Apologizing in English: Sorry, Excuses, and What to Say Back

A bumped shoulder needs one word. A missed meeting needs a real apology, a reason, and sometimes an offer to fix it. This guide sorts those situations: how strong to sound, what to say when you are late, how a formal apology differs from My bad, and what to say when someone apologizes to you.

Prefer to hear it first? The podcast episode Sorry I'm Late! 12 Ways to Apologize and Make Excuses uses these phrases in three scenes: dinner with a friend, a missed meeting, and a text from the bus.

How strong should “sorry” be?

English has a short ladder. Match the step to the size of the mistake, and to who is listening.

With friends and coworkers you know well, My bad is natural. In a serious meeting, or with a customer, it can sound too relaxed. There, say Sorry, that was my mistake.

I didn't mean to. You did it, but not on purpose. You can stop after to, or add a verb. I didn't do it on purpose means the same thing.

The verb is apologize for, then a noun or the -ing form: I apologize for being late. When a verb follows the preposition for, use its -ing form, not to + verb. That pattern, and pairs like apologize for, are in dependent prepositions. And the fixed phrase is say sorry, not tell sorry — more pairs are in say, tell, speak, and talk.

Sorry? with a rising voice means “Could you say that again?” It is a question, not an apology. Excuse me? does the same job. Pardon? is the more formal of the three. In British English, a plain sorry also covers a lot of tiny moments — including when someone else bumps into you.

Excuse me, and the sorries that aren't apologies

Excuse me gets attention, or asks for a small interruption. It is not the apology you use after you have hurt someone or missed a meeting.

Three other lines look like apologies and do a different job. Leave them in their own guides:

I'm sorry also means sympathy. Oh no, I'm so sorry — a friend tells you bad news. It does not mean it was your fault. It means you feel bad for them. More lines for that moment are in the feelings and emotions guide. Once the apology is over and you are just talking, openers and ways to leave are in small talk.

When you are late

The first words are Sorry I'm late, or Sorry for being late. Sorry for late leaves out the verb. If you write about it later, use Sorry I was late this morning.

Then give a reason. Three excuses cover most real days:

I was stuck in traffic is the same idea as traffic was terrible. The driving words around it — a flat tire, a ride, the trunk — live in the cars and driving guide, not here. I lost track of time admits that you did not notice the time. Use the reason that actually fits; no particular excuse is automatically more believable.

I'm running late is for before you arrive. You are behind schedule and you expect to be late. Say it as soon as you know, and add a time. A useful text is short: the apology, the reason, and when you will be there.

At the door, it can sound like this:

When a quick “sorry” is not enough

You forgot a birthday. You were rude. You missed a meeting and your coworker had to cover for you. A quick sorry is too small. Start with I owe you an apology. To owe usually means you need to give something back, like money. Here, you need to give an apology. I want to apologize for what I said is another clear start.

It won't happen again is the promise. It is very common at work. Say it only if you mean it. If the same thing happens next week, the sentence is worth nothing.

To make it up to someone means to do something good, so they feel better after your mistake. You can offer, or you can ask.

A full apology often has three parts: I owe you an apology, it won't happen again, and an offer to make it up to them. At a desk it can be short:

In a professional email, Please accept my apologies for the delay is the formal line. I apologize for the delay is more direct and also appropriate at work. The greeting, the request, and the closing belong to a normal work email — those phrases are in business email phrases.

What to say when someone apologizes

For a small thing, No worries means it's okay. You will also hear No problem, It's fine, and Don't worry about it. No harm done fits when nothing bad really happened — someone steps on your foot, or knocks your bag, and you are all right.

For a bigger apology, Apology accepted closes it. It is a little more serious than No worries. With a warm voice it is friendly: Apology accepted. Let's forget about it. With a flat voice it can sound like you are still upset. The tone does as much work as the words.

You do not have to close it. If you are not ready, say Thanks for saying that. I just need a little time. That is polite, and it is clear. If it was not their fault at all: Don't be sorry! It's not your fault.

Common mistakes

“Sorry for late.” Say Sorry I'm late, or Sorry for being late. Sorry for late leaves out the verb. If you write about it later, use Sorry I was late this morning.

“I excuse me” for a real mistake. Excuse me asks for attention. A past mistake takes I'm sorry or I owe you an apology.

“My bad” in a formal apology. With friends and coworkers you know well, My bad is natural. In a serious meeting, or with a customer, it can sound too relaxed. There, say Sorry, that was my mistake.

“I apologize to be late.” Use for and the -ing form.

“Tell sorry.” The phrase is say sorry.

Quick exercise

Choose the line that fits. For 1–6, pick the better sentence. For 7 and 8, complete the reply.

1. You are twenty minutes late to meet a friend. (a) Sorry for late. (b) Sorry I'm late.
2. You took your friend's pen by accident. (a) My bad. (b) Please accept my apologies for the inconvenience.
3. You are writing to a client about a missed deadline. (a) My bad about the deadline. (b) I apologize for missing the deadline.
4. Your boss kept you for “one more thing,” so you left late. (a) I got held up at work. (b) I excuse me for the work.
5. You were reading and didn't notice the time. (a) I lost track of time. (b) I lost the time.
6. You want to do something nice after forgetting a birthday. (a) Let me make it up to you. (b) Let me make you up.
7. A friend says “Sorry I'm late!” and the movie hasn't started. You answer: ___.
8. A coworker says “I owe you an apology for yesterday,” and you are ready to close it. You answer: ___.

Frequently asked questions

Is it “Sorry for late” or “Sorry I'm late”?

Say Sorry I'm late, or Sorry for being late. Sorry for late leaves out the verb. If you write about it later, use Sorry I was late this morning.

Can I say “My bad” to my boss?

With friends and coworkers you know well, My bad is natural. In a serious meeting, or with a customer, it can sound too relaxed. There, say Sorry, that was my mistake.

What do you say when someone apologizes to you?

For a small thing, No worries means it's okay. No harm done fits when nothing bad really happened. For a bigger apology, Apology accepted closes it. If you are not ready, say Thanks for saying that. I just need a little time.