How to Sign "More" and "More Please" in Sign Language

In American Sign Language (ASL), "more" is a single sign made with both hands, and "more please" is simply the sign MORE followed by the sign PLEASE. Below is how to form each one, how to combine them, and what to check if you are signing to someone over a video call.

First, which sign language?

There is no single universal sign language. This guide describes ASL, the sign language most widely used in the United States and English-speaking Canada. Other sign languages, such as British Sign Language (BSL), use different signs for "more" and "please." If you are communicating with someone who uses a different sign language, or a regional variant of ASL, their sign may look different from the one described here.

How to sign MORE in ASL

• 1. Shape both hands into a flattened "O": bring the fingertips of each hand together so they touch the tip of the thumb.
• 2. Hold both hands in front of your body at about chest height, with the fingertips of each hand pointing toward the other hand.
• 3. Bring the fingertips of both hands together so they tap.
• 4. Separate the hands slightly and tap them together again. A repeated tap is the usual form.

The handshape matters more than precise speed or height. Keep the fingertips bunched together rather than spread open, and make sure the two hands actually meet.

How to sign PLEASE in ASL

• 1. Open your dominant hand flat, fingers together, thumb alongside.
• 2. Place the palm flat against the center of your chest.
• 3. Move the hand in a small circle while keeping the palm on or very close to your chest.

Use your dominant hand (the one you write with) for PLEASE. A relaxed, polite facial expression supports the meaning; facial expression is part of how ASL conveys tone.

Putting it together: "more please"

Sign MORE, then sign PLEASE. There is no separate sign needed to join them, and you do not sign a word for "and" between them. Signing PLEASE first and MORE second is also understood. In context, such as pointing to or looking at the item you want, the two signs together clearly communicate a polite request for more.

Sign | Hands | Handshape | Movement

MORE | Both hands | Flattened "O" (fingertips touching thumb) | Fingertips tap together, usually repeated

PLEASE | Dominant hand | Flat open hand, palm on chest | Small circle on the chest

Common mistakes

• Spreading the fingers open on MORE instead of bunching the fingertips together.
• Letting the hands drift apart without tapping, which makes MORE harder to recognize.
• Signing PLEASE with a fist instead of a flat hand. A closed fist circling on the chest is a different sign, SORRY.
• Rushing the two signs together so the transition between them is unclear.

A note on baby sign

MORE and PLEASE are often among the first signs taught to babies and toddlers. Young children frequently produce an approximate version, such as clapping or tapping open hands together for MORE. That is a normal stage of learning; adults can keep modeling the standard form. The adult signs described above are the same ones used in everyday ASL conversation.

Signing "more please" on a video call

If you are signing to someone over a webcam, the signs are only useful if the other person can see them clearly. Having camera access in your browser or app only confirms the camera is available; it does not guarantee your hands are in frame or easy to read.

• Frame yourself so both hands and your chest are visible, not just your face. Both MORE and PLEASE happen at chest height.
• Light your hands and face from the front so the handshapes are not lost in shadow.
• Use a plain physical background that contrasts with your skin and clothing. Busy backgrounds make finger details harder to see.
• Be cautious with virtual background or blur effects. They can partly erase moving hands and fingers, which can make signs unclear. Test with the effect off if signs look smeared or cut off.
• Sign at a steady pace. Low frame rates or a weak connection can blur fast movement, so a deliberate tap for MORE is easier to read.
• Use your app's self-view or preview to check that each sign is fully visible before the conversation.

Limitations of this guide

No source material specific to this article was supplied, so the descriptions above reflect widely documented ASL forms rather than a cited dictionary entry. Written descriptions cannot fully capture movement. To confirm your signing, compare it with a video from an ASL dictionary or, ideally, ask a Deaf signer or qualified ASL instructor, especially if you will be communicating with someone in a specific community or using a sign language other than ASL.