100 Examples of How to Professionally Apologize in an Email (2023)

Wondering how to apologize in an email?

When it comes to apologizing, sometimes finding the right words is easier said than done. Admitting a mistake, learning to apologize, and overcoming a mistake are essential skills for career development because we all make mistakes at work.

This blog post gives you 100 professional apology examples to help you understand how to professionally apologize in an email. We provide you apology statements and sample sentences that will make your apology messages feel sincere.

When you've finished reading you'll know exactly what to say in an apology the next time you need to apologize and make amends.

If you get stuck, try itFloritaApology templates to make your apology emails look more than just a cut and paste apology note:

how to apologize

Everyone makes mistakes at work; Dealing with them defines you personally and professionally. So how do you apologize professionally?

If you made a mistake, you probably feel stressed. You may need help composing an apology to your boss, sending an apology email to a client, or finding out how to apologize to a client.

Whatever the reason you're looking for an apology email, we can help you learn how to sincerely apologize.

When considering how to professionally apologize for a mistake, be sincere, not cynical.say the researchers. That means apologizing and saving the ifs and buts for later.

An effective apology is acknowledging what you did wrong and admitting it. Well, it sounds easy, but it's not. But to save face, many of us try to put an apology in perspective, which can affect how it's received. How does this work?

"I'm sorry I made a mistake, I was under pressure then."

Just say "I'm sorry" and not "I'm sorry, but...".

Other important apology tags include using active voice and first person. If you made a mistake and you're sorry, say "I'm sorry" instead of "I'm sorry."

When should you apologize at work?

We all make mistakes at work, and we're always learning and improving. In most cases, you'll know you did it wrong and you need to apologize.

We have divided the types of apologies into three categories.

1. Professional mistakes

Here are some of the reasons you might need to send a professional error apology email:

Apology email for missing the deadline
I'm sorry I missed a meeting
Sorry for the late sending of documents
I'm sorry I forgot something
Sorry I didn't reply to an email
Sorry for sending the wrong attachment to the email
I'm sorry I didn't see an email
Sorry for a typo in an email
Sorry I forgot to do something
Sorry for the lack of communication
Sorry I added too many people to the email thread (this can be messy and annoying,So I could use CC and BCC better)

2. Personal slip-ups

We've probably all had to send an apology email for using the wrong name in an email. It is an example of an easy-to-use standard ID card. Here are some others...

Apologies for using the wrong name in an email (here are someTips for creating email intros)
Apology email for emailing the wrong person
Apologies for using the wrong job title
Apologies for using the wrong company name
Sorry for addressing someone of the wrong gender

3. Technical Issues

You may need to apologize for a technical issue with a software, system, or solution. Here are some examples of technical issues that may require an apology.

Sorry for sending too many emails
Sorry for the server outages
Sorry for the service outage
Apology email for technical issues
Sorry for the system downtime

How to apologize when...

Not everything in business is black and white. Sometimes there are gray areas. In this section, we look at some of the situations in which you may need to ask for forgiveness in slightly different ways, including:

Other ways to say sorry without asking for forgiveness
How to apologize when you're not wrong
How to apologize for saying something you didn't mean
How to apologize when both are wrong

Let's dive into the details.

Other ways to say sorry without asking for forgiveness

It may seem strange, but sometimes you need to know how to say sorry without apologizing, but it's a skill you need to know.

This situation can occur when, for example, a customer did not understand how a product or service works, could not update some software, or lost their login.

Here is an example of how to say sorry without apologizing.

"I'm sorry to hear that you were unable to access our online platform. We recently informed you that your password has changed. Please use the new password that we sent to you. If you are still If you have any problems logging in, please don't hesitate to contact me again."

How to apologize when you're not wrong

The first rule of business is that the customer is always right (even when wrong).

It may seem strange to apologize when you're right, but sometimes it's necessary to protect the public perception of your organization. Here's an example of how to apologize when you're not wrong.

"I apologize for my last email. I understand that my message upset you and that it was not my intention. I now appreciate the mistake I made. I can assure you that I will never make the same one again will make mistakes."

How to apologize for saying something you didn't mean

Sometimes we can say or write things that others can misinterpret. It's important to respect the other person's feelings and express their regret. It is also important to ensure that the error does not appear again. This is how it can work.

How to apologize when both are wrong

In some situations, both parties are wrong and both need to apologize. Here's how to apologize when you're both wrong (and how to make things right).

"I apologize for the misunderstanding and miscommunication that caused us to have the issues we did. Upon reflection, there are mistakes on both sides, but the important thing is to find a solution that benefits both of us. I look forward to working with you to find the right solution."

100 examples of apologies

There are almost endless ways to say sorry, but here are 100 of our favorites. These are divided into categories to help you choose the most appropriate excuse for any situation.

How to write a personal apology

Here are some examples of how to write a personal apology to someone you know.

