excuse me interrupting

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "excuse me interrupting" is not grammatically correct in standard written English. It can be used in informal spoken contexts but should be rephrased for clarity in writing. An example could be: "Excuse me for interrupting, but I have a quick question." Alternative expressions include "pardon my interruption" and "sorry to interrupt."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Urania Muniz, a film editor, teaches her 4-year-old to say "Excuse me" before interrupting.

The New York Times

SH: There was a period where you were mainly writing but also directing a few things... CH: Sorry, excuse me for interrupting.

The Guardian - Film

"Mr. Hancock, excuse me for interrupting you," he said to Paul Hancock of the state attorney general's office, who had opened the oral arguments in the vote-recount case.

The New York Times

If on a teleconference, break the dominator's train of thought during a long repetitious ramble by asking a question: "Julie, excuse me for interrupting here: Let me ask you a question about what you just said". Then ask a short-answer question.

HuffPost

If on a teleconference, break the dominator's train of thought during a long ramble by asking a question: "Julie, excuse me for interrupting here: Let me ask you a question about what you just said". Then ask a short-answer question.

HuffPost

"Excuse me, sir?" interrupts a young boy.

Los Angeles Times

"Excuse me for interrupting," Connery said, as it started to register for Murray that James Bond wanted to say hello.

The New York Times - Sports

"Excuse me for interrupting, but I must emphasize one point," interjected Zhang Lichang, the Tianjin party secretary who presided over the discussion.

The New York Times

If you are limited by time then ensure that you say this with a smile on your face, "Excuse me for interrupting, we are running out of time.

WikiHow

"Excuse me, can I interrupt for a moment?" he said, interrupting us for a moment.

The Guardian - Travel

"Excuse me," she interrupts.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal business emails or academic settings, prefer using "pardon the interruption" for a more professional tone

Common error

Avoid dropping the word 'for' in this construction. While English speakers often shorten phrases in casual speech, written English requires the prepositional link to correctly connect the apology to the gerund action. Writing "excuse me interrupting" makes the sentence feel fragmented and non-native.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "excuse me interrupting" is a non-standard attempt at a polite interjection. According to Ludwig AI, the correct version requires a prepositional link. In the examples provided by Ludwig, editors and writers consistently use the forms 'Excuse me for interrupting' or 'Excuse me' as a standalone followed by a new sentence.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Wiki

30%

Social Media

25%

Less common in

Academia

15%

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, while the intent behind "excuse me interrupting" is clear, the phrase itself lacks grammatical integrity. Ludwig AI indicates that there are zero exact matches for this specific string in authoritative databases. To ensure your writing remains professional and clear, always opt for the standard form "excuse me for interrupting". This small addition of the preposition 'for' aligns your speech with the patterns found in high-quality sources like The New York Times and The New Yorker, where clarity and formal structure are paramount.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

excuse me for interrupting

Standard prepositional construction for this apology

pardon me for interrupting

Slightly more formal variation of the standard phrase

sorry to interrupt

Common informal alternative using an infinitive

excuse my interrupting

Formal version using a possessive pronoun before the gerund

apologies for interrupting

Polite and professional alternative

pardon the interruption

Nouns-based formal interjection

sorry for the interruption

Uses a noun phrase instead of a gerund

may I interrupt

A polite request for permission to speak

if I may interrupt

Conditional polite interjection

forgive the interruption

Slightly more formal and humble request

FAQs

Is 'excuse me interrupting' grammatically correct?

No, it is not considered correct. You should use "excuse me for interrupting" or "excuse my interrupting" instead.

What is the difference between 'excuse me for interrupting' and 'excuse me interrupting'?

The first is the standard grammatical form, while the second is an incorrect omission of the preposition 'for' which is necessary to link the verb phrase to the gerund.

Can I say 'sorry for interrupting' instead?

Yes, "sorry for interrupting" is a very common and perfectly acceptable alternative in most social contexts.

How do you use 'pardon me' to interrupt politely?

You can say "pardon me for interrupting" followed by the reason for your interjection.