CONFIDENT ENGLISH 🇬🇧 | How to Interrupt POLITELY and Still Sound Confident | Essential Phrases

Hi there. This is Harry and welcome back  to advanced English Lessons with Harry,  

where I try to help you to get a better  understanding of the English language and  

what we're looking at today are ways to  improve your speaking. And in particular,  

we're going to look at ways in which you can  interrupt someone politely in English and in  

the lesson, I've split it into four particular  parts how you can interrupt, how you might react  

if you're interrupted, how you might turn  down somebody who wants to interrupt you,  

and then finally, how you will continue  after there has been an interruption.

So the emphasis here is on the correct English,  the polite English. So you don't want to be rude  

when you interrupt. Some people, of course,  can be very rude to say you yeah, shut up,  

whatever. But we don't want to be that way.  And I'm not going to encourage you to speak  

in that way, but these are polite ways in which  you can come across well, you can speak good  

English at the same time know how to  successfully interrupt. Okay. So we're  

going to go back to the lesson. Now let's  start with the section on interrupting. How  

do I interrupt politely. So the first one as I  said can I just stop you there for a moment? Can  

I just stop you there for a moment? So some  of these in full flow in that presentation,  

or they're talking ad nauseam about  some point and you want to interrupt.

So can I just stop you there for a moment?  A nice, polite way to interrupt. So it's a  

polite way to interrupt when you want to clarify  something or you want them to repeat something. Or  

perhaps it's something they said that, yeah,  you weren't really sure what it meant. Okay,  

so can I just stop you there for a moment,  or can I please stop you there for a moment?

Either way would be very, very polite. And  then example during a meeting, your colleague  

is making a point that you feel is incorrect.  So you can say, can I just stop you there for  

a moment? I think that might be a little bit  of a misunderstanding. So nice and polite.  

Second way we can use it up for interrupting  is just simply using the word interrupting.

Sorry for interrupting, but okay, so the output  is always very important because you are. First of  

all, apologise. Sorry for interrupting. And then  comes the interruption. The reason why. Sorry for  

interrupting, but okay, so when we use this, it's  a again a polite way to interrupt someone and get  

their attention. So while you're on a conference  call so you've got a few of your colleagues or  

other members of the team from different parts  of the country or indeed different countries now.

So you all on a conference call and  you want to clarify, or you need to  

clarify something that the speaker, a  speaker, has made. Okay. So you can say,  

look, I'm sorry for interrupting, but could you  repeat the last sentence? I didn't quite get it.  

Second example you're in a group discussion.  Someone says something that you disagree with.

So again you can say sorry for  interrupting, but I think we need  

to consider another perspective here. Okay. So  again a little bit more formal. But it's part  

of that group discussion. Something said you  don't like it I'm sorry for interrupting but  

I think we need to consider blah blah  blah. Okay, so sorry for interrupting,  

but so that's our second expression that  we can use when we want to interrupt.

Number three. Excuse me for butting in, but excuse  me for putting in, but this is a little bit more  

informal when we. But we butt in, we interrupt  somebody. So sorry for for butting in, but you're  

having a discussion with a friend. They mentioned  something that maybe you find offensive. So you  

say sorry for butting in or excuse me for butting  in, but that comment is really inappropriate here.

Okay, so you want to say it as politely  as possible. You might be a little bit  

annoyed about the language of used or  the reference they've used. So again,  

you say, excuse me for butting  in or sorry for butting in,  

but you really can't say that. You can't say  that in the modern world it's not. C next one.

Could I jump in there or could I jump  in here so you can use it either way?  

Again very very informal. When we jump  in we are interrupting. Yep. But it's a  

little bit more informal. So it's a polite  way to interrupt. And as an example again  

during some sort of a group discussion  and you want to share your thoughts.

So you say look, could I jump in here? I've  got a few ideas that I think may be useful.  

Okay. So it's a good way to interrupt when  there's a natural break in the conversation.  

So could I just jump in here? Could I  jump in there and have got a few points  

that I think you might find useful, or  something that I'd like to contribute?

Okay. And the last one in this particular  section, I'm sorry to cut in, but okay. So  

and a lot of these we have but because  the bot is always when the interruption  

comes I'm sorry to cut in but and this here  is when we want to take the conversation,  

perhaps in a different direction. Or perhaps  we want to take control of the conversation,  

which is something that we would like to  do if we feel we're getting off the point.

So as an example, I'm sorry to cut in,  but I think we're getting off the track  

here and we really need to get back to the  main topic. Yeah. Or I'm sorry to cut in,  

but I have some important information relating  to that aspect that we've been discussing,  

and I think I should interrupt  and include it now. Okay.

So sorry to cut in, but so in a lot of these  examples we are starting them with sorry or  

excuse me. And then we're giving our expression  sorry for interrupting. Sorry for butting in.  

Excuse me for butting in. Could I jump in here?  I'm sorry to cut in. So the meaning is very,  

very similar there just different  ways to use it, always followed by.

But because that's going to tell the person  that you're talking to that you do have  

something to say. And even though you're sorry  for butting in, for jumping in, for cutting in,  

that there is something important that you want  to say, okay, so just easy, simple ways in which  

you can interrupt formally or informally.  Okay. Now let's look at the second part.

