if said with a sarcastic tone, but none of them carry an inherent negative connotation.
It's up to you. OR I'll leave it up to you.
It's your call.
I'll let you decide.
Let me know what you prefer.
It's up to your discretion.
You're free to choose.
...and more.
The choice between these depends a little bit on context. If you're trying to convey that you want them to choose, but that you don't need a say in the choice, I'd personally choose "Let me know what you prefer," because I want to stay in the loop.
If, on the other hand, I'm trying to say "I don't care what you do" in a polite way (simply saying that I'm not affected by the choice), I'd lean toward "It's up to you."
Again, it depends on the situation, so when deciding which to use, it's up to you. ;)
A neutral version would be, "As you wish." A more positive spin on it would be something along the lines of "I'm sure you will make the right decision" or "No matter what you decide, I will back you up."
The phrase feel free has a fairly neutral to positive tone, as in
Feel free to do whatever you would like.
But do bear in mind that almost any phrase can be negative when delivered with a good dose of sarcastic tone.
In legal documents you might see
"Please govern yourself accordingly."
Colloquially, you might write
"Please act accordingly", or just "Act accordingly."
I think these are quite neutral but much more formal.
Another neutral phrase is "It's your call" (or You make the call), about which Urban Dictionary says
It's your decision
Nobody can make this decision for you - it's your call. It's your call, just say what you want.
How about Proceed as you see (or think) fit?
Oxford Dictionaries:
see (or think) fit: consider it correct or acceptable to do something
Proceed as you see (or think) fit demonstrates confidence and trust in the judgment of the other party. And it's empowering.
Go ahead is something that I hear pretty frequently these days. It mightn't be very formal, but it's not negative anyways.
From LDOCE:
go ahead
phrasal verb
1 to start to do something, especially after planning it or asking permission to do it:
- go ahead and do something
I went ahead and arranged the trip anyway.2 ...
3 spoken used to give someone permission to do something, or let them speak before you:
'Do you mind if I open the window?' 'No, go ahead.'
If you want to leave, go right ahead.
I would suggest considering don't mind me.
To tell someone to carry on with what they were doing or about to do.
Don't interrupt what you are doing on account of someone; pay no attention to someone or their words, actions, or behaviors. (TFT)
