RSVP is an
initialism
An acronym is a type of abbreviation consisting of a phrase whose only pronounced elements are the initial letters or initial sounds of words inside that phrase. Acronyms are often spelled with the initial letter of each word in all caps wi ...
derived from the
French phrase ''"",'' meaning "please respond" (literally "respond if it pleases you"). It is typically used to request confirmation of an invitation. Occasionally, the phrase "please RSVP" is used, which is a case of
RAS syndrome
RAS syndrome, where ''RAS'' stands for redundant acronym syndrome (making the phrase "RAS syndrome" autological), is the redundant use of one or more of the words that make up an acronym in conjunction with the abbreviated form. This means, in ...
(a
pleonasm
Pleonasm (; , ) is redundancy in linguistic expression, such as "black darkness", "burning fire", "the man he said", or "vibrating with motion". It is a manifestation of tautology by traditional rhetorical criteria. Pleonasm may also be used f ...
), as "" means "please".
"RSVP" is no longer widely used in France, where it is considered formal and old-fashioned; it is more common to use "", meaning "
our
Our or OUR may refer to:
* The possessive form of " we"
Places
* Our (river), in Belgium, Luxembourg, and Germany
* Our, Belgium, a village in Belgium
* Our, Jura, a commune in France
Other uses
* Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR), a governm ...
answer is expected before …" In French-speaking parts of Canada, such as
Quebec
Quebec is Canada's List of Canadian provinces and territories by area, largest province by area. Located in Central Canada, the province shares borders with the provinces of Ontario to the west, Newfoundland and Labrador to the northeast, ...
, it is still commonly used. In addition, the French initialism "" is frequently used to represent "" ("please").
Variations
The phrase "RSVP, regrets only" (or simply "Regrets only") is a modern variation that implies that not receiving an answer will be taken as an acceptance. It is used in cases where most invitations are assumed to be accepted and is meant to reduce the amount of communication required. The phrase "regrets only" refers to the assumption that a declination will be worded with some variation of "We regret that we cannot attend …".
Before sending an RSVP, the host may mail out a
save the date card to inform guests of the date and location of the celebration. This may be used when the event will be held considerably in the future or in a distant location and serves to allow for travel plans.
Digital RSVPs
Digital RSVPs have become common, particularly for wedding invitations.
See also
*
iCalendar
The Internet Calendaring and Scheduling Core Object Specification (iCalendar) is a media type which allows users to store and exchange calendaring and scheduling information such as events, to-dos, journal entries, and free/busy information, ...
References
{{Reflist
Etiquette
Letters (message)