Cool MateExcuse me vs My apologies vs Pardon me
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Excuse me
Top 1,000 (very common)
My apologies
Top 2,000 (common)
Pardon me
FormalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Most formal: Pardon meMost common: Excuse me
| Excuse me | My apologies | Pardon me | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ɪkˈskjuːz miː//🇺🇸 //ɪkˈskjus mi// | 🇬🇧 //maɪ əˈpɒlədʒiz//🇺🇸 //maɪ əˈpɑlədʒiz// | 🇬🇧 //ˈpɑːdən miː//🇺🇸 //ˈpɑrdən mi// |
| Meaning | A polite way to get someone's attention or ask for something. | I'm sorry. | Excuse me |
| Example | Excuse me, could you please help me? | My apologies for the mistake. | Pardon me, could you please repeat that? |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Formal |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| Collocations | excuse me, please, excuse me for interrupting, excuse me, do you mind? | extend my apologies, offer my apologies, express my apologies | pardon my interruption, pardon my dust, pardon my mistakes |
| Antonyms | ignore me, overlook, disregard | No apology, Unapologetic, No regrets | - |
| Common mistakes | Using 'excuse me' in a rude way, Saying 'excuse me' too loudly in quiet places, Not using it when walking past someone | Confused with 'my excuse' which has a different meaning., Used too casually in formal settings. | Used incorrectly in casual situations, where 'excuse me' is more appropriate., Mispronounced or said too quickly, losing clarity., Omitting 'please' when seeking favor or attention. |
| Usage notes | Use this phrase when you need to interrupt or ask for help politely. It's appropriate in most situations but avoid using it in very formal contexts. | Use this phrase to express regret; appropriate in most situations but more common in written or formal contexts. | Used to politely ask someone to repeat or to get attention. Formal context, often used when someone is interrupting or needs to ask for clarification. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Excuse me vs My apologies vs Pardon me
What's the difference between Excuse me, My apologies, and Pardon me?
Excuse me: A polite way to get someone's attention or ask for something. My apologies: I'm sorry. Pardon me: Excuse me
Which is more formal: Excuse me, My apologies, and Pardon me?
Pardon me is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Excuse me, My apologies, and Pardon me?
Excuse me is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Excuse me: Excuse me, could you please help me? My apologies: My apologies for the mistake. Pardon me: Pardon me, could you please repeat that?
Can I use Excuse me, My apologies, and Pardon me interchangeably?
Not always. Excuse me, My apologies, and Pardon me are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.