Cool MateBeg pardon vs Pardon
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Beg pardon
FormalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Pardon
Top 2,000 (common)
Most formal: Beg pardonMost common: Pardon
| Beg pardon | Pardon | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //bɛg ˈpɑːdn//🇺🇸 //bɛg ˈpɑːrdən// | 🇬🇧 //ˈpɑː.dən//🇺🇸 //ˈpɑrdən// |
| Meaning | Say 'excuse me' or 'sorry' to get someone's attention. | To excuse someone for something they did wrong. |
| Example | I beg pardon, could you repeat that? | Could you please PARDON my interruption during the meeting? |
| Register | Formal | Neutral |
| How common | Beyond 10,000 (less common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| Collocations | beg pardon for, beg pardon politely, beg pardon in conversation | pardon me, pardon my interruption, pardon my mistake |
| Antonyms | - | blame, condemn, punish |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'pardon me', which is more casual., Overusing in informal contexts., Not using it at all when needing to interrupt. | Confused with 'forgive' - 'pardon' is more formal., Used inappropriately in casual conversations., Omitting the object, e.g., saying 'pardon?' without context. |
| Usage notes | Use 'beg pardon' in formal settings or when being polite. It may sound outdated in casual conversation. | Use 'pardon' in formal situations or when asking for forgiveness. Less common in casual settings. |
Frequently asked questions: Beg pardon vs Pardon
What's the difference between Beg pardon and Pardon?
Beg pardon: Say 'excuse me' or 'sorry' to get someone's attention. Pardon: To excuse someone for something they did wrong.
Which is more formal: Beg pardon and Pardon?
Beg pardon is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Beg pardon and Pardon?
Pardon is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Beg pardon: I beg pardon, could you repeat that? Pardon: Could you please PARDON my interruption during the meeting?
Can I use Beg pardon and Pardon interchangeably?
Not always. Beg pardon and Pardon 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.