10 Polite Ways to Say “Please Be On Time”

Telling someone to arrive on time politely can be tricky. After all, you don’t want to offend them before they’ve even arrived. So, is “please be on time” the most polite phrase you can use?

In this article, we’ll provide some great alternatives to “please be on time” that you can include in various situations.

• Please arrive in a timely manner
• I look forward to seeing you at [time] sharp
• Don’t be late!
• Are you comfortable meeting me at [time]
• I look forward to seeing you at the specified time
• Please be on schedule
• I would appreciate it if you could be on schedule
• Could you arrive at [time] on the dot?
• I’d like you to be on time
• I would appreciate it if we could start at the specified time

Keep reading to learn more about these synonyms for “please be on time.” Then, you’ll know how to politely tell guests to be on time without worrying about offending them.

1. Please Arrive in a Timely Manner

You never know what situation might arise when you need someone to be on time. In the most formal of situations, something like “please arrive in a timely manner” will go a long way.

“In a timely manner” is a very professional phrase. It shows that you expect someone to show up at the time discussed; otherwise, you will consider them late.

Generally, this phrase works when setting up business meetings. You can include it in an email to replace “please be on time” when you want to sound more professional.

Here is an email example to show you how to use it:

Dear Michael,

Please arrive in a timely manner for tomorrow’s meeting at 3. We really hope you can be there to discuss matters.

All the best,
Sara Celia

2. I Look Forward to Seeing You at [Time] Sharp

This phrase is a good example of how to say “please be on time” professionally. Including “sharp” at the end of the phrase lets someone know they must arrive at the specified time and no later.

So, “I look forward to seeing you at [time] sharp” is a great way to get someone to be on time. It’s polite and formal, making it suitable when arranging a meeting in most formal contexts.

You can also refer to this example to see how to phrase your email:

Dear Roger,

I look forward to seeing you at 4 o’clock sharp on Monday. It’s vital that you arrive on time for the meeting.

Kind regards,
Mr. Smitty

3. Don’t Be Late!

Of course, not every phrase needs to be formal. “Don’t be late” is a great informal alternative most people use when sending out invitations to friends and family.

You can include it in invitation wording when you want to sound as friendly as possible. It’s a fun phrase that shows you want people to stick to the time guidelines even though your party is more casual.

Also, this email will demonstrate how to use it in an invitation:

Dear Guests,

You are invited to join us for our wedding anniversary at 3 p.m. on Tuesday the 13th! Don’t be late!

See you soon,
Mr. & Mrs. Bennett

4. Are You Comfortable Meeting Me at [Time]

If you need to know how to say “please be on time” politely, you can’t go wrong with this one. Asking a simple question like “are you comfortable meeting me at [time]” shows that you want to check someone’s availability before arranging anything.

It’s a great phrase to include in most casual contexts. It shows you value the person you’re arranging an appointment with, especially if you know they’re quite busy.

You can check out this email example if you’re still confused:

Dear Rebecca,

Are you comfortable meeting me at 2 still? If not, then we can rearrange the appointment for another time.

Best wishes,
Dr. Janetti

5. I Look Forward to Seeing You at the Specified Time

You should always try to encourage people to be on time when possible. Generally, “I look forward to seeing you at the specified time” is a good way to do exactly that.

It shows that you would appreciate punctuality by the recipient. However, it is not a direct synonym for “please be on time.” Instead, it’s more of a demanding phrase showing that you expect someone to arrive at the specified time.

Here is a quick example to help you understand it better:

Dear Joseph,

The only time we can get this done is at six o’clock. I look forward to seeing you at the specified time.

Kind regards,
Tamara

6. Please Be On Schedule

A more simple alternative to “please be on time” is “please be on schedule.” The only thing that changes is “time” to “schedule,” which is great to include when you want to remain formal in your writing.

You may also refer to the following email sample to help you:

Dear Rosie,

Please be on schedule on Friday to ensure that everything runs smoothly. Let me know if you can’t make it.

Yours,
Ms. Rana

7. I Would Appreciate It if You Could Be on Schedule

You can also include more professional wording when asking someone to be on time politely. You could try “I would appreciate it if you could be on schedule” to mix things up in formal writing.

We recommend using this one when emailing employees. It’s quite an authoritative phrase, so it works best if you’re the boss and want to ensure that people arrive on time for meetings.

Here is an example email to show you how to use it correctly:

Dear Helen,

We will meet at two on Wednesday. I would appreciate it if you could be on schedule for the meeting.

Best regards,
Joanna Woodley

8. Could You Arrive at [Time] on the Dot?

You can keep things casual with “on the dot” in the phrase. It’s great to include in an invitation when you want to let friends know that you expect to see them at a certain time.

Overall, “could you arrive at [time] on the dot?” is a great question to politely ask someone to be on time. However, you won’t have much luck using something like this formally. That’s why we recommend sticking to informal situations with it.

This example will show you how an invitation might look that includes the phrase:

Dear Friends,

I can’t wait to see you all at my birthday party! Could you arrive at three on the dot to celebrate with me?

Best wishes,
Sarah

9. I’d Like You to Be on Time

“I’d like you to be on time” works well when you’re writing business emails. It shows that you expect someone to follow the schedule, even though they may be quite busy.

Of course, since this is quite a demanding phrase, you should only use it if you’re someone’s boss. It works when emailing employees to arrange meetings with them at specific times.

Perhaps this email sample will also help you understand it:

Dear Paul,

I’d like you to be on time for the meeting, please. All the details are attached to this message.

Kind regards,
Adam

10. I Would Appreciate It if We Could Start at the Specified Time

Finally, you may have already set up a meeting at a specific time. So, you need to clarify this with “I would appreciate it if we could start at the specified time.” Then, it shows the recipient you cannot change the time of the plans.

It’s great to include this in business emails. It works better than “please be on time” when you’ve already arranged the time of a meeting and need people to attend without checking if they’re busy first.

Here is a quick glimpse at how to use the phrase if you’re still stuck:

Dear Wendy,

I would appreciate it if we could start at the specified time. Let me know if that’s not possible, though.

All the best,
Daniel