How to interrupt politely in english

Interrupting in English

Interruption is not always negative and is often even unavoidable. Interjecting can be necessary for a number of reasons. You might interrupt a conversation to:

If you find yourself needing to carefully interrupt a conversation for any of the above reasons, there are certain forms and phrases that you should use so as not to offend or otherwise upset anyone. Sometimes, you will use more than one of these phrases in order to smoothly interrupt. Though interruption is often justified and forgivable, this conversation technique should be used sparingly.

Reasons to Interrupt

An interruption is essentially a pause. When you pause a conversation, you will almost definitely draw attention to yourself, so it’s important to make sure that your reason for interrupting will be seen as valid by the whole group. Giving someone important information, asking a quick question, sharing your opinion on something said, or interrupting to join a conversation are all acceptable reasons for pausing.

Keep in mind that interruptions should generally be accompanied by either an apology or permission-seeking question (such as, «Do you mind if I join?»). This is respectful to the speaker you interrupt and all those listening. You should also keep your interruptions as short as possible so that a conversation is not derailed by the interruption.

Giving Someone Information

Use these short phrases to efficiently deliver a message or get someone’s attention mid-conversation. These are effective whether you are giving information to an individual or the whole group.

Asking a Quick Question

Sometimes it is necessary to pause a conversation to ask a clarifying question. There are even times when you might need to stop a speaker to ask a question that is not related to the topic of conversation. No matter what the situation, these short phrases allow for brief questions during a conversation.

Alternatively, you can use questions as a polite way of joining a conversation. Here are some ways that you can ask for permission from a group to become part of their discussion.

Sharing Your Opinion

If you feel that you have something to share or comment on as a conversation is happening that will add value to the discussion, use these phrases to considerately do so.

Use caution when interrupting to share an opinion or story as these are unwelcome interjections when they are not relevant, happen too frequently, or are impolitely executed. Always pay respect to a speaker you are stopping and never make it seem like you believe what you have to say is more important than what was already being said.

Joining a Conversation

Sometimes you will want to join a conversation that you were not originally a part of. In these cases, you can insert yourself into a discussion without being rude using the following phrases.

What to Do When You Are Interrupted

Just as you will sometimes need to interrupt, you will sometimes be interrupted (perhaps more frequently). If you are the speaker, it is up to you to determine how to proceed. Decide whether you want to reject or allow an interruption and then respond accordingly

Interrupting Someone Who Has Interrupted You

You do not always need to allow an interruption. If you were interrupted rudely or believe that you should finish your thought first, you have the right to express this without being considered impolite. Use one of these phrases to firmly but respectfully redirect the conversation back to yourself.

Allowing an Interruption

You may choose to allow an interruption if you do not mind being stopped. Respond to a person who has asked if they can interrupt you using one of these expressions.

Once you’ve been interrupted, you can continue where you left off when you were interrupted with one of these phrases.

Example: Interrupting to Give Information

Helen: It’ really amazing how beautiful Hawaii is. I mean, you couldn’t think of anywhere more beautiful.

Anna: Excuse me but Tom is on the phone.

Helen: Thanks, Anna. (To Greg) This will only take a moment.

Anna: Can I bring you some coffee while she takes the call?

George: No thanks, I’m fine.

Anna: She’ll be right back.

Example: Interrupting to Share an Opinion

Marko: If we continue to improve our sales in Europe, we should be able to open new branches elsewhere.

Stan (not yet a part of the conversation): I couldn’t help but overhear you talking about opening new branches. Do you mind if I add something?

Marko: Of course, go ahead.

Stan: Thanks, Marko. I think we should open new branches no matter what. We should be opening new stores whether or not our sales improve.

Marko: Thank you, Stan. As I was saying, if we improve sales, we can afford to open new branches.

How to interrupt politely in english

Polite (and Rude) Ways to Interrupt in American English

Posted On: April 29, 2015

There are many reasons why a person may interrupt others while speaking. First and foremost, when interacting with US clients, Indian developers must learn about the conversational cues. Culturally speaking, these cues are sometimes different when talking about the USA and India. If a lack of understanding of these cues creates a situation where the only way to interact is to interrupt, it could cause the US client to get a bad impression of you and your team. If the client is often interrupted or the team members on the Indian side often interrupt each other, the American client will get the impression that the Indian team members are not effective communicators. This will not give a good impression of you, your team or your business.