And the second part. This is where you  or the person that is holding the meeting  

will allow the interruptions.  So somebody wants to put in,  

somebody wants to jump in. So how do you accept  them or give them permission to jump in or put  

into this particular conference call this meeting,  this conversation. So simply the first one. Sure.

What do you think? Or what do you want to say  or what do you want to add? Okay. So it's a  

way of acknowledging someone's request to put in  and inviting them to share their ideas. So sure,  

what do you think or what do  you want to add? For example,  

a coworker asks for your input on  a project and you can say, sure.

What do you think about starting with the market  research first? So you might give them a little  

bit of a lead and help them to come into  the conversation. Or as a second example,  

a friend suggests going to a new restaurant for  dinner, and you can say, sure. What do you think  

about making a reservation? That restaurant  that you've mentioned that seems fine with?

I've never been there. Let's try it. Okay,  so here you allow the friend to take control,  

to interrupt, and you accept the  suggestion that they are making.  

It doesn't have to be formal because it's  between friends, but it is a way in which  

you can show them that you're willing to accept  an interruption. Another simple way to say it.

That's okay. What do you want to say and what  do you want to add? So again, acknowledging that  

it's okay for them to interrupt by simply say,  yeah, that's okay. So go ahead, please interrupt.  

What do you want to say or what would you like to  

say. Yeah. Or what do you want to  add or what would you like to add.

So let's look at an example. A colleague  apologises for interrupting a during the  

meeting, but then you can say, oh, that's  okay. That's not a problem. What would  

you like to say or what would you like to  add? Yeah. So it's just a way of helping  

the person who might be a little bit hesitant  at first to interrupt how they can interrupt.

And you don't feel bad about it. Yeah. That's  okay. Sure. Why not. Third way. So again,  

somebody is interrupting or they  say, do you mind if I interrupt  

or can I jump in there? Then you might  respond with, yeah, of course. Go on,  

be my guest. Yeah. Feel free. These are again,  very informal ways to allow people to interrupt.

Yeah. Of course. Go on, feel free. Be my guest.  And again, somebody asks if you wouldn't mind  

if they jump in the cut the button. And  again, an expression you can say simply,  

yeah, no problem. Go ahead. No problem. Go  ahead. So very simple words. Very informal  

words. So you're not standing on any ceremony.  You've told people time and time again if it's  

something you want to say just jump in when the  opportunities there I don't have any problem.

You don't have to wait until the end of the  meeting. Do it when you feel it's appropriate. So  

yeah, no problem. Go ahead. Okay. Let's continue.  We're going to go on to the third part now. And  

the third part is about when you want to reject  somebody's interruption because you're really  

an important part of the presentation.  Or you think it might disrupt the flow.

So there are many reasons why you're not going  to permit somebody to interrupt. So here you  

have to be really, really careful. You could  have very, very careful with the intonation  

you use in your voice, because otherwise it  can come across as rude. The first one is no,  

please allow me to continue. Please allow me to  continue. So a polite way of asking someone to  

let you continue with whatever you were saying,  and then they can interrupt whenever they wish.

Okay, so as an example, please allow me to  continue. I think there's an important point  

that I want to make here, and I don't want to  lose my thoughts. Okay. Or the second example,  

please allow me to continue. I haven't  finished explaining my idea completely  

yet. So two examples of how you can tell somebody  no, I'm sorry, I cannot allow you to interrupt me.

Now, please allow me to continue. Okay.  And the next one is let me wrap up my  

thoughts before you start. This is a much more  informal. Let me wrap up my thoughts before  

you start. So to wrap up something means  to finish, to complete. So it's a little  

bit more informal. So an example of this would  be let me wrap up my thought before you start.

I don't want to interrupt my own train of thought  here. I just want to continue and get to the end.  

Yeah. Or let me wrap up my thoughts before you  start. And then when I finish, you can respond  

or you can continue at that stage. Okay. Now,  another way in which we can tell somebody, no,  

I'm sorry, I don't want to interrupt is just by  simply saying, do you mind if I finish first?

So somebody is trying to interrupt and you really  want to get to the end of this because there's not  

much to go. Perhaps there's only a few  minutes. You've got a few key points  

that you you want to give them. And if you  stop now, you lose the impetus or you lose  

the impact. Okay. So you might just simply  say, well, look, do you mind if I finish?

And then the floor is yours. And again it  on the same theme is that can I continue,  

please, can I continue, please. If somebody  is excuse me, can I put in there or excuse me,  

do you mind. Could I continue  please. I only it'll only take  

another couple of minutes and then I'll  be finished. Can I continue please.

And then the final one here about trying to  stop people when you want to reject as some  

interruption. I'm sorry, but I appreciate  it if you didn't interrupt me. So there's  

no doubt in here exactly what you mean.  So if anybody has any doubt with any of  

the other phrases and expressions, use  this one will make it very, very clear.

