Do you say “pardon me” or “excuse me?”

Jusduit · 03-15-2009, 05:18 PM

Some people I know say "pardon me" and some say "excuse me." Do you think it has to do with what part of the country you were raised in? I grew up on the West coast and I say “excuse me.” What do you say?

hazelnut · 03-15-2009, 05:20 PM

I say "excuse me." Even if I hate the person with a passion, I still feel the need to be somewhat curtious.

cympreni · 03-15-2009, 05:22 PM

excuse me

SarcasmIsBeauty · 03-15-2009, 05:22 PM

excuse me

03-15-2009, 05:24 PM

I say pardon me when I'm about to interrupt a conversation and excuse me if I bump into someone.

medussa · 03-15-2009, 05:30 PM

Excuse me.

Hakim Nuraldin · 03-15-2009, 05:30 PM

I say outta my way, ugly! j/k

Actually, I say both. I heard both growing up.

wild_sasparilla · 03-15-2009, 05:34 PM

I also say both. "Excuse me" a bit more, I think. I live in Southern California.

03-15-2009, 05:35 PM

If it's silent? I say nothing and slink away quietly.

I was born in New England and moved to the South when I was 14 and I've heard both all my life.

MichelleBFT · 03-15-2009, 05:38 PM

I've always heard both, but I primarily use Excuse Me.

CurlyinColorado · 03-15-2009, 05:39 PM

I say excuse me in the USA, pardon me everywhere else.

Saria · 03-15-2009, 05:42 PM

"Excuse me" and "I'm sorry" depending on the situation. Never "pardon me".
I had a teacher in high school that said "pardon me" and a lot of us kind of had a crush on him to begin with, but there was something irresistibly cute about him whenever he said that, which was often.

LoloDSM · 03-15-2009, 06:05 PM

Both. I grew using "excuse me," but I think "pardon me" sounds more refined.

mad scientist · 03-15-2009, 06:17 PM

I say "pardon me" if I didn't understand/hear what someone said and want them to repeat it (as opposed to Huh? or What?).

I say "excuse me" if I want to get by someone.

nynaeve77 · 03-15-2009, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mad scientist

I say "pardon me" if I didn't understand/hear what someone said and want them to repeat it (as opposed to Huh? or What?).

I say "excuse me" if I want to get by someone.

Me, too.

rainshower · 03-16-2009, 07:32 AM

now that i think about it, i use 'pardon me' to older people, e.g., when i have to interrupt them in conversation or need them to repeat themselves. and i use 'excuse me' the rest of the time.

Rebecca deWinter · 03-16-2009, 07:40 AM

i say "excuse me" if i'm trying to pass through a group or by a person, or if i want to get someone's attention.

if i didn't hear someone, and i want them to repeat what they said, i say, "sorry?"

Gemini13 · 03-16-2009, 10:57 AM

I say excuse me.

WurlyLox · 03-16-2009, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mad scientist

I say "pardon me" if I didn't understand/hear what someone said and want them to repeat it (as opposed to Huh? or What?).

I say "excuse me" if I want to get by someone.

Me, too.

CurliLocks · 03-16-2009, 12:48 PM

I'm from Northern California. I use both. Usually, it's pardon me for interrupting or bumping into someone, or if I didn't hear what they said. Usually excuse me when I want to get past.