Cool MateExcuse me vs My apologies
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Excuse me
Top 1,000 (very common)
My apologies
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Excuse me
| Excuse me | My apologies | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ɪkˈskjuːz miː//🇺🇸 //ɪkˈskjus mi// | 🇬🇧 //maɪ əˈpɒlədʒiz//🇺🇸 //maɪ əˈpɑlədʒiz// |
| Meaning | A polite way to get someone's attention or ask for something. | I'm sorry. |
| Example | Excuse me, could you please help me? | My apologies for the mistake. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| Collocations | excuse me, please, excuse me for interrupting, excuse me, do you mind? | extend my apologies, offer my apologies, express my apologies |
| 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. |
| 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. |
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Frequently asked questions: Excuse me vs My apologies
What's the difference between Excuse me and My apologies?
Excuse me: A polite way to get someone's attention or ask for something. My apologies: I'm sorry.
Which is more common: Excuse me and My apologies?
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.
Can I use Excuse me and My apologies interchangeably?
Not always. Excuse me and My apologies 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.