The phrases below showcase the polite and impolite ways to enter a conversation if interruptions are necessary. Use the polite interruption phrases both with your US counterparts AND with your Indian teammates when on group calls.

How do we politely interrupt others in English? Below there are phrases to use and to avoid when interrupting others.

Polite (and Rude) Ways to Interrupt in American English

Phrases to Politely Interrupt
Try to use these phrases:

Impolite Phrases for Interruptions
Do not use these phrases:

*Take note the tone of voice is important as the words used.

Jennifer Kumar is a coach helping Indians to communicate better within their teams and with US clients in English through foundational programs such as Business English Seminar, or more advanced courses like Managing Client Expectations. Contact her today for more information.

Related Posts:
Phrases to use in a group discussion (conversation)
Making small talk with US Clients
When to Say “Sorry” to an American

75 Ways to Politely Interrupt a Conversation

Could you use 75 ways to politely interrupt a conversation as you learn to become an awesome American English speaker? Even while we’re learning new ways to comfortably speak English like a native, it’s important to never forget to use our manners! To become a successful American English speaker, it is essential to always address others politely and to be sure to measure words and interjections carefully.

When Can I Interrupt?

A good rule of thumb when you’re not 100% confident is to observe others around you and listen to the words, phrases, or sounds they are using to interrupt a conversation.

Good places to interrupt a conversation are:

It is also important to be prepared! Don’t interrupt if you have nothing to say. Give your interruption a purpose and form your comment in your mind before interrupting. You will feel very satisfied as an English speaker when you can successfully interrupt a conversation and make your own contribution, thus appreciating the natural ebb and flow of American English.

75 Ways to Politely Interrupt a Conversation

Here is a comprehensive list of ways to interrupt a conversation that will allow you to interject and make your point while still being polite to the other members of the conversation.

These cover a range of functions, such as: attention getters (#1-12), phrases that add information (#13-18), phrases that clearly announce that you want to interrupt (#19-30), phrases that allow you to jump in or join a conversation (#31-36), phrases that are particularly useful in meetings or class situations (#37-40), phrases that ask for clarification (#41-47), phrases that ask for time (#48-56), interjections to share your opinion (#57-63 and #67-72), interruptions that allow you to bring other people into the conversation (#64-66, this is a great way to encourage others who are being quiet or are not as confident to participate in a conversation), and suggestions that can be used to interrupt (#73-75).

Attention Getters

These are a category of words that don’t have any meaning but that we often use to get people’s attention.

1.Clearing your throat

8. Hey… (Note that this one is a bit casual, so only use it with people you are good friends with.)

9. Using the other person’s name (eg. “James, that’s a great idea!”)

10. Guys… (Can be used in a group of men or women, or a mix of both!)

11. Ladies and Gentlemen… (This would be the formal version of “Guys,” should be used in formal situations or when you’re trying to be funny in a casual situation.)

12. Everyone… (eg. “Everyone, I think that’s a great idea!)

Add Information

Would you like to contribute extra information to someone else’s thought or argument? Try these!

13. I need to add something here…

14. Can I just say something here? (When using this phrase, you do not need to wait for others to respond to your question, and you may continue with the comment you’d like to make.)

16. I’d like to add…

17. Let me add something…

18. That reminds me… (For this one, you’d want to tell a connected or related story or piece of information. For example, “That reminds me, we need to prepare the report for next week.”)

Need to Interrupt?

Can’t wait any longer? Are other speakers not allowing others to speak? Use these phrases!

19. Let me interrupt a second…

20. I’m sorry to interrupt, but…

21. I don’t mean to interrupt, but… (Although you technically DO mean to interrupt, this is simply a polite way of interrupting that works best when you have a point to make quickly before the conversation changes, or when other members of the conversation are deep in a discussion but you’d still like your point to be heard.)

22. Sorry for interrupting, but…

23. Can I stop you there for a moment?

24. Can I just butt in for a second? (Yes, it is spelled like a word used to reference a person’s back end, but in this instance it literally means ‘to interrupt’!)

