How to formally apologise and to respond to an apology in English?
When you interact with people at work it's unavoidable that sometimes you might find yourself in situations where you will have to apologise. In your mother tongue this goes naturally, but in English you may not immediately know how to react and what to say. So it's best to prepare!
Being able to apologise is important if you want to build a relationship at work. You don't want to come across rude by not being able to say something or by saying the wrong apology. Depending on the context or circumstances you find yourself in there are many ways to say 'sorry' or to politely apologise in English.
We give you an overview of useful expressions in English you can use in a formal work setting to apologise or respond to an apology.
1. How to apologise in English
There are several ways to say sorry depending on the situation. It's important to understand the differences between these expressions because using the wrong one could make you sound rude.
How to say sorry for something you did
- I'm sorry.
- I'm truly sorry.
- I (want to) sincerely apologise [more formal].
- I owe you an apology [for something serious].
- Please accept my apology for ...
How to say sorry in certain worksituations
At work you might land in certain situations where you'll want to apologise to a colleague. Let's give you some expressions you can use in these cases:
- (I'm) Sorry for the late reply. (e.g. email)
- (I'm) Sorry for being late. (e.g. for a meeting)
- (I'm) Sorry I couldn’t attend the meeting.
- Pardon (me)? [If you'd like someone to repeat wht they've said.]
- I’m sorry to bother you but ... [If you interrupt someone and ask for something.]
How to say sorry when you made a mistake
When you made a mistake at work it's important you are able to admit it to your colleagues. Everyone makes mistakes. As terrible as it might feel in the moment, by admitting your mistake you take your first step to regain trust and minimise any possible damage.
- My bad!/It was my bad. [For a small mistake. It's also a bit informal.]
- Sorry, I didn’t mean to do that. [For a minor, unintentional mistake.]
- I'm sorry, that was my fault.
- You can blame me for that. [To take the blame.]
How to say sorry in formal letters or emails
- Please accept my sincere apologies for ...
- I'm truly sorry for ...
- I take full responsibility for ...
- It was wrong to ...
- I deeply regret this mistake has happened.
2. How to respond to an apology in English
If someone apologises to you, it is equally important to be able to respond appropriately. Here, too, you have many options in English to express that you accept or refuse someone's apology.
How to accept someone's apology
- Don't worry!
- It's ok /It's (absolutely) fine.
- No problem (at all).
- Apology accepted.
- Don't worry about it. It can happen to anyone.
How to refuse someone's apology
- I appreciate your apology, but ...
- (I'm sorry but) I can't accept your apology. /
- I can't forgive you for that.
Apologising and responding to apologies is an essential part of effective communication in any professional setting. By using appropriate language and tone, you can convey sincerity and take responsibility for your actions, or accept someone else's apology graciously.
We hope the key phrases and examples provided in this blog post have been helpful in guiding you through this process and improving your English communication skills.
Remember, a genuine apology and a sincere acceptance can go a long way in building and maintaining positive professional relationships.
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