How will you put it in chaste English?

Question

A business communication from Britain says: “We will ACTION your request/ instructions” meaning “we will act according to or carry out your request/ instruction”.

I find the word “Action” in this context very odd.

And I am not quite satisfied with the alternatives I have suggested.


If I make a request or give you some instructions, how will you say in chaste English that you will carry out my instructions or you will act according to it? Please note that my requests / instructions are acceptable to you.

My objection is to the use of "action" as a verb.

Answer 1

Hi,

You do not say from which country you write, which would be useful in answering this question. The sentence which puzzles you is written in poor English, this is common in the business world. Business people are often not well educated and like to bolster their sense of self-importance by such usage. Normal usage would be to say "We will act upon your..." Incidentally your use of "chaste" is rather unusual it would have, perhaps, been better to use "correct English."

Hope that helps

Answer 2

You're right, they're wrong, just because a person is British doesn't mean they speak the language well and businesses are particularly bad at mangling grammar.
"We will act upon your instructions...."
"We will carry out your instructions...."

P.S. I love "chaste English" but "proper English " or " correct English" would be better phrases.

Answer 3

I think they should have said act on your request not action your request. Could that be it? Anyway it means they will do something provided you ask for it. By the way marketing language is infecting our everyday speech, if you thought that example is bad try browsing through this link for a few other beauties:

www.weaselwords.com.au

Enjoy it.

Answer 4

Very cruel of you to put such a question and even cause the demoninlove to put his depleted grey cells to work!!
However I would reply to your instructions by sending a very short telegram including the bone of contention - "Action " (My bosses will slurely not favour verbosity as the key word is increase profits Ha Ha)
"Your missive received, accepted, and noted for strict action and compliance"

Answer 5

Don't believe everything you read

Did you not ever think that some words are just made up ?

And that they don't actually make sense?

Thats why they invented Advertising Agencies.

Answer 6

"We will carry forth your request/instructions"
Hows that? Better? =D

Answer 7

a classic example of bad "business" english.

to put it in simplest terms just say, "I'll do it".