excuse my asking

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "excuse my asking" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to politely acknowledge that you are about to ask a question that may be considered intrusive or personal. Example: "Excuse my asking, but how did you manage to achieve such success in your career?"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"Excuse my asking," Holder said, "but have you by any chance had a leak in your house?" The woman was Melinda Ballard, and yes, she had most certainly had a leak.

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

I ask the recipients to "excuse my shaky penmanship," and explain that I am "riding in a badly driven car".

The New Yorker

Excuse me for asking".

The New Yorker

"Excuse me for asking," he said.

The New York Times - Magazine

So excuse me for asking the question but why so much Manziel-mania when we've got awesome-Anderson?

The Guardian - Sport

"Excuse me," asked a subsequent speaker, "I'm embarrassed to ask this question, but what is a 'hash'?" The grandmaster had a ready reply.

The New York Times

You could be excused for asking what matters to this film, and in which direction the shadows of the title truly lie.

The New Yorker

Cool Cousin gives them excuse to ask them a question because these people have already put themselves out there as experts.

TechCrunch

She didn't believe my excuses, asked me what was wrong, but I never said anything.

The New Yorker

Since my mum is the best person in the world, she excused herself for asking.

Vice

Since my mom is the best person in the world, she excused herself for asking.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "excuse my asking" when you are about to ask something that might be considered personal or intrusive. This softens the question and shows consideration for the other person's feelings.

Common error

Avoid using "excuse my asking" in situations where the question is completely ordinary and expected. Overusing it can make you seem overly anxious or unsure of yourself.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "excuse my asking" functions as a polite preamble to a question, indicating awareness that the inquiry might be perceived as intrusive or personal. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correctly used phrase aimed at softening the potential impact of the question.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

17%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Science

17%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "excuse my asking" is a useful phrase for softening potentially intrusive questions. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and functions to show politeness and consideration, predominantly found in News & Media but also in Wiki and Formal contexts. While not always necessary, it is most appropriate when the question might make someone uncomfortable. Alternatives like "pardon my asking" or "forgive me for asking" offer similar levels of politeness, but choose based on context to ensure the most appropriate tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

pardon my asking

Replaces "excuse" with "pardon", maintaining a similar level of formality and politeness.

forgive me for asking

Substitutes "excuse" with "forgive me for", emphasizing the apologetic nature of the inquiry.

if I may ask

Offers a slightly less direct way of introducing a question, focusing on permission.

with all due respect, may I ask

Adds a stronger element of deference before posing the question.

hope you don't mind me asking

Expresses concern about potentially causing offense with the question.

I hesitate to ask, but

Indicates reluctance and acknowledges the sensitive nature of the question.

is it alright if I ask

Checks for permission to ask the question, prioritizing the other person's comfort.

may I inquire

Uses a more formal tone for asking the question.

I was wondering

Softens the question by framing it as a thought rather than a direct inquiry.

don't take this the wrong way, but

Preemptively addresses potential misinterpretations of the question.

FAQs

How can I use "excuse my asking" in a sentence?

You can use "excuse my asking" to politely preface a question that might be considered personal or sensitive. For example, "Excuse my asking, but how much do you earn?"

What phrases are similar to "excuse my asking"?

Similar phrases include "pardon my asking", "forgive me for asking", or "if I may ask". These all serve to politely introduce a potentially intrusive question.

Is it always necessary to use "excuse my asking"?

No, it's not always necessary. Use it when the question is of a personal nature or might make the other person uncomfortable. In casual conversation or when asking for information that is readily available, it's usually not needed.

What's the difference between "excuse me" and "excuse my asking"?

"Excuse me" is a general way to get someone's attention or apologize for interrupting. "Excuse my asking" is specifically used to preface a question that might be seen as intrusive.