Email Writing:Apologising

Phrases

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Key Words

•Sorry (Adj)

•Apologise (V) apologies (plural noun)

•Regret (V) formal

informal

Key Words

•Sorry (Adj)

•Apologise (V) apologies (plural noun)

•Regret (V) formal

informal

oops!

oops!

Sorry about/for sth (something)

Make stronger with very.

I’m very sorry...

Sorry about/for sth

• I’m sorry for taking so long to get back to you.

Sorry for + V+ing

Sorry about/for sth

• I’m sorry for taking so long to get back to you.

• I’m sorry about/for the delay.

Sorry for + V+ing

Sorry about/for + noun

Sorry about/for sth

• I’m sorry for taking so long to get back to you.

• I’m sorry about/for the delay.

• I am sorry (that) I missed our meeting last Thursday.

Sorry for + V+ing

Sorry about/for + noun

Sorry + (that) clause (Subj + Verb)

• I’m sorry for taking so long to get back to you.

Phrasal verbs - get back to you (contact you)

Informal - Neutral

informal

neutral

informal writing is more like speaking

• I’m sorry for taking so long to get back to you.

• I’m sorry about/for the delay.

contractions - I’m

Phrasal verbs - get back to you (contact you)

Informal - Neutral

informal

neutral

informal writing is more like speaking

• I’m sorry for taking so long to get back to you.

• I’m sorry about/for the delay.

• I'm sorry I missed our meeting last Thursday.

contractions - I’m

Phrasal verbs - get back to you (contact you)

Informal - Neutral

informal

neutral

informal writing is more like speaking

• I’m sorry for taking so long to get back to you.

• I’m sorry about/for the delay.

• I'm sorry I missed our meeting last Thursday.

• I am very sorry that I missed our meeting last Thursday.

contractions - I’m

Phrasal verbs - get back to you (contact you)

Informal - Neutral

This example is more neutral to semi-formal. There are no contractions or phrasal verbs

and the optional ‘that’ is written.

informal

neutral

informal writing is more like speaking

I/we apologise for + sth

Make stronger with sincerely.

apologize (US spelling)

I/we apologise for + sth

We sincerely apologise ...

Make stronger with sincerely.

apologize (US spelling)

I/we apologise for + sth• I apologise for the delay in replying to your email.

I apologise for + noun/V+ingI apologise for + noun/V+ing

Neutral - Formal

I/we apologise for + sth• I apologise for the delay in replying to your email.

I apologise for + noun/V+ingI apologise for + noun/V+ing

Neutral - Formal

I/we apologise for + sth• I apologise for the delay in replying to your email.

• I apologise for missing the meeting.

I apologise for + noun/V+ingI apologise for + noun/V+ing

Neutral - Formal

I/we apologise for + sth• I apologise for the delay in replying to your email.

• I apologise for missing the meeting.

• We sincerely apologise for the poor standard of service you received.

I apologise for + noun/V+ingI apologise for + noun/V+ing

Neutral - Formal

Please accept my/our apologies for...Using the plural noun apologies.

Please accept my/our apologies for...

Make stronger with sincere/sincerest.

Using the plural noun apologies.

Please accept my/our apologies for...

Please accept my sincere apologies...

Make stronger with sincere/sincerest.

Using the plural noun apologies.

Please accept my/our apologies for...

Please accept my sincere apologies...

Make stronger with sincere/sincerest.

Using the plural noun apologies.

Please accept my sincerest apologies...

Please accept my/our apologies for...

Neutral - Formal

apologies for + noun

Please accept my/our apologies for...

• Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience caused.

Neutral - Formal

apologies for + noun

‘inconvenience caused’ is a common phrase

Please accept my/our apologies for...

• Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience caused.

Neutral - Formal

apologies for + noun

‘inconvenience caused’ is a common phrase

Please accept my/our apologies for...

• Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience caused.

• Please accept my apologies for the delay in shipping your order.

Neutral - Formal

apologies for + noun

‘inconvenience caused’ is a common phrase

I/We regret...

I sincerely regret

Make stronger with sincerely/deeply/very much

I/We regret...

I sincerely regret

Make stronger with sincerely/deeply/very much

I deeply regret

I/We regret...

I sincerely regret

Make stronger with sincerely/deeply/very much

I deeply regret

I very much regret

• We regret the inconvenience caused by our computer error.

Formal

• We regret the inconvenience caused by our computer error.

• We very much regret the error / the misunderstanding / the delay...

Formal

• We regret the inconvenience caused by our computer error.

• We very much regret the error / the misunderstanding / the delay...

• We regret that the price information sent to you was incorrect.

+ noun

Formal

Here ‘we’ means ‘the company’.+ that + clause (S + V)

Summary• I am sorry for/about/(that)... Informal - Neutral

Summary• I am sorry for/about/(that)...

• I/we apologise for...

• Please accept my/our apologies for...Neutral - Formal

Informal - Neutral

Summary• I am sorry for/about/(that)...

• I/we apologise for...

• Please accept my/our apologies for...

• I/We regret ...

Neutral - FormalInformal - Neutral

Formal

Summary• I am sorry for/about/(that)...

• I/we apologise for...

• Please accept my/our apologies for...

• I/We regret ...

Neutral - FormalInformal - Neutral

Formalsincere

error/mistake

misunderstanding

delay

any inconvenience caused

oversight

the inconvenience

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Further Viewing: How to Write a Formal Business Email

How to Write an Informal Business EmailThe Grammar of Business English Emails

Formal and Informal Business Request EmailsEmail Writing: Referring to Attachments

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