“Please sign and return” is a good way to get someone to send you a signed back agreement. It’s a polite way to order them to sign something before returning it. This article will explore some alternatives you can use in your emails.
Polite ways to say “please sign and return” are “please address this,” “please get this signed,” and “please sign when you get a chance.” All of these phrases use “please” to show that you’re trying to remain polite and civil, no matter how long you’ve been waiting for the signature.
1. Please Address This
“Please address this” is a simple yet effective way to ensure someone does what you ask of them. You may want to include specific instructions if someone has a habit of failing to understand your assignment or order.
“Please address this” simply shows that the recipient has to do something. It doesn’t specifically tell them what they need to do.
- Dear Russell,
- I have attached the document that you need to sign. Please address this as soon as possible and return it to me.
- All the best,
- Ryan
- Dear Bradley,
- Please address this document as quickly as you can. I need it to be signed by the end of your shift today.
- Kind regards,
- Craig
- Dear Carlton,
- This document needs to be signed. I cannot wait any longer for it to be handled. Please address this ASAP.
- Best wishes,
- William
2. Please Get This Signed
“Please get this signed” is a great phrase to use. It shows that you want someone to sign a document without being too pushy. It’s a great one to remain polite because it ensures you don’t sound too bossy.
- Dear Tommy,
- I have reattached the document to encourage you to look into it and decide what you want to do. Please get this signed.
- Kind regards,
- Nicole
- Dear Brad,
- Please refer to the attached document. It provides you with all the new rules you can expect. Please get this signed.
- All the best,
- Rich
- Dear Tia,
- I have attached the document I need from you. I hope you don’t mind me saying this, but please get this signed.
- Best wishes,
- Clair
3. Please Sign When You Get a Chance
“Please sign when you get a chance” is another great alternative that allows someone to sign when they have time rather than right away. It puts less pressure on someone. It also appreciates that they might be fairly busy when they received the email.
- Dear Adam,
- Here is the file you asked for. It needs a signature to show you’ve read it. Please sign when you get a chance.
- Kind regards,
- Mathew
- Dear Mel,
- I have attached the file that the boss would like all employees to review. Please sign when you get a chance.
- All the best,
- Michael
- Dear Evie,
- This is the file I was talking about. It’s very important, so read it carefully. Please sign when you get a chance.
- Best wishes,
- Katie
4. Please Return This to Me Signed
“Please return this to me signed” is a great alternative you can use. It shows that you want someone to complete the task by signing the document you sent across.
- Dear Sian,
- Please return this to me signed. I would like it on my desk by the end of the day, so email it or print it off by then.
- Kind regards,
- Ewan
- Dear Patrick,
- Please return this to me signed. I cannot wait any longer. Every other employee has it signed and ready to go.
- All the best,
- Gilbert
- Dear Sarah,
- I have attached the file that requires your signature. You can do it electronically. Please return this to me signed.
- Best wishes,
- Tom
5. Could You Please Sign This for Me?
“Could you please sign this for me?” is a great synonym in most cases. It’s one of the most polite ones you can use because it starts with “could you please.” This works well when you want to remain friendly and polite over email.
- Dear Stan,
- Could you please sign this for me? I have asked everyone else to do it. You are the only person I’m still waiting on.
- Kind regards,
- Brian
- Dear Chrissy,
- Could you please sign this for me? I appreciate that you’re busy, but it shouldn’t take more than a few minutes.
- All the best,
- Freya
- Dear Alex,
- Could you please sign this for me? I would like to get all of the reports filed by the end of the day.
- Best wishes,
- Felicia
6. Do You Mind Sending This Back Once Signed?
“Do you mind sending this back once signed?” is a great alternative. It shows that you would like the document, but you expect it to be signed before you receive it. The instructions couldn’t be clearer when you use a question like this.
- Dear Lauren,
- I have attached the document that I would like you to review. Do you mind sending this back once signed?
- Kind regards,
- Rob
- Dear Julia,
- The information attached is sensitive, but it does require a signature from you. Do you mind sending this back once signed?
- All the best,
- Romanov
- Dear Valerie,
- I need you to look through the following documents. Do you mind sending them back once signed?
- Best wishes,
- Samson
7. I Need This Signed ASAP
“I need this signed ASAP” is a bit more demanding. It’s not quite as polite as the others, but it shows there’s a bit of urgency about the thing someone needs to sign. Most people will respond positively to a phrase like this.
- Dear Frank,
- Here is the file that you need to review. I need this signed ASAP. Your signature will show me that you’ve read and understood it.
- Kind regards,
- Thomas
- Dear Elizabeth,
- I need this signed ASAP. It will show that you’ve understood what is asked of you. Should you breach the contract, you will be terminated.
- All the best,
- William
- Dear Harry,
- I have attached the file to show you what to expect from our new protocols. I need this signed ASAP
- Best wishes,
- Katherine
8. I Would Like This Signed and Returned
“I would like this signed and returned” is a polite way to show someone that they need their signature on the document. It works well if you want to remain friendly and polite by saying, “I would like.”
- Dear Phil,
- Below you will find a box for your signature to show that you’ve read the new rules. I would like this signed and returned.
- Kind regards,
- Bea
- Dear Ms. Kingsnorth,
- I have attached the document that has been going around the office for people to sign. I would like this signed and returned.
- All the best,
- Barry
- Dear Drew,
- I need you to look into these files for me. I would like them signed and returned before my shift ends today.
- Best wishes,
- Jean
9. Please Action This as Quickly as Possible
“Please action this as quickly as possible” uses “please” as the polite command. It shows that you would like someone to get on top of the document and complete it for you.
- Dear Claude,
- Please action this as quickly as possible. I do not have much time left to sit on these. The deadline is fast approaching.
- Kind regards,
- Jamal
- Dear Horace,
- I have attached the file that needs to be addressed. Please action this as quickly as possible.
- All the best,
- Toby
- Dear Megan,
- You will find that the attached file requires a signature before being sent back. Please action this as quickly as possible.
- Best wishes,
- Taylor
10. I Would Like This Back
“I would like this back” is a great way to remain approachable and friendly. “I would like” is used again to show that you’d like to receive the document once it has been signed.
- Dear Moxie,
- I would like this back with your signature as soon as you’ve read through it. Don’t keep me waiting.
- Kind regards,
- Greg
- Dear George,
- I would like this back once you’ve signed it. Please, make sure you read it carefully.
- All the best,
- Aaron
- Dear Steven,
- I would like this back as soon as possible. All it requires is a signature from you to show you’ve read it.
- Best wishes,
- Charlie
11. Please Sign It Before Returning It
“Please sign it before returning it” is a simple way to order someone to do what you’re asking for. It gives them direct instructions by saying “sign it” and “return it.” If they still get it wrong, it proves they do not read your emails.
- Dear Martin,
- I need you to look at this file and read through its content. Please sign it before returning it.
- Kind regards,
- Katrina
- Dear Shaun,
- I have attached the file for you to look at. It’s very important, so please sign it before returning it.
- All the best,
- Milo
- Dear Alice,
- I need this file back ASAP, but I need you to read through it first and confirm you understand. Please sign it before returning it.
- Best wishes,
- Pat
Martin holds a Master’s degree in Finance and International Business. He has six years of experience in professional communication with clients, executives, and colleagues. Furthermore, he has teaching experience from Aarhus University. Martin has been featured as an expert in communication and teaching on Forbes and Shopify. Read more about Martin here.
