hate to bother

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hate to bother" is correct and usable in written English.
It is an informal phrase that can be used to express reluctance to ask for help or information. For example: "I hate to bother you, but do you have any ideas on how I can improve my presentation?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

"Hi, I hate to bother you," she says.

The New York Times - Style

Dr. Fitzgerald says that when a patient calls, the conversation always starts with, "I hate to bother you, but …" And she notes, with irony, that nobody ever apologizes when they notify her about an academic committee meeting she must attend.

The New York Times

Subject: N.H.D. Major, I know you're swamped, and I hate to bother you on such a busy news day, but whoever told you I am joining Hillary's campaign fed you some bum info.

Huffington Post

"Uh, Binky, I hate to bother you as you're halfway across the street what with the light changing to red 'n' all, but... Ummm... that Asian woman... That's YOKO f*cking ONO! And, that would mean, one of those bearded chaps she's with is most likely your favorite... fucking... Beatle!

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

The letter hated to bother them.

The New Yorker

"That was good," she said, "because I always hated to bother brokers when I knew I couldn't really afford to buy anything".

The New York Times

Updated at 7.11pm BST 6.02pm BST "One hates to bother you during tea and crumpets," Mark Edwards begins, "but is Leo Messi even showing a pulse on the pitch v. Atletico?

The Guardian - Sport

I'm making an educated guess here, but it's probably because some Delta employee who hates his job decided not to bother.

TechCrunch

Every so often, she'll make a point of telling me she hates it, that she no longer wants to bother but she has to because we must save money.

The New Yorker

"I hate to be a bother, but you've got to help me with this cough.

The New York Times

Once or twice I've gone to a cop, and said, 'I hate to be a bother, but could you take me home?' " Ms. Lewitinn said she had followed the trial "like an episode of 'Law & Order.' " The rape accusations, she said, "definitely made me rethink getting into anyone's car that I don't know".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "hate to bother" when you want to soften a request or acknowledge that you are potentially imposing on someone's time or attention.

Common error

While polite, relying too heavily on "hate to bother" can make you seem overly apologetic or lacking in confidence. Consider if a simple, direct request would be more appropriate in some situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hate to bother" functions as a polite introductory expression used to preface a request, question, or interruption. As Ludwig AI explains, it softens the interaction by acknowledging the potential imposition.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

8%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hate to bother" is a polite phrase used to preface requests or interruptions, signaling consideration for the other person's time. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and serves to soften the interaction. While commonly used, especially in news and media, overuse should be avoided to maintain confidence. Alternatives such as "sorry to trouble you" offer similar levels of politeness. Consider choosing a more direct approach when appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sorry to trouble you

Replaces "hate" with "sorry" and "bother" with "trouble", maintaining the apologetic tone.

excuse me for bothering you

More formal way to express regret for interrupting or inconveniencing someone.

apologies for the intrusion

A very formal and polite way to apologize for interrupting.

I didn't mean to interrupt

Focuses on the unintended nature of the interruption.

I hope I'm not disturbing you

Expresses concern about potentially disrupting someone.

forgive me for asking

Highlights the speaker's hesitation in making a request.

pardon the interruption

A classic polite phrase used to signal an interruption.

I hesitate to ask

Emphasizes the speaker's reluctance to make a request.

reluctant to impose

Highlights a general unwillingness to inconvenience others.

unwilling to trouble you

Similar to "reluctant to impose", but more directly addresses the listener.

FAQs

How can I use "hate to bother" in a sentence?

You can use "hate to bother" as an introductory phrase before making a request or asking a question, for example, "I hate to bother you, but could you help me with this?"

What's a more formal alternative to "hate to bother"?

More formal alternatives include phrases like "excuse me for troubling you" or "pardon the interruption". These phrases are suitable for professional or formal settings.

When is it appropriate to use "hate to bother"?

"Hate to bother" is appropriate when you are asking for a favor, interrupting someone, or making a request that might inconvenience the other person. It is useful in showing politeness and consideration.

What can I say instead of "hate to bother" if I want to sound more confident?

If you want to sound more confident, you can try being direct with your request, such as, "Could you please help me with this?" or "I need your assistance with this task." You might also use a phrase like "sorry to trouble you", which is polite but less hesitant.