How to say sorry in English
“There’s no harder word than ‘sorry'” (sorry seems to be the hardest word), sings Elton John. And it is impossible not to agree with him. Sometimes admitting guilt and apologizing can be very difficult. But knowing the right words will make apologizing in English that much easier.
I’m sorry, I’m sorry.
When you’re in a hurry to step on someone’s foot, push others, or engage in other awkward activities that don’t cause anyone much harm, just say sorry. Or I’m sorry to make the apology more warm and personal. When apologizing to a friend, you could use the slang oops , sorry, or my bad.
Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t see you there. – I’m sorry, I didn’t see you there.
– You took my cup. – You took my cup. – My bad. I didn’t know it was yours. – My bad. I didn’t know it was yours.
Speaking of slang. British young people often sin with the abbreviation soz in Internet correspondence. History is silent on how the word sorry turned into soz, but there is such a word. Although, if you’re aiming for beautiful English even in a chat with friends, you shouldn’t use it.
Dude soz 4got ur book. – Dude, sorry, forgot your book.
In England it is very important to be on time for meetings and events. So if you are late, apologize with the phrase Sorry, I’m lat e or use more formal expressions – Sorry for keeping you waiting , I am sorry for my being late.
The traffic was horrible. I’m sorry for keeping you waiting. – The traffic was horrible. Sorry for keeping you waiting.
When it’s serious.
If you are apologising for a bigger problem, such as throwing tea at a colleague, you could add the words so, very, really, incredibly, terribly, extremely, deeply.
I’m so sorry I lost your book. – I’m so sorry I lost your book.
We are terribly sorry for missing the class last week. – We are terribly sorry for missing the class last week.
I’m deeply sorry for letting you down. – I’m so sorry. I let you down so much.
As you may have noticed, the more serious the situation, the more words you have to use. Especially since there is a new trend gaining momentum in the world – people are seeking not just a dry apology for a particular transgression, but an explanation of exactly why they are asking for forgiveness.
If you find that idea interesting and right, then the phrases I’m sorry about something and I’m sorry for doing something are for you. You must use a noun after about and a gerund after for.
I’m sorry about the accident . – I’m sorry about the accident.
I’m sorry for bothering you while you were sleeping. – I’m sorry for bothering you while you were sleeping.
When things are even more serious.
As far as formal apologies are concerned, a simple sorry doesn’t do the trick. Now it’s time to use the verb to apologize: I’d like ( I want ) + to apologize for + smth / doing smth / how I … / what I …
I would like to apologize for how I reacted yesterday. – I would like to apologize for how I reacted yesterday.
We can also use the noun an apology , then the apology will look like this – My apologies for + doing smth / how I … / what I …
My apologies for what I said. It was insensitive of me. – My apologies for what I said. It was insensitive of me.
If you feel responsible for something that went wrong through your fault, use the phrase I do apologize for … The verb do gives more meaning to the word that follows it.
I do apologize for the mix-up. I should have given the clearer instructions to the team. – I apologize for the mix-up. I should have given clearer instructions to the team.
The phrase I owe you an apology for … would be perfect in a situation where you realize you’ve accused a person of misconduct they did not commit.
I owe you an apology for thinking it was you who ate my sandwich from the staff’s fridge. – I owe you an apology for thinking it was you who ate my sandwich from the staff’s fridge.
Now consider the best options for formal apologies in writing .
For example, I profusely / sincerely / unreservedly apologize for … and I take full responsibility for ….
I sincerely apologize for my actions. – I sincerely apologize for my actions.
I take full responsibility for not meeting the deadline. – I take full responsibility for not meeting deadlines.
Also in official written language the expression to accept my / our ( sincere ) apologies is used.
We agree that this was the company’s fault and ask you to accept our sincere apologies. – We agree that this was our company’s fault and ask you to accept our sincere apologies.
When making a formal statement, it is best to use the phrase we regret.
We regret to announce that tonight’s show has been cancelled. – We regret to announce that tonight’s show has been cancelled.
Excuse me vs. sorry
Also in English there is the phrase excuse me. How is it different from sorry? Which one should we use in what situations?
The English use excuse me when they want to interrupt someone, get their attention, ask for help or pass by someone who is blocking the way.
Excuse me , could you repeat the last sentence ? I couldn’t hear you well. – Excuse me , could you repeat the last sentence. I couldn’t hear you well.
Excuse me, can you show me the way to the Main Square? – Excuse me, can you show me the way to Main Square?
Please excuse me for a moment. I must make an important phone call. – Excuse me, I need a moment to make an important phone call.
Excuse me, can I pass? – Excuse me, can I pass?
Now you know exactly how and in what situations you should apologize. But what should you say to people who apologize to you? Let’s watch a video to help us figure this out.
Expressions from the video:
- That’s okay / all right . – That’s okay / all right.
- No problem / worries . – There’s no problem.
- Don’t worry about it . – Don’t worry about it.
- It’s all good . – It’s all good .
- Apology accepted . – Apology accepted .
- All is forgiven . – I forgive you .
- I forgive you . – I forgive you .
- That’s quite all right . – That’s quite all right .
- No harm done. – No harm done.
- No need to apologise.
