Cool MateBeg pardon vs Excuse me
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Beg pardon
FormalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Excuse me
Top 1,000 (very common)
Most formal: Beg pardonMost common: Excuse me
| Beg pardon | Excuse me | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //bɛg ˈpɑːdn//🇺🇸 //bɛg ˈpɑːrdən// | 🇬🇧 //ɪkˈskjuːz miː//🇺🇸 //ɪkˈskjus mi// |
| Meaning | Say 'excuse me' or 'sorry' to get someone's attention. | A polite way to get someone's attention or ask for something. |
| Example | I beg pardon, could you repeat that? | Excuse me, could you please help me? |
| Register | Formal | Neutral |
| How common | Beyond 10,000 (less common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| Collocations | beg pardon for, beg pardon politely, beg pardon in conversation | excuse me, please, excuse me for interrupting, excuse me, do you mind? |
| Antonyms | - | ignore me, overlook, disregard |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'pardon me', which is more casual., Overusing in informal contexts., Not using it at all when needing to interrupt. | Using 'excuse me' in a rude way, Saying 'excuse me' too loudly in quiet places, Not using it when walking past someone |
| Usage notes | Use 'beg pardon' in formal settings or when being polite. It may sound outdated in casual conversation. | 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. |
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Frequently asked questions: Beg pardon vs Excuse me
What's the difference between Beg pardon and Excuse me?
Beg pardon: Say 'excuse me' or 'sorry' to get someone's attention. Excuse me: A polite way to get someone's attention or ask for something.
Which is more formal: Beg pardon and Excuse me?
Beg pardon is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Beg pardon and Excuse me?
Excuse me is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Beg pardon: I beg pardon, could you repeat that? Excuse me: Excuse me, could you please help me?
Can I use Beg pardon and Excuse me interchangeably?
Not always. Beg pardon and Excuse 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.