in everyday English
sorry/I’m sorry
the usual word to use when apologizing to someone:
Sorry I’m late - the traffic was really bad. | I’m really sorry about all the
things I said. | We’re deeply sorry (=very sorry) for what happened. | Sorry to
bother you - can I ask you about something?
When saying that you are very
sorry, you
often say that you are so sorry: I’m so sorry about the delay. | We’re
so sorry we couldn’t be at the meeting.
excuse me/pardon me
used when you have accidentally touched or pushed someone, or made a noise such as sneezing or
yawning. Also used when interrupting someone, when you want someone to repeat something, or when
you have made a small embarrassing mistake:
Excuse me! I didn’t mean to stand on your foot. | He yawned and said ‘Pardon me!
It’s been a long day!’ | Excuse me - may we come in? | Pardon me, I didn’t
catch your name. | Excuse me, I meant to say 50, not 15.
Excuse me and
pardon
me are more common in American English than in British English. When British people
accidentally touch or push someone, or make a small embarrassing mistake, they usually say
sorry.
I beg your pardon
used when you have made a small mistake. Also used when you have not heard what someone said,
and you want them to repeat it:
‘That’s my chair.’ ‘Oh, I do beg your pardon.’ | ‘Her name is Fumie.’ ‘I beg your
pardon?’ ‘F-U-M-I-E.’
I beg your
pardon sounds a
little more formal than I’m sorry or excuse me
forgive me
used when saying that you feel sorry about something, especially when you have said or done
something that might upset, annoy, or offend someone:
Forgive me. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. | Forgive me for saying this, but you
don’t look very well.
Forgive me
sounds very
polite.
I owe you an apology
used when you have done something that you later find out to be wrong or unfair – a
slightly formal expression:
I owe you an apology for not believing you. | I think you owe him some kind of apology - you
shouldn’t have spoken to him in the way that you did.
I feel bad/terrible/awful about sth
used when telling someone that you regret something and feel sorry about it:
I feel terrible now about what I said. | I feel bad that I lied to my parents.
in formal English
I apologize/we would like to apologize
used when apologizing in a formal way when you have done something that you regret, for example
when you have offended someone. Also used in formal announcements, notices, and letters from
companies and organizations:
I apologize for my behaviour yesterday. | The airline would like to apologize for any
inconvenience caused by the cancellation of the flight. | Do you find that suggestion
offensive? If so, I apologize.
You apologize to
someone for something you have done.
please accept my/our apologies for sth
used when apologizing for something, especially in formal written English:
Please accept our apologies for the delay in responding to your email. | First of all, please
accept my apologies for any confusion about the dates of the conference.
I/we regret sth
used when telling someone about something that you apologize for, or that the other person may
feel disappointed about, especially in formal written English:
I regret that I will be unable to join you at the meeting. | We regret that on this occasion
your application has been unsuccessful. | The ‘Evening Post’ has since removed
the story from its website, and we regret the error.
replying to an apology
don’t worry/that’s OK/that’s all right
used when accepting someone’s apology in everyday spoken English:
‘Sorry, I didn’t realize that you were having dinner.’ ‘That’s
perfectly OK - feel free to join us.’ | ‘I feel really bad about all the
mess.’ ‘Don’t worry. I can always clear it up later.’
it doesn’t matter/it’s not a problem/no problem also no
worries BrE informal
used when telling someone that something is not important:
‘Sorry we’re late.’ ‘It doesn’t matter - we’ve only just
started.’ | ‘I’ve forgotten to bring any money with
me – I’m really sorry.’ ‘It’s not a problem. I
can lend you some.’
it’s no big deal/it’s not the end of the world/these things
happen
used when telling someone that something is not serious and they should not feel worried about
it:
‘I’m so sorry about the vase.’ ‘It’s not the end of the world -
we can always get another one.’ | ‘I wish we hadn’t argued.’ ‘That’s
all right. These things happen.’
forget it
used when accepting someone’s apology and quickly telling them not to worry, in a friendly
way. Also used when you still feel annoyed and do not want to talk to the other person, or
accept their apology:
‘Sorry I was so angry with you the other day.’ ‘Forget it - you had every
right to be annoyed.’ | ‘Sorry if I made you look stupid.’ ‘Just
forget it, will you!’
apology accepted
used when accepting someone’s apology. This phrase sounds rather formal and not very
friendly, and is often used when you still feel a little annoyed:
‘I’m sorry I’m late for class.’ ‘Apology accepted - but make
sure that it doesn’t happen again.’