What?
Pardon?
Sorry?
Eh?
Excuse me?
2006-07-31 07:16:06 · 43 answers · asked by R.I.P. 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
I have some hearing loss (sacrificing it through my earlier employ in the Public Health Sector) and at the same time, 'Tinnitus' too.
It's amazing that even with nurses (now) I have to repeatedly remind them of my hearing problem and ask them to 'Speak a bit louder.'
I generally explain, 'Sorry, I have some hearing loss, could you repeat yourself for me please.'
Over the phone I have had to, three or four times, say to someone, 'please repeat that.'
There have been the occasions when I have asked the other person whether they have a hearing problem! ...as you seem not to have heard or understood what I have said to you!
As for a 'correct way,' it depends on the circumstances or the occasion as to which you might best use.
However, 'What' is out, unless you are a cranky old cabbage with the character to get away with it.
(A riposte to -
'What.'
is -
'Yes, it is hot, isn't it. It must be the weather')
'Eh' is just lazy and bad.
'Excuse me' could generate a 'What for?' in reply.
'Pardon. I'm afraid I didn't hear / catch what you said!'
'Sorry' or 'I'm sorry (I didn't hear what you said)' is the best / decent one.
We used to board overseas Summer language students, and trying to take them through the complexities of the simplest things in the English language could be really bloody tiring.
2006-07-31 07:39:55 · answer #1 · answered by sashtou 7 · 5⤊ 1⤋
Pardon?
2006-07-31 07:19:24 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Excuse me, is the proper way of asking someone to repeat the sentence.
2006-07-31 07:19:35 · answer #3 · answered by girlie [♥] 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I use "sorry", but "pardon" seems good as well.
If talking to someone formally, and trying to be polite, I wouldn't use "eh", "what" or "excuse me"
2006-07-31 07:24:01 · answer #4 · answered by YR 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pardon me? Could you repeat that?
2006-07-31 07:19:09 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i think it depends on how well you know the person e.g. if i don't know the person very well i tend to say something like 'i'm really sorry but i didn't quite catch that - i think i'm a little deaf today ha ha ' and generally they repeat it otherwise if it's a mate a simple 'Ay!??!' generally does the trick!
2006-08-01 01:26:42 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Informal: repeat exactly what you heard--sometimes it stirs a giggle
Formal: Excuse me? Could you repeat that?
2006-07-31 11:33:33 · answer #7 · answered by Psychia22 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
pardon is the poliestest way, but normally im like huh or what?
2006-07-31 07:19:28 · answer #8 · answered by blacknedkittie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pardon, although i often use eh.
2006-07-31 07:19:23 · answer #9 · answered by keith 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Excuse me? can you repeat that again what you just said.
2006-07-31 07:54:20 · answer #10 · answered by nona b 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