How to Say “Sorry for Disturbing You” in an Email

Nobody wants to disturb one of their peers. But sometimes, work takes priority, and you need to disturb someone to tell them something important.

But is there another way to say “sorry for disturbing you” in a formal email?

This article has gathered the best phrases to help you understand this.

• Sorry for inconveniencing you
• Pardon the intrusion
• I know you’re busy
• I did not mean to interrupt your busy schedule
• I’m so sorry to disturb you
• Please excuse my impatience
• I’m afraid this cannot wait
• Could you please give me a moment of your time?
• Forgive me for disturbing you

Keep reading to find out how to apologize for disturbing in an email. We’ve also provided examples for each phrase to show you how to use them.

1. Sorry for Inconveniencing You

If you’re emailing someone late in the day, you may want to start an email with “sorry for inconveniencing you.”

It shows that you regret contacting them, but you cannot think of a better way to get what you need.

Generally, you would say something like this when interrupting someone outside of work. It shows that you’re desperate for their help.

For example, you may use it to contact your boss when they know about a specific project. It shows that you respect their time, but you also need their help to understand more about the project and how it’s supposed to work.

You can also refer to the following example:

Dear Mr. Parkinson,

I’m sorry for inconveniencing you once again with this email. However, I believe it’s important that we discuss these matters immediately.

Kind regards,
Joey Tanner

2. Pardon the Intrusion

If you want to know how to politely say “sorry for disturbing you,” you can also try “pardon the intrusion.”

It’s much more of a spoken phrase but translates well when writing a formal email.

It’s a fairly apologetic phrase. So, you can use it when you’ve interrupted someone and didn’t mean to make things harder for them.

We highly recommend it when emailing a colleague on vacation. It shows that you don’t want to take them away from their relaxing holiday but need their help completing something.

This example email will also help you understand it:

Dear Ms. Smith,

Pardon the intrusion on your vacation, but do you mind if we discuss some of the problems at work?

Yours,
Annie Lang

3. I Know You’re Busy

“I know you’re busy” shows that you respect the recipient’s schedule. It works well professionally, as it shows that you only emailed someone as a last resort.

We highly recommend using this when you need someone’s help. For instance, you might use it when emailing your boss to ask them about an update on a project.

After all, it shows that you respect their time, but you need their help. It’s a great way to remain polite and honest with your employer when you need them.

Check out the following example:

Dear Mr. Adrian,

I know you’re busy with your work, but do you think we could discuss the next steps of this project together?

Yours,
Albert Weiss

4. I Did Not Mean to Interrupt Your Busy Schedule

Paying attention to someone’s busy schedule in the workplace shows that you respect them.

Therefore, you might want to say “I did not mean to interrupt your busy schedule” to your boss when you need their help.

Of course, it’s not ideal to disturb your boss for any reason. However, sometimes it’s important. That’s when you need to be tactful and polite about the disturbance.

We recommend using this when you need your boss’s help. It’s a friendly way to break the ice, and it will encourage them to work alongside you to figure out what needs to be done.

If you’re still stuck, check out this example:

Dear Mrs. Beckinsale,

I did not mean to interrupt your busy schedule with this email. However, I feel like it’s important we discuss this.

Kind regards,
Joanna Felting

5. I’m So Sorry to Disturb You

You can use “I’m so sorry to disturb you” instead of “sorry for disturbing you” in most professional emails.

It’s a more personal phrase that shows you regret having to disturb someone while they’re busy.

We highly recommend it when emailing your boss. It’s especially effective if your boss is out of the office (either because it’s their day off or because they’re on vacation).

After all, this phrase shows that you regret contacting your boss. However, sometimes you have to do so because they will often have the answers you don’t know when other people ask questions.

Here’s a great example to show you how it works:

Dear Ms. Brior,

I’m so sorry to disturb you on your vacation. However, nobody else can help me with this problem.

Yours,
Craig Kingsnorth

6. Please Excuse My Impatience

If you want to take the blame for disturbing someone, try “please excuse my impatience.”

It’s a great phrase to include in formal emails after you’ve emailed someone to help you.

Generally, this phrase works best when you’ve emailed a colleague outside of working hours. It shows you regret sounding impatient (i.e., you couldn’t wait for them to return to work).

You can also refer to the following example:

Dear Craig,

Please excuse my impatience in emailing you at this time. However, I believe you should hear what I have to say.

All the best,
George Keating

7. I’m Afraid This Cannot Wait

You may want to use “I’m afraid this cannot wait” when you’re worried about upsetting the recipient.

Of course, this is entirely dependent on who the recipient is. However, it’s always an effective synonym for “sorry for disturbing you.”

For instance, it works best when emailing your boss. It shows that you cannot wait before sending them an important email.

Using “I’m afraid” at the start shows regret and respect toward your boss. From there, you can explain why you must contact them urgently. If your boss is reasonable, they shouldn’t have a problem with your email (regardless of the time you reach out).

Here’s a great example to show you how it works:

Dear Mrs. Murphy,

I’m afraid this cannot wait, so I do apologize if you’re busy. However, we must discuss these matters urgently.

Yours,
Duncan Redford

8. Could You Please Give Me a Moment of Your Time?

Another great respectful phrase to replace “sorry for disturbing you” is “could you please give me a moment of your time?”

This question works well in formal emails because it shows that you need someone to assist you quickly.

Generally, you ask this question when trying to arrange a meeting on short notice. You might use it when emailing your boss to ask if they’re happy to meet with you. It’s a great way to find out whether they’re happy to hear what you have to say (or if they’re too busy).

This sample email will also help you see how to use it:

Dear Ms. Sue,

Could you please give me a moment of your time? I appreciate that it is short notice, but I’d like to hear your verdict.

Kind regards,
Johnson Appleby

9. Forgive Me for Disturbing You

Did you know you can make a simple swap between “forgive me” and “sorry” in formal emails?

“Forgive me for disturbing you” and “sorry for disturbing you” are very similar, but they are both effective in showing respect and politeness in emails.

You should say “forgive me for disturbing you” when emailing your employer. It shows that you have contacted them as a last resort and need their help with something before you can move forward.

Perhaps this email example will help you with it:

Dear Mrs. Perkins,

Forgive me for disturbing you outside of work hours. However, I need your assistance in completing this project.

All the best,
Michael Foster