I sincerely apologize
I am very sorry
I am very sorry
I deeply apologize
I would like to sincerely apologize for...
I would like to sincerely apologize for...
I would like to sincerely apologize for...
I apologize for not...
I apologize for the confusion
I apologize for what happened
My apologies for the many emails (don't apologize for thatwhen you apply for a job)
I apologize for the mistake I made
I apologize on behalf of the company
I apologize for any grammatical errors (and here it ishow to say thank you for the hint!)
Excuse my mistake
sorry for my actions
sorry for spoiling
I'm sorry for any misunderstanding I may have caused.
I'm sorry I disappointed you
I am sorry and I apologize for...
We're sorrybothers you again
I'm sorry and I apologize for the inconvenience caused
I am so sorry
I beg your pardon
I have to apologize for forgetting (here it isHow to send a reminder)

Please accept my apologies for the error.
Please accept my sincere apologies for the inconvenience caused
please accept my sincere apologies for the delay
Please accept my apologies for the late reply.
Please excuse the short notice.
Sorry I forgot to attach (...my summary)
I am sorry for that mistake
I apologize for the delay in sending the document
I apologize for the confusion
I apologize for overlooking your email
I apologize for my absence...
I apologize for the last minuteapplication...
Many apologies for...
I apologize for...
A big apology for...
A formal apology for...
A sincere apology for...
A personal apology for...

Sorry for the typo
sorry for the problem
Sorry for the confusion
I am sorry for my actions
Sorry for the mishap
sorry for the problem
sorry for my behavior
sorry for the oversight
Sorry to bother you
sorry i don't respect you
Sorry for my incompetence
sorry for wasting your time
Sorry for the inconveniences
Excuse the misunderstanding
Sorry for the short notice
sorry for not replying to you earlier
Sorry for the delay in sending the report
I'm sorry I confused you
I regret to inform you ... (e.g.that you are leaving the company)
sorry i was wrong
I'm sorry, it was a mistake
Sorry I said something wrong
I'm sorry I missed your visit.
I'm sorry I missed your email.
I'm sorry I couldn't come to the meeting.

Examples of business apologies

These apology examples are suitable for writing as a representative of a company, firm, organization or service provider.

we sincerely apologize
we apologize very much
We sincerely apologize for
we sincerely apologize
We would like to apologize for this...
We apologize for the error and the inconvenience.
We apologize for any misunderstandings
We apologize for the mistake
We apologize for the error.
We sincerely apologize for...
Please accept our sincere apologies for...
Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience.

How do I apologize at the end of an email?

We encourage you to apologize in advance, but sometimes you want to leave one at the end. So here's the apology at the bottom of an email.

... My biggest apology.
... My deepest apologies.
... I am deeply sorry.
... I am sincerely sorry.
... I'm sorry for my mistakes.
... I am very sorry for the inconvenience.

...Sorry for the inconveniences.
... sorry for the handicap.
...sorry for pressing.
...Sorry for the late information.
...I'm sorry again.
...sorry if there is an error in...
... Again sorry for the inconvenience.
...with regret,
...with my apologies,

...We would like to apologize in advance for the inconvenience.
...We are very sorry for the problems that have arisen.
...We apologize for the inconvenience.
... We apologize for the inconvenience.
... We are sorry and we apologize for the error.
...We apologize for the inconvenience caused.
... Our deep and sincere apologies.
...We apologize again for the inconvenience caused.

Apology email format

As you can see, there are hundreds of ways to say sorry, but luckily there is only one accepted format.

Researchers examine effective apology emailshave found that there is a standard structure that includes:

greeting
gratitude
We're sorry
explanation
Conclusion
Deregistration/Signature

We can translate researchers' findings into a professional email format. As we've noted in previous blogs, every professional apology letter has five parts:

subject line
Greeting by email
Opening line and body of the email
Email Completion
email company

Here's a visual representation of how the apology email format works in practice.

Subject line: (subject line)

Dear (Recipient's First Name) (Recipient's Last Name),

(opening line of the email)

(text of email)

(last sentence of the email)

(unsubscribe via email)

(your first name your last name)

(email company)

Let's take a closer look at each of these parts.

sorry email subject line

Each subject line is short and to the point, so we recommend including an apology up front and not hiding it in the body of the message.

Some examples of acceptable apology email subject lines are:

Please accept my apologies
Confused about my last message?
We made a mistake
An apology from <company name>
An apology from <your name>
I'm sincerely sorry

These are examples you can apply to your apology messages. We recommend looking for ways to personalize them where possible, including details relevant to your clients, managers, or teams.

sorry, greetings

An apology is an official email, so follow accepted rules and formal greetings when deciding how to start an apology email. The rules for starting an apology letter are pretty simple; Use "Dear <First Name, Last Name> if you know the person.