And again, it's all about that intonation.  I'm sorry, but I do appreciate it. If you  

didn't interrupt me now, you could say  that at the very beginning. So when you  

make and start your presentation, you've  introduced yourself. You might just say  

something under appreciated. If you  didn't interrupt me, I'm only going  

to take ten minutes. And at the end of the ten  minutes you can ask me any questions you like.

So that's a good way to set the scene for  for when you're making a presentation.  

Doesn't mean that people are not going to  interrupt you or tried to interrupt you,  

but at least you've made it clear to them  that you don't want interruptions. However,  

if during the presentation somebody does try to  interrupt you and they do it on several occasions,  

then you can just simply say, okay, I'm sorry, but  I would appreciate it if you didn't interrupt me.

I would kindly appreciate it. I would really  appreciate it if you didn't interrupt me. So  

you can use it really or kindly, as a way of  emphasising the fact that you would prefer  

not to be interrupted. Okay, so that's the third  part of this particular lesson. So we're telling  

people or I'm giving you examples of how  you can prevent people from interrupting.

Now when you've you have been interrupted and  you've allowed somebody the opportunity to say  

something, then you do want to get back to  your particular part of the presentation,  

your particular part of the speech. And if  you're used to doing this sort of thing,  

well, you'll know how to pick it  up. And here are some expressions  

and phrases that you can use to  continue after that interruption.

So something like this. As I was saying, I  think blablabla as I was saying I think and  

this again indicates that you're now returning  to your previous point. So people are talking,  

you can just interrupt and say, okay, well  just get your attention there. As I was saying,  

I think. So it's a good way to  get the audience attention again,  

get them back onto that train  of thought that you had before.

So as an example, as I was saying, I  think we should focus on increasing  

our marketing budget. As I was saying,  I think we should. We should focus on  

increasing our sales. As I was saying,  I think we should focus on blah, blah,  

blah. Okay, continuing where I left off.  So again, here you're telling the audience  

that you're now ready to get back into the  presentation, continuing where I left off.

Yeah, okay. Then again, a clear way to indicate  that you're now going to get back to the previous  

point you made and continue with the rest of  the presentation. Continuing where I left off,  

I was discussing our plans for expanding our  business into new markets. Okay. So again,  

you're just giving them the idea, the  point where you were in the presentation.

So if they're following you on PowerPoint  to something else somewhere else, they know  

where you stopped and where you're going to  start. As an example, the second example,  

continuing where I left off, I wanted to  talk about the budget for this project. Okay.  

Continuing where I left off, I wanted to talk  about the budget for this particular project.

And the third way in which you can get back to  your key points is, okay, where was I? Oh yes,  

I remember. Yeah. So again, you're just sort of  asking a rhetorical question, where was I? Oh  

yeah, I remember yeah, we were talking about  this. We were talking about that. I was just  

about to bring you on to the budget, so I was  just about to go through the marketing strategy.

Yeah. Okay. So where was I? Oh, yes. I was  discussing the challenges we are facing in  

the new markets. Yep. Blah blah. Okay. Or  where was I? Oh yes. I was explaining the  

benefits of our new product and how we're going  to launch it. Okay. So you're indicating very  

clearly this is where you're going to pick  up. And this is where you left off okay okay.

And very simple simply to say to  get back to what I was saying,  

I feel I think to get back to what I was  saying, again, a very clear way to tell  

people that you're now ready to resume  the presentation, to get back to where  

to what I was saying, I feel or I think.  And then finally, anyway, as I was saying.

So again, it's just sort of shrug  off the interruption anyway,  

as I was saying. So it means that you weren't  so bothered or worried about the interruption,  

as you shouldn't be. You're able to take the  questions that professionally asked. So we just.  

Yeah. Anyway, as I was saying, blah blah blah. So  what we have, we've had for particular sections.

Okay, so let me just give them to you very,  very quickly. Again, we've have the section  

on interrupting. So what phrases can you use when  you want to interrupt. Can I just stop you there?  

Sorry for interrupting. You remember okay. The  second when you want to allow the interruption  

and you say things like, yeah, what would you  like to say or what would you want to add?

Or yes, of course, go on. No problem. Go ahead.  Okay. And then the third section was that section  

relating to the rejection. So you really want  to continue anyway. But now please just allow  

me to continue for a few more minutes. Or do  you mind if I finish. Can I continue please.  

Okay. And then finally, when you've had the  interruption or several interruptions or you  

want to get back to your presentation  because it's important to finish that.

As I was saying, I think, or continuing where  I left off or where was I? Oh yes. Yeah,  

I was just about to make the point about  bla bla bla. Okay. So they're all very,  

very polite expressions and help you when you're  speaking, help you when you're presenting,  

help you at those stand up meetings, help you  in those conference calls, whatever it is.

Where you might be having problems,  interrupting or asking a question. Or indeed,  

if you're making a presentation and you  don't want anybody to interrupt you,  

then there are some useful expressions and phrases  that you can use to help yourself. And of course,  

as always, if you want some other information,  then write to me on www.englishlessonviaskype.com.

Very happy to hear from you and very happy  to hear any suggestions that you have. Okay,  

this is Harry thanking you for watching.  Thank you for listening. And remember,  

join me for the next lesson.