Hi! I’m Georgiana, and I’m back with a new episode of the Speak English Now podcast—the podcast that helps you speak English fluently, with no grammar and no textbooks.

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Today’s episode is about something many English learners do too often:

Saying “sorry” all the time—even when they don’t need to.

Let me give you some examples:

“Sorry, can I ask a question?”

“Sorry, my English is bad.”

“Sorry for bothering you.”

“Sorry for my pronunciation.”

Maybe you’ve said these before. Maybe you say them often.

That’s okay! It’s a common habit, especially for people who want to be polite.

But here’s the truth:

Saying “sorry” too much makes you sound nervous—even when you’re doing nothing wrong.

It makes your voice sound small.

It makes you feel weak inside.

And it teaches other people not to take you seriously.

Why Do People Say “Sorry” Too Much?

There are a few reasons:

You’re learning English, so you feel insecure.

You don’t want to seem rude.

You’re afraid of making mistakes.

You want to be “extra polite.”

But being polite does not mean apologizing for speaking.

And it definitely doesn’t mean apologizing for your English.

When Should You Say “Sorry”?

Yes, it’s okay to say “sorry” when:

You interrupt someone

You are late

You do something that causes a problem for others

But don’t apologize just for speaking.

Don’t say “sorry” before every question.

Don’t say “sorry” because you’re not perfect.

You don’t need permission to talk.

You’re learning. You’re trying. And that’s something to feel proud of—not ashamed.

💡 Say This Instead

Let’s look at some better ways to express yourself with confidence and respect.

❌ Instead of:

“Sorry for my English.”

✅ Say:

“Thanks for your patience. I’m still learning.”

❌ Instead of:

“Sorry to bother you…”

✅ Say:

“Do you have a moment?”

Or:

“I appreciate your time.”

❌ Instead of:

“Sorry for the question.”

✅ Say:

“Can I ask something quickly?”

These are respectful, but they don’t make you sound small or afraid.

They say, “I value your time—but I also value myself.”

Don’t Undervalue What You Say

Here’s another important thing:

Stop putting yourself down before you even speak.

Many learners start their sentences like this:

“This is probably a dumb question…”

“I don’t know if this is right, but…”

“My English is bad, but I’ll try…”

Please don’t do this.

When you speak like this, people stop listening.

Even if your idea is great, your words sound weak.

And your brain starts to believe that what you say is not important.

So instead of saying:

“This might be a stupid question…”

Try this:

✅ “Can I build on that idea?”

✅ “Here’s what I’m thinking.”

✅ “I’d like to share a thought.”

These phrases are strong. They’re polite. And they show confidence—even if your English isn’t perfect.

🎯 The Message Is Simple

You don’t need to say “sorry” for learning English.

You don’t need to apologize for asking something.

You don’t need to speak like a native speaker to deserve respect.

You just need to breathe… stay calm… and speak with honesty and confidence.

Now, let’s practice.