good to know

[cimorene]

Dear Miss Manners:

What is the difference between "Excuse me" and "Pardon me"?

"Excuse me" is the polite way of acknowledging that you are inconveniencing someone else.

"Pardon me" is the polite way of pointing out that someone else is causing you inconvenience.

i wish miss manners came out every day.

Comments

[folk.livejournal.com]

Unless, of course, you're in the UK, where the first is "sorry" and the second is "excuse me". Oh, English...

[hollsh.livejournal.com]

"Learn to drive, you fucking hick!!" is when a man wearing a cowboy hat is causing you inconvenience.

[cimness.livejournal.com]

but possibly not the polite way...

[hollsh.livejournal.com]

....I could throw a please in there.

[cimness.livejournal.com]

deal.

and i want a video.

[hollsh.livejournal.com]

Done! :)

[guinevere33.livejournal.com]

Try tacking "but could you please..." onto each and see if the UK meanings come into line.