“Please give this a read” means “please read the text I’m sharing or referring to.” The word “this” depends on context: it could mean a document, article, message, or another piece of writing. The wording is direct and conversational; “please” makes it a request.
What does “please give this a read” mean?
It is a request for someone to read a particular text. The phrase does not name the text on its own, so the recipient needs to know what “this” refers to—perhaps an attached document, a linked article, or a message included below.
A Library of Congress-hosted excerpt from EveryDay Cinema shows the phrase in an email: “Hi Tim, This is what I have as of tonight—please give this a read. Thanks.” In that example, the surrounding email identifies what the recipient is being asked to read. Read the excerpt at the Library of Congress.
What tone does it convey?
The phrasing is direct and conversational, while “please” signals that the speaker is making a request. A usage guide describes “Give This a Read” as encouraging, professional, and informative, but that is an editorial characterization rather than a rule about how every reader will interpret it. Grammerway’s phrase guide gives the example: “Please give this a read; it has detailed instructions for the new software update.”
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For a clear, considerate request, identify the item or point to it nearby: “Please give the attached instructions a read” is more specific than “Please give this a read” when the context is not already obvious.
What can you say instead?
Choose an alternative based on how formal or direct you want to sound. Grammerway suggests these options for more formal or professional settings:
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| Wording | How it comes across |
|---|---|
| “Please take a look.” | A polite, less explicit request; the surrounding context should make clear what the recipient should look at or read. |
| “I’d like to show you.” | Frames the text as something you want to present; specify or attach the item so the recipient knows what to open. |
| “I recommend reviewing.” | A more formal-sounding suggestion; name the document or material being reviewed. |
“Check this out” is another possibility, though the guide characterizes it as generally informal. These are choices, not fixed etiquette rules: the best wording depends on the audience and whether the text is already clear from the conversation.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When should you clarify “this”?
Use the phrase without extra explanation when the item is unmistakable—for example, when you have just attached one document or pasted one passage. If the recipient could reasonably wonder what “this” means, name the item or point to it directly. The phrase itself does not reveal whether the requested text is an email, article, set of instructions, or something else.
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