This is one of the most uncomfortable moments at work — especially in a foreign language.
You’re speaking.
You’re explaining something important.
And suddenly, someone talks over you.
Not loudly. Not aggressively.
Just… starts speaking.
In that second, many things happen at once:
- you lose your thought
- your confidence drops
- your English feels worse than it actually is
This article is not about “polite phrases”.
It’s about what really happens inside you and how to stay present, calm, and respected when someone interrupts you.
The Situation as It Feels in Real Life
You’re not thinking:
“What is the correct phrase to use?”
You’re thinking:
- “Did I do something wrong?”
- “Should I stop?”
- “Is it rude to continue?”
- “What if my English sounds bad now?”
Very often, you stop speaking not because of politeness —
but because of internal shock.
That’s normal.
But it’s trainable.
Why Interruptions Hurt Non-Native Speakers More
For native speakers, interruption is just a flow issue.
For non-native speakers, it feels personal.
Why?
Because you are:
- holding your sentence in your head
- managing grammar and vocabulary
- watching your pronunciation
- controlling your emotions
When someone interrupts, that whole structure collapses.
So the real skill here is not the phrase.
It’s the ability to stay inside your sentence.
The First Rule: Do Not Disappear
The biggest mistake is not saying the wrong thing.
The biggest mistake is disappearing from the conversation.
You don’t need to be aggressive.
You don’t need to be dominant.
You just need to exist.
Even one short sentence is enough.
When the interruption is light and casual
This happens all the time in meetings.
Use calm continuation.
- “Just a moment — I’ll finish this.”
- “One second, please.”
- “Let me finish the thought.”
Say it while staying relaxed.
No tension. No apology in your voice.
You are not asking.
You are continuing.
When you want to stay very respectful
For managers, senior colleagues, or clients.
- “If I may just finish…”
- “Let me quickly complete this.”
- “Just one more sentence.”
This signals respect without surrendering your point.
When you’re interrupted repeatedly
At this point, clarity is kindness.
- “I haven’t finished yet.”
- “Please let me finish.”
- “I’d like to finish my point.”
This is not rude.
This is professional self-respect.
What Matters More Than the Words
Your tone matters more than your English level.
Say the sentence:
- slower, not louder
- calmer, not sharper
- steady, not defensive
Confidence is often quiet, not strong.
After You Get the Floor Back
This moment is crucial.
Many learners say:
- “Sorry… um… what I wanted to say was…”
This weakens you again.
Instead, continue naturally:
- “So, the key issue here is…”
- “What matters most in this case is…”
No restart.
No apology.
Just continuation.
If You Completely Lost Your Thought
It happens. Even to native speakers.
Say it openly and calmly:
- “Let me rephrase that.”
- “Let me say it more clearly.”
- “What I mean is…”
This sounds human, not weak.
What You Should NOT Do
Avoid these instinctive reactions:
- stopping completely
- smiling nervously and staying silent
- apologizing multiple times
- raising your voice emotionally
None of these help your English — or your position.
A Very Realistic Mini-Dialogue
You: “I think the main challenge here is the timing—”
Colleague: “But the deadline was—”
You: “Just a second, let me finish this.”
You: “The issue isn’t the deadline. It’s the approval stage.”
This is how it sounds in real offices.
Nothing fancy. Nothing dramatic.
How to Practice This for Real Life
Don’t just read phrases.
Practice this:
- Say a sentence out loud
- Interrupt yourself
- Pause
- Reclaim the floor
- Continue calmly
Do this until your body stops panicking.
Final Thought
Being interrupted doesn’t mean you’re wrong.
It doesn’t mean your English is bad.
It doesn’t mean you should stop.
Professional fluency is not perfect speech.
It’s staying present when things get uncomfortable.
If you can calmly continue after an interruption,
people hear confidence — even if your English isn’t perfect.
If you want, the next article can be:
- You Forget the Right Word While Speaking
- or You Lose Your Thought Mid-Sentence