Cool MateApologies vs Excuse vs Sorry
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Apologies
Top 2,000 (common)
Excuse
Top 1,000 (very common)B2noun
Sorry
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adjective
| Apologies | Excuse | Sorry | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //əˈpɒlədʒiz//🇺🇸 //əˈpɑːlədʒiz// | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪkˈskjuːs/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪkˈskjuːs/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈsɒri/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈsɑːri/"]/ |
| Meaning | Saying you're sorry for something you did wrong. | A reason you give to explain bad behavior or to get out of something. | A word used to express regret or apology. |
| Example | He made his apologies to the crowd for being late. | She made an excuse for being late to the meeting. | I'm really sorry for the mistake I made. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | B2 | A1 |
| Part of speech | noun | adjective | |
| Collocations | extend apologies, offer apologies, accept apologies, make an apology, issue apologies | perfect, wonderful, excellent, have, give, make, excuse about, excuse for, there is no excuse for…, perfect, wonderful, excellent, have, give, make, excuse about, excuse for, there is no excuse for…, lousy, miserable, pathetic, excuse for | be, feel, seem, extremely, fairly, very, about, for, be sorry to disappoint somebody, be sorry to hear about something/that…, be sorry to interrupt (somebody/something), be, feel, seem, extremely, fairly, very, about, for, be sorry to disappoint somebody, be sorry to hear about something/that…, be sorry to interrupt (somebody/something), be, feel, seem, extremely, fairly, very, about, for, be sorry to disappoint somebody, be sorry to hear about something/that…, be sorry to interrupt (somebody/something) |
| Antonyms | refusal, insult, offense | blame, accusation | happy, unapologetic |
| Common mistakes | Using 'apologies' without specifying what for., Confusing 'apologies' with 'apologize' as a verb., Overusing 'apologies' in casual contexts. | Using 'excuse' instead of 'excuse me' for polite interruptions., Confusing 'excuse' with 'apology', thinking they mean the same., Using 'excuse' without an object; it typically is followed by what you are excusing. | Using 'sorry' when it's not needed, making it seem insincere., Confusing 'sorry' with 'I'm sorry' — they can be used interchangeably, but 'I'm sorry' can sound more formal., Not using 'sorry' in situations where an apology is expected. |
| Usage notes | Use 'apologies' in both formal and informal settings. In formal contexts, use complete phrases like 'I offer my sincere apologies'. Avoid using it in casual conversations where just 'sorry' may suffice. | Use 'excuse' when you need to explain why you did something wrong or when you want permission to not do something. It's neutral but can sound insincere in some contexts. | Use 'sorry' to apologize in casual and formal situations. It’s polite in conversations if you've made a mistake. Avoid overusing it in professional settings where you need to be more specific about the issue. |
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Frequently asked questions: Apologies vs Excuse vs Sorry
What's the difference between Apologies, Excuse, and Sorry?
Apologies: Saying you're sorry for something you did wrong. Excuse: A reason you give to explain bad behavior or to get out of something. Sorry: A word used to express regret or apology.
Which is more advanced: Apologies, Excuse, and Sorry?
Excuse is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.
Can you show an example of each?
Apologies: He made his apologies to the crowd for being late. Excuse: She made an excuse for being late to the meeting. Sorry: I'm really sorry for the mistake I made.
Can I use Apologies, Excuse, and Sorry interchangeably?
Not always. Apologies, Excuse, and Sorry are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.