How you say it matters more than perfect grammar in English meetings.

“Pardon?”
“Sorry?”
“What?”

👉 Tiny aha.
All three mean “I didn’t hear you.”
But they don’t feel the same.

“What?” can sound abrupt.
“Pardon?” can sound formal. Or old-fashioned.
“Sorry?” is usually the safest. Neutral. Human.

Here’s why this matters.
In English, politeness often lives in tone and word choice, not grammar.

So when you miss something.
Don’t panic. Don’t apologise for your English.
Just choose the word that keeps the moment easy.

Your quick rule for today.
When in doubt, “Sorry?” keeps doors open.

💬 Which one do you use most?