Now the tricky English won’t take you by surprise with their apologies
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Apologies in English: sorry, pardon, excuse me and others
If you have ever been to England, we are sure that you have experienced English politeness. English people say sorry when they do something wrong, when they have upset you, when they want to sympathize or when they want to disturb you or when you have disturbed them. Have you ever stepped on someone’s foot and the person apologized before you? Let’s find out how best to apologize in English.
Phrases to apologize in English
There are many ways to apologize depending on the situation, who you are apologizing to and how you feel. You probably already know all these words and expressions, but we decided to write about it in more detail.
There are many ways to apologize depending on the situation, who you are apologizing to and how you feel. You probably already know all these words and expressions, but we decided to write about it in more detail.
I’m so / very / extremely / terribly sorry. I am terribly sorry
This phrase is very similar to sorry – sorry, but by adding an additional word we get a more emotional coloring.
We inspire you to learn English from the first lesson! Check out our free online lesson.
I’m so sorry I ruined your Thanksgiving. I’m so sorry I ruined your Thanksgiving.
I can’t believe I forgot to book a table. I’m very sorry! I can’t believe I forgot to book a table. I’m very sorry!
How careless of me! How careless of me!
We use this phrase when we criticize ourselves for mistakes. For example:
I’ve just broken your glass of wine, how careless of me! I’ll buy you a new set. I just broke your glass of wine, how careless of me. I’ll buy you a new set.
It’s all my fault!
This phrase can be heard when a person wants to take all the blame.
For example, It’s all my fault we were late to the party. We shouldn’t have gone shopping for so long. It’s my fault we were late for the party. We shouldn’t have gone shopping for so long.
I shouldn’t have done something.
We use the phrase when we realize that we did something that we should not have done and now regret it.
For example: I shouldn’t have shouted at you last night. I didn’t mean what I said. I shouldn’t have shouted at you last night. I did not mean what I said.
He shouldn’t have let you in. He shouldn’t have let you in.
I hope you can forgive me. Please forgive me. I hope you can forgive me. Please forgive me.
This expression can be heard when asking forgiveness from someone who has been offended by something.
For example: I know I was rude yesterday. Anyway, I hope you can forgive me. I know I was harsh yesterday. Anyway, I hope you can forgive me. Please forgive me for not having called you earlier. Please forgive me for not calling you earlier. Please forgive me just this once. Please forgive me just this once.
Please don’t be mad at me. Please don’t be mad at me.
It is quite a colloquial phrase that can be used in a situation when you have done something and you don’t want to be angry with someone.
Please don’t be mad at me for telling you the truth. Please don’t be mad at me for telling you the truth.
I apologize for… / I’d like to apologise for…
Such phrases of apology can be heard in a more formal setting or in business correspondence.
I apologise for the delay in replying to your email.
I’d like to apologize for my insensitive comment earlier. I would like to apologize for my inappropriate comment.
I cannot say / express how sorry I am. I cannot say / express how sorry I am.
This is a very emotional apology. It is used when we realize our mistake, but cannot find the right words to show how sincerely sorry we are for what happened.
And I wanted to say how sorry I am about what happened the other night at the restaurant. And I wanted to say how sorry I am about what happened the other night at the restaurant.
I cannot express how sorry I am for telling Jil your secret. I had no idea she would break up with you. I can’t express how sorry I am for telling Jil your secret. I had no idea she would break up with you.
Please accept my sincere apologies. Please accept my sincere apologies.
This phrase is, so to speak, the most formal in our list of apologies. It is most often seen in business correspondence.
Please accept my sincere apologies for my impertinence. Please accept my sincere apologies for my disrespect.
We hope our selection of phrases will help you sound more sincere and polite in English, and in the end we would like to discuss the difference between sorry, excuse me and pardon.
Excuse me
The phrase is used when addressing a stranger. When you want to get his or her attention. It is the same as if you called out to a boyfriend or girlfriend.
Excuse me, could I have the bill, please?
Excuse me! Let me help you. Excuse me! Let me help you.
Another situation, making your way through the crowd you say Excuse me thereby attracting the attention of others and asking them to let you pass.
Excuse me, can I get by?
You have a cold. Sneezed, coughed… According to the rules of etiquette, we usually use the phrase Excuse me!
Achoo! Excuse me, please! Achoo! Excuse me, please!
Pardon
It is very noisy on the street and you did not hear your interlocutor and would like him to repeat what he said again. Feel free to use the word Pardon only with a questioning intonation.
Pardon? I didn’t hear what you said. Sorry, I did not hear what you said.
The phrase Pardon me? is used in situations when you feel that you may have been offended. Thus expressing that you are waiting for an explanation from the person.
Pardon? What did you just say? What did you just say?
Sorry
This is a very common word and it is used in a lot of situations:
- we bump into someone in the street. Sorry!
- we want to attract someone’s attention in a conversation. For example, I’m sorry to cut in, but .
- we sympathize with someone. I’m sorry to hear that.
- we know we did something wrong. You are late for the meeting. Sorry I’m late. Please note that this is a “weak” apology so do not use it if you have done something very wrong and serious – such a sorry will not sound sincere enough!
That’s all for now. We suggest to consolidate the material to make one sentence with these phrases. We will definitely read and check these comments.
