please excuse us

USAGE SUMMARY

'please excuse us' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to apologize or ask for forgiveness, such as in the following example: "We apologize for any inconvenience we may have caused; please excuse us."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

"Sorry about that, please excuse us," the lion's father said.

The New Yorker

On arriving at Mari Vanna, a new Russian restaurant in Knightsbridge, the waiter handed us a menu and said, "This is a soft opening, so please excuse us if there is a wait for dishes or things go wrong".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

On arriving at Mari Vanna, a new Russian restaurant in Knightsbridge, the waiter handed us a menu and said, "This is a soft opening, so please excuse us if there is a wait for dishes or things go wrong". The menu repeats the words "soft opening".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Please excuse us while we pop punk jump for joy.

HuffPost

"Please excuse us for the mass email," the two write.

Huffington Post

Head to WWD for all the details, and please excuse us while we prepare our nails for the excitement.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

Can you excuse us, please?" It may feel awkward for a minute or two, but a good bartender will be cautious about re-entry.

The New York Times

Please excuse the handwriting.

The New Yorker

Please excuse me and goodbye.

The Guardian

Please excuse the horrible music!

The Guardian - Sport

MR. FERRER -- Please, excuse me.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal communications, follow "please excuse us" with a brief explanation of the reason for the apology to provide context and show sincerity.

Common error

Avoid using "please excuse us" in overly casual situations. Simpler apologies like "sorry" or "excuse me" are often more appropriate and sound more natural.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "please excuse us" functions as a polite formula for requesting understanding or forgiveness for a minor mistake or inconvenience. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's a correct and usable phrase for offering an apology.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Please excuse us" is a grammatically sound phrase used to politely request understanding or forgiveness, as Ludwig AI confirms. Primarily found in news and academic contexts, it serves to mitigate potential offense or negative perception. While versatile, it's best suited for neutral to professional settings and less appropriate in overly casual situations. Alternatives like "we apologize" or "pardon us" can be more appropriate in formal contexts, while simpler phrases like "sorry about that" suffice in casual settings. Remember to follow this expression with a brief explanation of the reason for the apology to provide context and show sincerity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Please forgive us

Emphasizes seeking forgiveness directly.

Our apologies

A simple and direct way of apologizing.

We apologize

A direct and formal apology.

Kindly excuse us

Adds a touch of politeness and formality.

Pardon us

A slightly more formal and old-fashioned way to ask for excuse.

Excuse me

A general way to ask for attention or to get past someone; less specific in apologizing.

We beg your pardon

A very formal and polite apology.

Sorry for the inconvenience

Specific to situations where inconvenience is caused.

We regret any trouble caused

A formal expression of regret over problems created.

We hope you'll understand

Focuses on seeking understanding rather than a direct apology.

FAQs

When is it appropriate to use "please excuse us"?

It's appropriate to use "please excuse us" when a group or organization needs to politely apologize for a minor inconvenience or error. For individual apologies, using "please excuse me" is more suitable.

What is a more formal alternative to "please excuse us"?

A more formal alternative is "we apologize" or "we beg your pardon", which are appropriate for serious situations or formal correspondence.

How does "please excuse us" differ from "excuse me"?

"Excuse me" is generally used to get someone's attention or to politely interrupt, while "please excuse us" is used to apologize for a mistake or inconvenience caused by a group. The former is less about seeking forgiveness and more about seeking passage or attention.

What can I say instead of "please excuse us" in casual contexts?

In a casual context, you can use phrases like "sorry about that" or simply "oops, our bad" to acknowledge a minor mistake without sounding overly formal.