Practise Your Language Skills
Complete short exercises, check your answers, and build confidence step by step.
Topic:
Speaking Politely
A common mistake is using 'sorry' to get someone's attention, for example approaching a waiter or a colleague and saying 'sorry, can you help me?' In English, 'sorry' is used when you have done something wrong or inconvenienced someone. 'Excuse me' is the correct phrase for getting attention politely. Another frequent issue is overusing 'can' for requests when 'could' is more appropriate in a professional setting. 'Can you send me the report?' is correct English, but 'Could you send me the report, please?' sounds noticeably more professional. The difference is small but consistent professionals notice it.