How to say it · How you feel

Saying I'm confused

Someone is explaining something and you've lost the thread. You need to stop them politely, without sounding slow or making them feel bad.

6 ways to say it

How formalCasualFormal

Sorry, I'm not followingbest default You've lost mefriendly and funny I'm a bit confusedsimple and honest Could you run that by me again?replay please I'm not sure I understandcareful and polite Could you clarify what you mean by that?formal check

Way 1 · best default

Sorry, I'm not following

Polite and soft. It says you've lost the thread, not that they explained badly.

How formalMiddle

ToneNeutral

Use itAnywhere

Examples

Sorry, I'm not following. Which form do I need?

Sorry, I'm not following. Can you go back to the part about the bus?

In a conversation

A: So you go left at the lights, then it's the second right after the old church...
B: Sorry, I'm not following. Left at the lights, and then?

Common mistake

Not: ~~I don't understand what you say.~~

Say: Sorry, I'm not following.

"I don't understand what you say" can sound like a complaint. "Not following" sounds softer and friendlier.

Practice saying this

Next: You've lost me

Way 2 · friendly and funny

You've lost me

Casual and a bit funny. You got confused somewhere along the way.

How formalVery casual

ToneCasual

Use itWith friends

Examples

Wait, you've lost me. Who's Dan again?

You lost me at "blockchain", to be honest.

In a conversation

A: So the brother is actually the dad, but from the future...
B: OK, you've lost me.

Practice saying this

Next: I'm a bit confused

Way 3 · simple and honest

I'm a bit confused

Simple and clear. Good when something doesn't match what you expected.

How formalCasual

ToneNeutral

Use itAnywhere

Examples

I'm a bit confused. I thought the meeting was on Tuesday.

I'm a bit confused about the bill. We only ordered two drinks.

Practice saying this

Next: Could you run that by me again?

Way 4 · replay please

Could you run that by me again?

Asks someone to explain it one more time. Friendly and common at work.

How formalMiddle

ToneNeutral

Use itAt work

Examples

Could you run that by me again? I missed the middle bit.

Sorry, could you run that by me again, slowly this time?

Common mistake

Not: ~~Can~~ you ~~repeat~~ again?

Say: Could you run that by me again?

"Repeat" already means "say again", so "repeat again" says it twice. Just "Could you repeat that?" works too.

Practice saying this

Next: I'm not sure I understand

Way 5 · careful and polite

I'm not sure I understand

Tentative and respectful. You suspect you've misunderstood and want to check.

How formalFormal

ToneNeutral

Use itAnywhere

Examples

I'm not sure I understand. Do I pay the deposit now or later?

I'm not sure I understand why we need two different forms.

Practice saying this

Next: Could you clarify what you mean by that?

Way 6 · formal check

Could you clarify what you mean by that?

Formal and precise. Asks about one word or point you didn't understand.

How formalVery formal

ToneFormal

Use itAt work

Examples

Could you clarify what you mean by that? Is it a delay or a cancellation?

You said "phase two". Could you clarify what you mean by that?

In a conversation

A: We'll need to restructure the timeline going forward.
B: Could you clarify what you mean by that? Are we moving the launch date?

Practice saying this

Test yourself: which would you say?

Pick the right one

Which would you say?

Read the moment, then choose the way that fits it best.

Now say it out loud

Pick one and practise it in a real conversation. Save the ones you want to remember.

Sorry, I'm not following You've lost me I'm a bit confused Could you run that by me again?

Which would you say?

Now say it out loud

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