25. Can I just mention something?

26. Excuse me for interrupting, but…

27. Excuse me, I’d like to say something.

28. Excuse me for butting in, but…

29. Just a moment, I’d like to…

Jump In!

Assert yourself! Don’t be afraid to jump into the conversation.

30. Let me jump in…

31. Do you mind if I jump in here?

32. Can I jump in here?

33. Do you mind if I come in here?

34. I don’t mean to intrude, but… (Similarly to #19, this one works best when you are trying to contribute to a conversation you’re not already a part of, like when you overhear something and you want to join their conversation.)

35. I don’t mean to be rude, but…

36. May I interject?

Professional Setting

Need a less casual way of interrupting? Try using these.

37. Before we move on to the next point, may I add…?

38. Before you move on, I’d like to say something.

39. Before you go on, I’d like to say something.

40. Pardon me (This leans more toward the formal ways to interrupt, but it can also be used as a nice way to say “Excuse me” in both conversational situations or even when you’re on the street and need someone to move out of your way.)

Ask for Clarification

Are you still unsure or not clear enough on someone else’s point? Take a look at these examples. They are excellent phrases to try in a class setting!

41. Could you clarify that?

42. Sorry, could you explain that a little more?

43. Do you mean that…? (When using this phrase, you will need to continue by summarizing what the person has already said to make sure your understanding is correct. For example, “Do you mean that you think that’s a great a idea?”)

44. Would you tell us/me a little bit more about that?

45. Could you clarify that last point before we move on?

46. Would you mind explaining that a little more?

47. Could you explain that more fully?

Ask for Time

American English speakers are known for being fast speakers. If you’re having a hard time keeping up or gathering your thoughts, you should feel free to ask the other speakers for more time. You want to be polite, but you also want to have enough time to formulate a cohesive argument!

49. Just a minute…

50. Wait, what about…

51. Can we just pause a second?

53. One quick thing…

54. Just one thing…

55. Just let me say…

Share Your Opinion

Be confident in your opinion! If you feel strongly one way or another, don’t be shy and share with your conversation partners.

60. I don’t agree.

61. I’m not sure about that.

63. That’s interesting! (Be mindful that your tone matches your intention with this one. The way you intonate can be seen as a genuine feeling of appreciation, or instead as a sarcastic comment that means that opposite!)

Bring Others In

Do other members of the conversation seem shy or too quiet, or are others not letting them get a word in edgewise? Use these phrases to politely turn the conversation, so that everyone gets their say!

64. What’s your opinion, James? (Don’t forget to replace James with the actual name of the person you are speaking to!)

65. What do you think, James?

66. James, do you agree?

Other Ways to Share Your Opinion

Do you still need to assert your opinion further? Try these!

67. As far as I’m concerned…

68. Personally, I believe…

69. The way I see it…

71. That’s correct.

Make a Suggestion

Offering suggestions is a polite way to wrap up a conversation or a point of thought, or allow for other points to be explored. Use these if you need to add some creativity or action plans to the conversation!

73. It would be interesting to…

What Happens After 75?

The more vocabulary you learn, the more ways you will learn to form phrases to interrupt that suit your own style. We highly recommend that you practice using these ways to interrupt so that you gain confidence in your conversation and interruption skills! Of course, you don’t NEED to say any of these words or phrases! You can simply say what you want to say. Just speak up and jump into a conversation.

These 75 words and phrases can really help you to jump in and to manage tricky conversations with people who speak too fast or too loud, or who rarely give others the time to contribute to a conversation. Sometimes, you just need to jump in and take it for yourself. So, be brave, be fearless, and learn to use some (if not all!) of these awesome 75 words and phrases to interrupt in any American English conversation. You deserve to join in on the conversation, and other people want you to. So, don’t be shy, jump in today!

And remember, being polite is FREE! 🙂

Click on the video below to check out Gabby’s tips!