If you're apologizing for something, chances are you know his full name. If this is not the case, you can use an appropriate collective term such as "Dear customer" or "Dear team".

learn more aboutprofessional greetings by emailin our article.

three parts of an apology

There are three parts to a sincere apology, says Jeffrey Bernstein, Ph.D., inpsychology today. Every great apology includes:

recognition– Admit you did something wrong and say it clearly.
Empathy– It is important to understand how your actions and mistakes made the other person feel and what this may mean for them.
Restitution– You asked for forgiveness and realized that the emotional impact is great; Now say what you will do to make things better. Making amends is about restoring respect and building a better and stronger relationship.

We use this structure in our examples, so read on to see how it might work in practice.

How to spot an error in an email

With the three-part apology model developed by Bernstein, we can tackle the hardest part: how to spot an error in an email.

Here are some examples of how to admit your mistakes, make it clear that you understand the problem, and accept that it's your fault:

It's my fault that...
I made a mistake
I made a mistake
I made a terrible mistake
I have made a big mistake
I admit I made a mistake when...
I accidentally left out your name in my last email
A correction to my previous email...
that won't happen again

How to close an apology email

The principles for closing an apology email are all about setting the stage for a stronger and better future relationship. It of course depends on the fault, the relationship and what needs to be fixed. Still, there are some positive ways to close an apology email:

I look forward to working with you in the future
I have faith that we can get this situation over with.
We will never make the same mistake again and hope you will continue to work with us.
We look forward to continuing our partnership.
I hope this apology will close matters and allow us to move forward positively.

In case you want to know moreEmail Closing Phrasesread our article on this topic.

Examples of apology emails

As we've found, creating professional apology emails isn't easy, but if you follow the structure above and our tips, you can create effective apology emails.

Here are three examples of email apologies that illustrate how to apologize at work in different everyday situations.

1. Customer apology email

Writing an apology message to a customer means following the format above and structuring a response that acknowledges the issues and provides a positive way forward. In this example of apologizing to a customer for a mistake, we've provided a standard apology letter that you can customize to suit your circumstances.

Subject line: My sincere apologies

Lieber Simon Schmidt,

I would like to sincerely apologize for the poor service you received from us at (company name). We are aware that we did not meet your expectations and we understand your frustration and upset.

All of us at (company name) would like to sincerely apologize for the service you have received. Given your experiences, we're making changes to ensure this never happens again.

We hope you will continue to work with us and look forward to hearing from you in due course.

Your,

Juan Alison

2. Customer Apology Email

Depending on your business, service, or industry, this customer service apology template can help you restore trust and respect.

Some of the reasons you might need to send an apology email to a customer:

Apology email to customer for late delivery
Apologies to a customer for a mistake
Apologies to a customer for the long wait
Apologies to a customer for the late reply
Apologies to a customer for poor service
Apology email to customer for poor service
Customer Apology Email for Damaged Product

Here's an example of an apology email to a customer that you can use in different situations.

Subject line: Please accept our apologies

Lieber Simon Schmidt,

I would like to apologize for our mistakes in handling your previous order. Unfortunately, your order was delayed due to circumstances beyond our control. We understand the impact this delay has had on your business and want to assure you that it will not happen again.

You are a valued customer and we hope you will continue to trust us with your business. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further.

Your,

Juan Alison

3. Email apology to boss

There are many situations that require an apology email or an apology to a boss. Still, they can all be managed with our template on how to apologize to a boss for your mistake.

We have adhered to the structure previously outlined in this apology.message to a boss, delivers a simple apology with a focus on the future.

Subject line: I'm sincerely sorry

Lieber Simon Schmidt,

I want to apologize for the mistakes I've made lately. However, I am proud of my work and know that it reflects badly on me and the organization.

I want to assure you that I am striving to improve and will ensure that I never make those mistakes again. I would like to personally thank you for your support and will repay you in the future.

Finally, I would like to thank you for continuing to trust me, it is much appreciated.

Careful,

Juan Alison

Flowwrite Apology Templates

Floritais an artificial intelligence writing tool that turns your instructions into ready-to-send emails and messages in seconds.

It takes care of email structure, capitalization, grammar, spelling, punctuation, whatever. Essentially, you can focus on your thoughts and ideas, and Flowwrite will give them wings. We dare say this is the fastest way to write better emails.

OurAI template collectionoffers dozens of email templates that can help you with all aspects of apology emails.

To understand how easy and fast it is to write an apology message with Flowwrite, just look at the exampleresolve a customer complaintunder.

Conclusion

Admitting a mistake can be challenging, but shows a maturity that demands respect.

We all make mistakes, so we also need to know how to apologize both at work and in our personal lives. While "I'm sorry" is the most commonly used apology statement, it's generally not enough that you have to think about what to say in an apology given the context.

This blog post on apology emails and apology messages has introduced you to over 100 example sentences that can help you figure out what to say when you apologize, so make sure you use them wisely.

Likewise,FloritaThe apology template can help you with apology statements in emails when you have questions about how to make things right.

If you found this article helpful, we encourage you to bookmark it for the next time you need to troubleshoot and apologize professionally in an email.