I agree that women say "sorry" more than men, though in the U.K. both sexes tend to use it when they're not quite sure it was only the other person at fault. This is sensible as it is likely to defuse an angry reaction and acts as acknowledgement that something undesired happened. I remember in Finland seeing to hurrying men collide on the pavement with considerable force and then move apart again like two asteroids which had collided without destroying one another, with no word said.
However, if in a 50-50 sort of situation, I say sorry and you don't, I feel put in an unfair position where I seem to have admitted fault. So there are dangers. In a 50-50, "Woops!" or similar is better - in the U.K. - than saying nothing.
As for "excuse me", a lot depends on how it's said. I can imagine it said in a posh accent, slowly, with huge emphasis, and this Brit would take offence. Interestingly, I'd dislike "Would you like to close the door?" because it would sound like heavy irony, exaggerated politeness behind which lay the meaning, "Close the door, you stupid *****!" |