Polite English: asking, thanking, and apologising

In English, politeness mostly comes from small words: “please”, “could you”, “thank you”, “sorry”. Without them, even a correct sentence can sound rude.

Polite requests

Instead of “Give me the salt.”, “Could you pass the salt, please?” is much more polite. Other phrases: “Can I have…, please?”, “Would you mind opening the window?”, “Could you help me, please?”

Thanking and replying

“Thank you.”, “Thanks a lot.”, “Thank you so much for your help.” In reply: “You're welcome.”, “No problem.”, “My pleasure.”

Apologising

“Sorry!” is for small mistakes. In more serious situations: “I'm really sorry.”, “I apologise for the delay.” Use “Excuse me.” to get someone's attention or to get past.

Saying no politely

Instead of a plain “No.”: “No, thank you.”, “I'm afraid I can't.”, “Thanks, but I'm OK.” A refusal that starts with thanks always sounds softer.

To keep going, see Can, could, and should in English: ability, requests, and advice and English phrases for making appointments and phone calls.

Frequently asked questions

Does “Can you” sound rude? No, it is polite with “please”. “Could you” is a little more polite and formal.

What is the difference between “Sorry” and “Excuse me”? “Sorry” apologises for a mistake; “Excuse me” gets someone's attention or asks to get past.