Cool MateMy apologies vs Sorry
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
My apologies
Top 2,000 (common)
Sorry
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adjective
Most common: Sorry
| My apologies | Sorry | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //maɪ əˈpɒlədʒiz//🇺🇸 //maɪ əˈpɑlədʒiz// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈsɒri/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈsɑːri/"]/ |
| Meaning | I'm sorry. | A word used to express regret or apology. |
| Example | My apologies for the mistake. | I'm really sorry for the mistake I made. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | A1 |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | extend my apologies, offer my apologies, express my apologies | 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 | No apology, Unapologetic, No regrets | happy, unapologetic |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'my excuse' which has a different meaning., Used too casually in formal settings. | 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 this phrase to express regret; appropriate in most situations but more common in written or formal 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: My apologies vs Sorry
What's the difference between My apologies and Sorry?
My apologies: I'm sorry. Sorry: A word used to express regret or apology.
Which is more common: My apologies and Sorry?
Sorry is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
My apologies: My apologies for the mistake. Sorry: I'm really sorry for the mistake I made.
Can I use My apologies and Sorry interchangeably?
Not always. My apologies 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.