How to Apologise in English
A good apology matches the situation — a quick "sorry" for something small, a fuller apology for something that matters. Here are phrases from casual to formal, so you can say it the right way.
Casual
— for small, everyday things“Sorry!”
Casual and quick — fine for small, everyday slips.
“My bad.”
Very informal; only with friends, and mostly spoken.
Polite
— for most situations“I'm sorry about that.”
Polite and natural for most situations.
“I apologise for the confusion.”
Polite and slightly formal; common in emails.
Formal
— for work or serious matters“Please accept my apologies.”
Formal; good for work or a more serious mistake.
“I'm very sorry for the inconvenience.”
Formal; standard for customer service and business writing.
Tip
Match the apology to the mistake: a quick "sorry" for something small, and a fuller "I apologise for…" when it actually matters.
Frequently asked
What's the most formal way to apologise?
"Please accept my apologies" and "I'm very sorry for the inconvenience" are the most formal — common in business emails and customer service. "My bad" is the most casual and should stay between friends.
Is "sorry" enough?
For small things, yes. For anything that affected someone, add what you're sorry for and, if you can, how you'll fix it: "I'm sorry for the delay — I'll send it right away."