How to Interrupt Politely

Published by My Lingua Academy on 6 Apr 2022 6 Apr 2022

How to Interrupt Politely

How often do you interrupt people while they are talking? Are there polite ways to interrupt someone? I get this question a lot. Well, it may be rude sometimes, but also useful because you may want to interrupt someone who’s been talking for too long and you don’t see a point in listening; or simply because they’ve started talking about irrelevant matters. So, before you interrupt someone, think about your reason. Is it justified? If it is, and you decide to go ahead, always try to interrupt politely. Here is how to interrupt politely in English.

How to introduce interruption

The point is that interrupting doesn’t have to be rude. It can also be polite, especially if you use proper language.

It is always appropriate to introduce your interruption with a polite phrase:

How to interrupt politely

How to approve someone’s interruption

In case you are a person who is being interrupted, try to avoid an awkward moment. Tell the interrupter that their comment is welcome and that you are not offended. You can use these phrases:

How to reject interruption

Although, there may be a situation when you don’t feel like being interrupted. How can you do that? Well, you may try to ignore the person who is trying to jump into your speech. In case it doesn’t work, you may try some of these phrases:

How to interrupt politely

Reasons to interrupt someone

Once you decide to interrupt someone while they are talking, the first thing to do is to apologize and try to make your comment a valuable contribution to the discussion. Also, try to make it as quick as possible.

Anyway, we can classify interruptions into five groups:

1. Ask something in order to clarify things

You may be listening to someone speaking and may not hear or understand very well what they are saying. Or you may need an extended explanation to clarify things. Apologize for interrupting and try to make it quick.

How to interrupt politely

2. Give your opinion or add something

Sometimes you may think that you could contribute to the conversation by sharing your opinion. Go ahead, try to interrupt politely and say it.

3. Pass a message

Sometimes you need to interrupt people while talking when you have a message to pass. Just apologize and pass on your message. Try these phrases:

How to interrupt politely

4. Join a conversation

How can you join a conversation and not be rude? Simply, ask to join in. Here are some useful phrases to help you do that:

5. End a conversation

In case something urgent has come up or you just have to end up someone’s conversation for any reason, try using these phrases:

How to interrupt politely

How to continue your speech after an interruption

Once the interruption is over, and the person who interrupted your speech has finished, you may want to go back to what you were talking about previously. In that case, you can use these phrases:

How to interrupt politely

How to interrupt politely

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Conversation Skills: Interrupting politely in English

Test your understanding of this English lesson

90 COMMENTS

Thanks for this video it was valuable.

i’d like to thank you and each teacher on this website for helping us to understand English well.

Today about this lesson I learned how can we have to be respect to interruption some conversasion thanks.

Thank you Emma. I also learned that English doesn’t blame interruption during an exchange.

Thank you, Emma! I really appreciate these advanced lessons. Got 10 correct out of 10)) The Russian language has similar rules for interrupting. It is possible but you should be polite and attentive to people.

I got 10 correct out of 10
Thank you Emma

Why “I’m almost finished”? Why not “I almost finish”?

Hi Astri, I think, the word “finished” is here an adjective, not past participle of the verb finish. You might look it up in a good dictionary. And your sentence “I almost finish” has no meaning” in this Emmas´s video.

Thanks a lot, Emma!

It was a very good English lesson, Miss Emma
I love your teaching method.
Continue, please.

I got 10/10, I usually have good mark at your lesson. I think you have a good skill explaination. Thank Emma

It was such a nice lesson, and you are good at making understand. Thank you Emma,

100%. Thank You Emma. Excellent lesson.

thanks for your nice lesson many times.

I´d like to ask a question about the sentence (9:01) : I´m almost finished my point.

I´ve almost finished my point. (present perfect)

I´m almost finished with my point. (be + adjective finished + prep.with).

Thank you for your answer.

Nice lesson.Thank you so much!

Thanks Emma.Your teaching method is so good.Now,I
understand how to do it politely.

Useful tools. Thanks a lot Emma.

Hello, Dear Ms. Emma. I really appreciate everything you have been teaching on the EngVid website.

You introduced two ways to request from a person (who has interrupted us while we were talking) to let us continue keeping talking. The second one was “I am almost finished my point”

I wonder why passive tense should be used to show our willingness. Are there any grammatical reasons? And one thing else, Could you translate the above-recommended sentence in English, please?

Thank you in advance. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Best Wishes.