Elevating Your Apologies: Advanced Alternatives to "I'm Sorry"
'I'm sorry' is overused, boring and can make you seem weak - improve your spoken English with these 17 alternative phrases for 'I think'. STOP saying 'I'm sorry' and say this instead!
- I owe you an apology for…
Example: I owe you an apology for what happened in Christmas party.
- I take full responsibility for my actions.
Example: I take full responsibility for my actions – I should never have let my hair down in such an unprofessional way.
To let your hair down: - to allow yourself to behave much more freely than usual and enjoy yourself.
- It was wrong of me/on my part…
Example:
I hadn’t actually planned to attend. I just stopped by on the way home from the pub. This was wrong on my part.
- I’m so/very sorry…
Example:
I am so very sorry for telling the receptionist that she looked like a marshmallow – her pink frilly dress was actually very cute.
- I’m ever so sorry…
Example:
I’m ever so sorry for loudly discussing how low our salaries are – this should’ve been discussed in private.
- I’m terribly/awfully sorry…
Example:
I’m awfully sorry for starting a very successful conga whilst you were trying to deliver your wonderful, yearly ‘thank you’ speech.
- It was thoughtless/careless of me…
Example:
It was completely thoughtless of me to shout out ‘hey lady this isn’t the Oscars, get a move on’ when I thought your speech had gone on a little wrong.
- I sincerely apologise…
Example:
I sincerely apologise for acting so despicably with your husband.
Despicable: - deserving hatred and contempt.
- I hope you can forgive me…
Example:
I hope you can forgive me for pulling your husband onto the dancefloor, using his tie.
- I hope I can be forgiven…
Example:
I hope I can be forgiven for dragging him on to the buffet table with me.
- I didn’t mean too…
Example:
I didn’t mean to get sour cream dip all over his trousers.
- I shouldn’t have…
Example:
I really shouldn’t have tried to clean the dip off there and then.
there and then: - immediately, in that moment.
- I deeply regret…
Example:
I deeply regret telling you to ‘back off and find your own man!’ when you came over to help.
- I messed up…
Example:
I messed up when I tried to start a fistfight with you.
Fistfight: - a fight between people using their hands but no weapons.
- I was in the wrong…
Example:
When I caught you in the headlock, I was in the wrong.
Headlock: - a method of restraining someone by holding an arm firmly around their head, especially as a hold in wrestling.
- I really hope you can find it within you to…
Example:
I really hope you can find it within you to drop the assault charges against me.
To drop charge: - to no longer officially accuse someone of a crime.
- It won’t happen again…
Example:
I really promise it won’t happen again. So…can I have my job back?